Israel vs Italy Prediction: Bet on a win and a clean sheet for the Azzurri

Italy won in France for the first time since 1954 in their Nations League opener and that will give the visitors here plenty of encouragement.

Our Serie A Betting expert expects the Azzurri to win again on Monday night (19:45, YouTube) as he takes us through his Israel vs Italy Predictions in his match preview here on Betfred Insights...

In their second Group 2 fixture of the UEFA Nations League, Italy will face Israel on Monday at a neutral venue in Budapest due to ongoing security concerns in the region.  

Fresh off a stunning 3-1 victory against France in Paris, the Azzurri have started their campaign with renewed vigor under manager Luciano Spalletti, showing resilience after conceding an early goal.  

With goals from Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi, and Giacomo Raspadori, Italy’s new-look squad displayed the tactical discipline and attacking flair that had been missing during their lacklustre Euro 2024 campaign. 

Israel, meanwhile, had a tough opener, losing 3-1 to Belgium despite an encouraging first-half performance. They managed to equalize through a deflected header by Anan Khalaili but eventually succumbed to the class of Kevin De Bruyne and his teammates.  

As they face Italy, Israel will be aiming to bounce back but will have to contend with the Italians' momentum and superior quality. 

While Italy is targeting a top-two finish to secure a place in the Nations League quarter-finals, Israel will be fighting to avoid relegation.  

Given Italy’s current form and Israel’s inexperience at this level, the Azzurri are the favourites to continue their winning start and move closer to qualification. 

Team News: 

Italy’s squad has seen significant changes under Spalletti, with a switch to a three-man defence that brought positive results against France. However, they will be without Gianluca Scamacca (ACL injury) and Nicolo Barella (sinus surgery).

Riccardo Calafiori, who picked up a minor knock against France, is expected to be available, while Giacomo Raspadori, fresh from scoring in Paris, is pushing for a starting role. Key returns include Sandro Tonali, who impressed in his comeback, adding much-needed solidity to the midfield. 

For Israel, a lack of depth continues to be a challenge. Captain Eli Dasa remains sidelined, so Manor Solomon, who led the team against Belgium, is expected to wear the armband once more.

Ran Ben Shimon is likely to stick with a similar line-up, with limited options for major changes. Young forward Anan Khalaili could start again, while Maccabi Haifa's Dean David offers an alternative in attack. 

Israel vs Italy Odds

Italy enters the match against Israel as the overwhelming favorite, with odds of 3/10 for an Italian victory, reflecting their historical dominance over the Israelis, having won the last three encounters. Israel, on the other hand, is a significant underdog with odds of 9/1, highlighting the gap in quality and experience between the two teams.  

A draw is priced at 9/2, suggesting a lower likelihood of this outcome given Italy’s superior form. 

In the Total Goals market, Over 2.5 goals is favoured at 4/7, indicating expectations of a high-scoring game, driven by Italy’s attacking prowess under Spalletti. Under 2.5 goals is less likely at 5/4, suggesting the possibility of defensive solidity from either side.

For Both Teams to Score, the odds of Yes at 8/11 imply a reasonable chance of both teams finding the net, though the balanced odds of No at 1/1 suggest uncertainty over Israel’s scoring capability. 

Betting Tips: 

Tip 1 : Italy win and Under 3.5 Goals @ 21/20 

Given their impressive performance against France and Israel's defensive vulnerabilities shown in their loss to Belgium, backing Italy to secure another victory seems a solid bet.  

The Azzurri's attack appears revitalized under Spalletti, making them likely to continue their winning form. 

Tip 2: Both Teams To Score – No @ 4/5 

Despite their spirited efforts against Belgium, Israel may struggle to breach Italy’s defence, especially at a neutral venue where home advantage is nullified.  

With Italy’s defence looking more organized, a clean sheet for the Azzurri seems probable, making "Both Teams to Score - No" an appealing option. 

Daniele Fisichella primarily covers Serie A for us at Betfred Insights. You can check out all of his Football Betting Tips here each week along with those of our other Football writers...