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Think Italy will qualify? BET HERE! Think Sweden will progress? BET HERE! Explore all bets
Odds: Italy 1/2, Draw 16/5, Sweden 9/2
Kick Off: 1945, 13/11/2017
Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza/San Siro
TV: Sky Sports
Italy have a big job on their hands to qualify for Russia 2018 after going down 1-0 in the first leg of their play-off with Sweden, but we are backing the Azzurri to come good in Milan on Monday.
The four-time winners have not failed to reach the finals since 1958 and will take heart from having prevailed in their last three home games against the Swedes.
Punters can get 87/100 for Giampiero Ventura’s side to progress and that will do for us in our Italy vs Sweden betting predictions.
Chances were few and far between in a tight first encounter in Solna, but Andrea Belotti went close with a close-range header for Italy and Manchester United full-back Matteo Darmian hit the post.
The Azzurri will be without the suspended PSG playmaker Marco Verratti for the return fixture, so more creativity will be needed from their front men.
However, Lazio forward Ciro Immobile has netted 14 times in 11 Serie A matches this season and this would be the perfect occasion for him to transfer that form to the international stage.
Keeping a clean sheet is also essential due to the away goals rule, so we’re taking 19/4 for the Azzurri to go through via a 2-0 victory in our Italy vs Sweden betting tips.
Jakob Johansson’s second-half strike, which was helped in by a deflection off Daniele De Rossi, gives Sweden everything to play for in Milan and they will be hoping Emil Forsberg can put in another impressive performance.
However, the Scandinavians did get away with some pretty rough tactics in the opening encounter and the officials may not be as lenient in front of a hostile Italian crowd at the San Siro.
“I hope that in Milan they give to us what they granted to them here,” declared Azzurri boss Ventura. “In a match as important as this, we wanted a more even-handed approach.”
Sweden striker Marcus Berg fuelled the flames by countering: “They fell over whenever they could…I don’t think they pulled it off very well. I knew there would be war tonight and it will be a damn war on Monday.”
We’re expecting a tense start to the second leg, but Italy’s class can shine through in the end.
Looking at the Italy vs Sweden odds, 29/10 for a draw at half-time and then the Azzurri to prevail takes the eye.
Additional stats
First-leg result:
SWEDEN 1-0 ITALY – Jakob Johansson
Previous head-to-head: Italy 1-0 Sweden, Italy 1-0 Sweden, Italy 1-1 Sweden, Italy 2-1 Sweden, Italy 1-0 Sweden
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Best bets for Italy vs Sweden
Italy to qualify @ 87/100
Italy to win 2-0 @ 19/4
Draw HT/Italy FT @ 29/10
