Italy vs Ukraine Bet Builder Tips and Player Props: Must Win For Spalletti after a false start

Italy vs Ukraine bet builder tips welcome in a new week here at bettingexpert as the Serie A, Premier League, Bundesliga and more take a back seat.. It’s a tie that feels like a play-off match-up despite this being only the fourth game for the Azzurri in the Euro 2024 Qualifiers Group C.

After a disappointing performance in Skopje, Luciano Spalletti’s side needs three points at the San Siro (Tuesday, 19:45 kick-off, Italy vs Ukraine) if they want to keep alive their hopes of qualifying directly to next summer’s tournament in Germany. To do that, they have to overcome a sturdy Ukraine, who earned a deserved point against England.

• Both Teams to Score – Yes
• Viktor Tsyhankov Over 0.5 Shots
• Result: Draw After 10 Minutes

Bet Builder odds: 4.00

Euro 2024 Qualifiers, Group C, Monday, September 12th, 19:45 (UK)

Odds via bet365 as at 3.30pm, September 10th 2023. Odds may now differ.

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Italy vs Ukraine Stats and Match Facts: Italy hold a great record in this fixture

• Italy have never lost against Ukraine: six wins and two draws for the Azzurri.
• They met for the first time in 1995, during the Euro 1996 Qualifiers campaign, when Italy won 2-0 away thanks to goals from Attilio Lombardo and Gianfranco Zola.
• Italy have won only one of their last seven games played in Milan.
• Ukraine have not kept a clean sheet in their last three away games, conceding two against North Macedonia and England and three against Germany in a friendly.

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Italy vs Ukraine Bet Builder: The Azzurri have 99 problems (…but the pitch ain’t one)

Both teams to Score – Yes

Italy have kept only one clean sheet (away against Malta) in their last seven games. Gianluigi Donnarumma has received a fair amount of criticism for his positioning on the occasion of Enis Bardhi’s free-kick, and elsewhere, Italy might be without Gianluca Mancini, who picked up a muscular injury.

Ukraine are, at the moment, one of the most difficult sides to play against. The fact that Ukrainian football is somehow no longer in the spotlight makes them a touch unpredictable. Furthermore, the players show tremendous team spirit and pride and work extremely hard for each other.

Results-wise, they’re doing well, considering they have not been able to play at home for 18 months. The Ukrainians are unbeaten in the last four matches. In the World Cup qualifiers, they also drew six, including a run-out against France. Unfortunately, luck was not on their side when they lost the play-off final against Wales as Wayne Hennessey produced a fantastic goalkeeping performance.

Viktor Tsyhankov Over 0.5 Shots

The Ukrainians might be without Mychajlo Mudryk, who received a knock in injury time against England, and so this 25-year-old attacking midfielder from Girona could represent one of their main threats.

Tsyhankov will play on the right-hand side to go face-to-face with Federico Dimarco, who likes to push forward but also try to float between the lines, where he could find space to unleash a shot.

He has scored four of Ukraine’s last eight goals and finished in double figures for five consecutive years during his career with Dinamo Kyiv. With the national side, he averages 2.08 shots per game in 47 appearances.

The Azzurri’s defence is no longer watertight and, as the game goes on, might concede chances on the break. Although Italy have scored in nine of the last ten games, they have also conceded 15 goals in the same period.

Ukraine will adopt the same tactics they did against England, leaving Italy’s possession and trying to hit them on the counter. If the game stays at 0-0 after the hour mark, I feel the visitors will get more chances to win.

Result: Draw After 10 Minutes

The dreadful state of the surface at the “Toše” Proeski arena last Saturday certainly did not help Italy’s ball circulation. But, equally, it can’t be used as an excuse for another below-par performance against a side ranked 60 places below in the FIFA ranking. With this 1-1 draw, Italy have now failed to beat North Macedonia in their last three encounters.

In fairness, Luciano Spalletti’s side dominated for the first 25 minutes and showed some good movements.

However, as has happened far too often recently, they lacked precision in front of goal. They were also a touch unlucky (Sandro Tonali hit the post in the first half), but their biggest mistake was to take the foot off the pedal after the hour mark.

And in this instance, Spalletti is not exempt from faults: Tonali, Nicolò Barella, and Bryan Cristante looked leggy in the second half, and at least one of them should have been substituted. As Italy lost control of the midfield, North Macedonia grew in confidence, gained a few free-kicks in dangerous positions and, in the end, deserved to equalise.

Ukraine, in contrast, is a very fit and organised side that managed to shut down England. A draw in Milan would be an excellent result for them, considering they’ll host Italy in Group C’s last game in November.

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