Italy vs Spain: Familiar foes meet once again on October 6, 2021

Topics: TV Schedules, TV Listings, Italy, Spain, UEFA Nations League

Italy and Spain will square off once again, this time in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, on Wednesday, October 6th.

Preview: Italy vs Spain

Given that they share quite a few titles between them, any match featuring European heavyweights Italy and Spain is one not to miss for fans and neutrals alike. The latest installment of this famed rivalry will take place on October 6th as the Azzurri take on La Roja in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League. Both teams got to this juncture by winning their respective groups, with Italy finishing on top of Group A1 after securing 12 points (three wins, three draws). Spain, meanwhile, did suffer a shock loss to Ukraine but nonetheless still topped Group A4 with 11 points, including a stunning 6-0 demolition of Germany in their final group stage match last November.

Italy will be seeking to make it a 38th consecutive match sans defeat as they welcome a familiar foe; indeed, the Azzurri haven't lost a match in nearly three years. The two sides met in the semi-finals of this summer's EURO 2020 championship, but it ultimately ended in tears for Luis Enrique's side after Spain lost 4-2 on penalties. La Roja experienced more disappointment as they ended up losing 2-1 in a very frustrating match with Sweden in their first game after EURO 2020, but they've since gotten their World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign back on track with comfortable 4-0 and 2-0 wins over Eastern European minnows Georgia and Kosovo.

The Azzurri, meanwhile, also had some hiccups in their World Cup 2022 qualifying matches after winning EURO 2020, namely a surprise one-all draw with Bulgaria. A scoreless stalemate with Switzerland followed, leading some to wonder if this was a sign of a downward turn for Roberto Mancini's men. However, Italy have since seemingly gotten back on track, and will come into this match having cruised to an easy 5-0 win over Lithuania last month.

The winner of this match will take on the victor from the France and Belgium clash. Italy, as EURO 2020 winners, will certainly look to add a Nations League title to their collection, but Spain, looking to firmly regain their spot among the world's elite, will be doing their utmost to get more than just a spot of revenge on a very familiar opponent on Wednesday evening.

Team news: Italy vs Spain

Italy: The hots have largely a full-strength squad, with Mancini's only main absentees being Ciro Immobile and Rafael Toloi.

Spain: The visitors will be missing quite a few players due to injury, with Alvaro Morata, Thiago, Dani Olmo, Marcos Llorente and youngster Pedri all missing out, while Adama Traore and Jordi Alba also will be unavailable for selection.