Italy vs Hungary betting tips: UEFA Nations League preview, predictions and odds

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These two teams have met 33 times, first doing so in 1910, but the most recent of these was a friendly in 2007. Italy have won their last three encounters on home soil; Hungary last beat them on Italian soil in 1953. Italy have lost two of their last five competitive home games, despite being unbeaten in 51 before this.

Both teams to score is 6/5.

Italy to win and over 2.5 goals is 13/10.

Italy to win and both teams to score is 15/4.

Andrea Belotti is 9/2 to break the deadlock and 7/5 to add to his 12 Gli Azzurri goals. 

Match preview

Safe to say 2022 hasn't gone to plan for Italy, so will they claim a moral boosting victory in Cesena?

Back in March, the European Champions failed to qualify for a second successive World Cup, knocked out by North Macedonia in the play-offs.

Then, Roberto Mancini's men were swatted aside by Argentina at Wembley in Finalísima, going down 3-0, and it could've been more.

Thus, there was plenty of doom and gloom going into Italy's Nations League opener against Germany at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Saturday night.

However, with 20 minutes to go, Gli Azzurri took the lead; Lorenzo Pellegrini tapping in from close-range after Wilfried Gnonto's cross.

The lead didn't last long though, just two minutes in fact, with that equaliser ensuring Germany left Bologna with a point.

So, despite winning the European Championship in this period, Italy have actually only won one of their last 11 competitive fixtures.

Will Roberto Mancini's men improve that record with a victory here?

Hungary meanwhile currently sit top of this group, despite being odds-on favourites for relegation when the draw was made.

On Saturday, Marco Rossi's men beat England 1-0 at the Puskás Aréna thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai's second half penalty in Budapest.

Hungary boast a formidable record in this competition, achieving back-to-back promotions to get into the Nations League's to-tier.

But, with three former World Champions completing the section, they were expected to struggle; this was not the case at the weekend.

So, can the Hungarians spring another surprise or will Italy get three points on the board at Stadio Dino Manuzzi?

Italy team news

Italy's starting XI is certainly tough to predict just now; Roberto Mancini changed all ten outfield players for the draw with Germany.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is the only player who's started both games so far this month, and he'll continue to don the gloves.

Federico Dimarco, Tommaso Pobega, Samuele Ricci, Davide Frattesi, Matteo Cancellieri and Wilfried Gnonto all made their debuts at the weekend.

A whole raft of players are not available having been sent on holiday following the Finalísima.

These include Emerson, Marco Verratti, Jorginho, Lorenzo Insigne, Nicolò Zaniolo, Federico Bernardeschi and Domenico Berardi.

Giorgio Chiellini retired from international duty after that match, but his long-time centre-back partner haha is available.

Hungary team news

In contrast, Marco Rossi's side are at full strength.

Midfielder Dániel Gazdag missed the weekend win over England with Covid-19 but is hoping to feature at some point this month.

Captain Ádám Szalai will continue to lead the attack, supported by talisman Dominik Szoboszlai and Roland Sallai.

Rb Leipzig duo Péter Gulácsi and Willi Orbán will continue to be their rocks at the back.

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