Italy head to the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia on Saturday night to take on Bulgaria in their Group H clash, as they look to continue on their way to qualifying for the European Championships next year.
The Azzurri are currently in second place on goal difference with ten points in Group H – behind Croatia – and are unbeaten in their four games so far. Since Antonio Conte took charge in the summer, Italy has yet to suffer defeat in the ex-Juventus man’s six games in charge, despite never looking entirely convincing.
Impressive victories over the Netherlands and Norway have been counteracted by unimpressive, slender wins over minnows Malta, Azerbaijan and Albania.
Bulgaria meanwhile, currently sits in fourth place in Group H, accruing only four points in as many games.
A victory in their first match away to Azerbaijan has proved to be the only triumph for Ivaylo Petev’s men so far in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, and they will be desperately seeking all three points in front of their home fans to revive their slender hopes of qualification.
Out-of-form and winless in their last four internationals, Bulgaria will still prove to be a tricky test for the Azzurri.
There is a long history in past meetings between the two nations, with 17 matches being played. The Azzurri currently hold the upper hand, with nine wins, and only two losses – but Bulgaria will gain solace in the fact that the Azzurri haven’t been able to beat them in their last two home meetings.
Their last clash was in September 2013 in Palermo during a World Cup qualifier, where an Alberto Gilardino goal was enough to see the Azzurri to a slight 1-0 victory.
Conte sprung a few surprises in his latest Azzurri squad, rewarding a number of players for their good form in the Serie A. The three main eyebrow-raising additions were Sampdoria’s Brazilian-born tireless striker Eder, Palermo’s Argentinian-born maestro Franco Vazquez and Empoli revelation Mirko Valdifiori, all of which have been in magnificent form this season.
It is unlikely that Conte will use any of the three from the start in Sofia, preferring to trial them in the friendly match against England next Tuesday instead.
Alessio Cerci, Ciro Immobile and Graziano Pelle are all included despite their indifferent recent form at club level, while Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli gains his first recall since the World Cup, having recovered from a long-term injury.
All eyes will be on Paris-Saint Germain star Marco Verratti after his heroics against Chelsea in their Champions League triumph last week, and he is expected to be given the keys to the Azzurri midfield with incumbent Andrea Pirlo absent.
There will be a number of familiar faces in the Bulgaria squad for Serie A followers. Ex-Hellas Verona goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov is expected to stand between the posts for the Lions, whilst Palermo midfielder Ivaylo Chochev will be expected to win his first senior cap.
Ex-Fiorentina and Lecce ace Valeri Bojinov, who now plies his trade in the Serie B with Ternana, has also been awarded a spot in the squad. Kuban Krasnodar winger Ivelin Popov looms as the biggest threat to the Azzurri defence with regular tormenter-in-chief partner CSKA Moscow man Georgi Milanov a huge doubt with injury.
Form Guide: Bulgaria (W-L-L-D) Italy (W-W-W-D)
Expected Starting XIs
Bulgaria: Mihaylov; Terziev, Bodurov, Alexandrov, Popov; Manolev, Gadzhev, Slavchev, Chochev, Ivelin Popov; Bojinov.
Italy: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Darmian, Marchisio, Verratti, Candreva, Pasqual; Immobile, Zaza.
