Italy vs Germany Predictions

• Excluding extra-time and penalty shoot-outs, Italy have won just three of their last 12 games.
• The Azzurri have only won one of their last four home matches, against a weakened Belgium.
• Germany have won eight of their nine games since Hansi Flick took charge, only drawing with the Netherlands.

Major tests on the horizon for Flick

Having won eight of his first nine games since taking over as Germany boss, Hansi Flick is set to face several major tests as the UEFA Nations League gets underway, with Die Mannschaft facing a double header with Euro 2020 winners Italy as well as hosting England in the coming fortnight. With Roberto Mancini’s men in dire form, Germany will be confident of making a statement.

Indeed, Italy have faced quite the come down since their European triumph, winning just three of their last 12 games and being thrashed 3-0 by Argentina at Wembley on Wednesday. Italy have also won just one of their last four home matches, against a weakened Belgium team without Kevin De Bruyne or Romelu Lukaku last October, and with Mancini promising to begin a shake-up of the national side after their failure to reach the World Cup, we could see an experimental lineup, with the Azzurri looking to solve their goalscoring woes after netting just three times in their last five outings.

Germany, on the other hand, have been flying since Flick took charge, although March’s draw with the Netherlands represented by far their toughest test since the Euros after Die Mannschaft scored 33 goals in their first eight games under the former Bayern coach. Germany did dominate their meeting with the Dutch, with the introductions of Jamal Musiala and Nico Schlotterbeck breathing new life into Flick’s more dynamic side, and they will fancy their chances of making a winning start in a tough group.

Azzurri woes set to continue

Italy have failed to beat Germany in the teams’ last four head-to-head meetings, having avoided defeat in each of their previous six clashes with Die Mannschaft, and their dire run of form makes it difficult to see them ending that run here.

Indeed, with Italy continuing to struggle for goals as they suffer a hangover from March’s World Cup play-off humiliation, we’re backing Germany for a statement victory in Bologna, with 2-0 to the visitors a decent correct score prediction.