Spain striker Alvaro Morata. (Photo : Getty Images)
A high-profile game between two of the best national teams in the world, Italy (1-0-0, 3 points) and Spain (1-0-0, 3 points), is scheduled to take place at the Juventus Stadium in Turin on Oct. 6, Thursday as part of the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup UEFA qualifying tournament.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 8:45 p.m. UTC+2. It can be viewed live Online Thru FuboTV.
Italy is coming off a 3-1 victory over tough squad Israel on the road at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa on Sep. 5 to open their bid in Europe's World Cup qualifiers, as per Goal.
Gli Azzurri started the game strong, netting the first two goals courtesy of a stinging shot from Shandong Luneng striker Graziano Pellè and a penalty kick from Inter Milan winger Antonio Candreva at the 14th and 31st minutes respectively.
Israel managed to trim the gap to one point to enter the halftime break with a goal from Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Tal Ben Haim II at the 35th minute off an assist by fellow frontman Tomer Hemed.
The Blue and Whites tried to find the equalizer in the second half, but new head coach Giampiero Ventura's defense, led by Juventus players Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, and legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was too hard for Israel to penetrate.
Italy eventually sealed the win with an 83rd-minute goal from Lazio striker Ciro Immobile from a pass by Pellè.
Meanwhile, Spain crushed lowly team Liechtenstein, 8-0, at the Estadio Reino de León in León also on Sep. 5 in their own tournament-opener, Daily Mail Online reported.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa, Manchester City winger David Silva, and Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata all scored braces, at the 10th and 66th, 59th and 90th+1, and 82nd and 83rd minutes respectively, to lead head coach Julen Lopetegui's side over the hapless Blue-Reds.
Lopetegui is also a new manager for La Furia Roja after former head coach Vicente del Bosque retired at the end of the summer's Euro 2016 competitions.
Other goalscorer for Spain were Barcelona full back Sergi Roberto at the 55th minute and Sevilla winger Vitolo at the 60th.
The star-studded Spain squad will have their hands full against Italy, but is expected to prevail in a tight match.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a tough 2-1 win for Spain.
Italy starting lineup (3-5-2 formation): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, De Sciglio; Candreva, Parolo, Verratti, Bonaventura, De Rossi; Pellè, éder
Spain starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): De Gea; Roberto, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Iniesta, Busquets, Koke; Nolito, Morata, Silva
