Italy field an unchanged XI with Federico Chiesa, Nicolò Barella and Gianluca Scamacca against Spain’s Alvaro Morata, Rodri and Lamine Yamal, but Aymeric Laporte steps in.

It kicks off at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.

Both sides won their opening games in EURO 2024, but with Albania and Croatia drawing 2-2, it means whoever wins this evening will automatically be through to the Round of 16 on top of Group B.

In order to qualify for the next phase, a point in the final two games would be sufficient for Italy.

Despite suggestions of a few tweaks, Luciano Spalletti sticks with the same line-up that beat Albania 2-1, a 4-2-3-1 formation with Jorginho and Barella in midfield, Chiesa, Davide Frattesi and Lorenzo Pellegrini fanning out behind Scamacca.

Spain do make a change after sweeping Croatia aside 3-0, a result achieved unusually with less possession than their opponents, signalling a shift in tactical approach from La Roja to be more direct.

Laporte was expected to be only fit enough for a spot on the bench, but he starts instead of Nacho, with Marc Cucurella once more chosen instead of Alex Grimaldo at left-back.

According to reports in Spain, the change is because Nacho has a muscular problem too.

Former Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz scored in the opener, with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams supporting veteran ex-Juventus striker Morata.

Spain vs. Italy official line-ups

Spain: Unai Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Nico Williams

Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Calafiori, Bastoni, Dimarco; Jorginho, Barella; Chiesa, Frattesi, Pellegrini; Scamacca

Ref: Vincic (SVN)

20-06-2024 20:00
2nd Round

Player statistic

1st half
    15' Yellow card Gianluigi Donnarumma
Rodri Yellow card 45+1'    
2nd half
    46' Yellow card Bryan Cristante
Riccardo Calafiori Own Goal 55'    
Robin Le Normand Yellow card 69'    
Daniel Carvajal Yellow card 90+6'    

Match statistic

57
Possession %
43
21
Total shots
4
9
Shots on target
1
8
Shots off target
3
4
Blocked shots
0
5
Corners
2
0
Offsides
1
16
Fouls
14
Spain
Italy

Starting lineups

23
Goalkeeper
14
Defender
2
Defender
24
Defender
3
Defender
8
Midfielder
90'
20
Midfielder
71'
16
Midfielder
7
Attacker
78'
19
Attacker
71'
17
Attacker
78'
1
23
3
Defender
2
15
7
Midfielder
46'
8
Midfielder
46'
10
Midfielder
82'
6
Midfielder
14
Attacker
64'
17
64'

Substitutes

5
Defender
10
Attacker
12
13
Goalkeeper
18
Midfielder
22
Defender
1
Goalkeeper
26
Attacker
25
Midfielder
4
Defender
11
Attacker
71'
15
Midfielder
71'
9
Attacker
78'
21
Attacker
78'
6
Midfielder
90'
22
5
Defender
12
Goalkeeper
19
Defender
21
Goalkeeper
26
Midfielder
18
Midfielder
13
Defender
25
Defender
16
Midfielder
46'
24
Defender
46'
20
Attacker
64'
9
Attacker
64'
11
82'

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *