Italy make several changes to the side that lost to England, bringing in Wilfried Gnonto, Matteo Politano and Sandro Tonali to join Mateo Retegui for the EURO 2024 qualifier in Malta.
It kicks off at the National Stadium in Ta’Qali at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
This becomes especially important after a surprise 2-1 opening defeat to England, the first time the Azzurri lost a Euro qualifier since 2006, while they hadn’t started their campaign with a defeat since November 1974.
Retegui was one of the few bright sparks from that game and the Italo-Argentine starts again upfront, this time flanked by Napoli’s Politano and Gnonto of Leeds United.
Nicolò Barella and Leonardo Bonucci joined the lengthy injury list, which includes Ciro Immobile, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Chiesa and more, while Lorenzo Pellegrini is not even on the bench.
Roberto Mancini makes eight changes, bringing in Giorgio Scalvini, Alessio Romagnoli, Emerson Palmieri, Tonali, Matteo Pessina, Bryan Cristante, Politano and Gnonto.
They replace Francesco Acerbi, Rafael Toloi, Leonardo Spinazzola, Barella, Marco Verratti, Jorginho, Domenico Berardi and Pellegrini.
Malta are coached by former Chievo midfielder Michele Marcolini and started their campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 defeat away to North Macedonia.
Teddy Teuma is the star man, having a strong season with Royale Union Saint Gilloise.
He scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists in 42 games this term, reaching the Europa League quarter-finals, but is not fit to start after picking up a muscular problem in yesterday’s training session.
Italy have won all eight previous meetings with Malta, scoring 21 goals and conceding two.
Malta: Bonello; Apap, S Borg, Attard; J Mbong, Yankam, Guillaumier, N Muscat, Corbolan; Satariano, Jones
Malta bench: Grech, Formosa, Camenzuli, Micallef, P Mbong, Nwoko, Teuma, Paiber, Brown, Kristensen, Dimech, Z Muscat
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Scalvini, Romagnoli, Emerson; Tonali, Cristante, Pessina; Politano, Retegui, Gnonto
Italy bench: Carnesecchi, Meret, Toloi, Spinazzola, Darmian, Verratti, Grifo, Jorginho, Scamacca, Berardi, Acerbi, Frattesi
Ref: Kabakov (BUL)
Player statistic
| 15' |  |
Mateo Retegui (Assist: Sandro Tonali) | ||
| 27' | |
Matteo Pessina (Assist: Sandro Tonali) | ||
| 36' |  |
Giovanni Di Lorenzo |
| 54' | |
Giorgio Scalvini |
Match statistic
