Italy and Poland will meet for the second time in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday. The League A Group 3 nations played on matchday 1 in Bologna. Their first fixture ended in a 1-1 draw thanks to goals from Piotr Zielinski and Jorginho.
Both nations have played two games apiece in Group 3 and neither could overcome Portugal. The Iberian nation currently sits atop the group with six points. If Poland or Italy want to avoid relegation to League B in the competition, then they will have to pick up three points on Sunday.
Roberto Mancini’s team hasn’t been very impressive during their Nations League campaign. Following their draw with Poland, Italy lost to Portugal 1-0.
Italy played Ukraine in a friendly this week but managed just a draw 1-1. The Azzurri have now gone five matches without a win in all competitions. Mancini’s job looks even more difficult than first expected. A loss to Poland would be even more of a setback for the Italians.
Poland, on the other hand, lost a hard-fought battle with Portugal on matchday 2. The 3-2 scoreline may have flattered the Polish slightly, however. Poland have had a poor run of results as well. The team has won just once in their last six matches. The good news is Poland have the most highly sought-after striker in football right now.
It isn’t Robert Lewandowski, rather it is Genoa hitman Krzysztof Piatek. The 23-year-old, who only joined Genoa in the summer, has been on fire. Piatek has scored 13 goals in eight matches in Italy in all competitions. He tallied his first senior international goal against Portugal on matchday 2. Every major club in Europe is being linked to him right now, and he will most likely leave Genoa in January for £30 million-plus.
Just like at the World Cup, Poland’s biggest problem is conceding goals. The Polish have allowed four goals in two matches while scoring just three. Italy have the reverse problem. Mancini cannot find a goal scorer as the Azzurri have tallied just one strike in two matches. Italy are struggling and their problems are far more complex than previously believed.
Italy go into the fixture as the slight favourite according to major sportsbooks. The game will be played in Chorzow, Poland, giving the Polish an edge thanks to their home support. Unfortunately, their home fans didn’t help them to victory against Portugal on matchday 2. The fixture will be cagey and low scoring between the two European nations.