Nations League team news and prediction: Bosnia vs Italy

Italy are one of two sides still unbeaten in League A of the UEFA Nations League ahead of their meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina tonight with a 2-0 win over Poland on Sunday putting them firmly in the driving seat to finish top of Group 1. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina, meanwhile, are yet to win a UEFA Nations League match, drawing two of their five games. They did hold Italy to a 1-1 draw in Florence back in September, but never kicked on and have just two points to show for their efforts. 

Ahead of Group 1 clash, we have all your need-to-know matchday information in one place, including probable XIs, team news and where you can watch the match.    

When is kick off?   

Wednesday 18th November, 19:45 GMT  

Where is the match?   

Stadium Grbavica, Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 

Where can I watch it?   

Sky Sports, via The Red Button 

What's at stake? 

Bosnia and Herzegovina sit bottom of Group 1, five points behind third-placed Poland, and are relegated to League B regardless of tonight's result. As such, Dusan Bajevic's side have nothing but pride to play for and they'll look to claim a high profile scalp to bow out of League A on a high. 

For Italy, they can afford to lose tonight provided the Netherlands don't beat Poland. One point ahead of the Azzurri, they can fall to defeat in Sarajevo and still finish first if the Oranje draw given Italy's better head-to-head record with the Netherlands. However, head coach Roberto Mancini will demand his players get the job done in order to guarantee a spot at next year's finals. 

Team News 

Ermedin Demirovic and Jasmin Buric have both pulled out of the squad due to injury and join Amir Hadziahmetovic on the sidelines. Anel Ahmedhodzic is available following suspension, however, and is an option in defence if need be. Star striker Edin Dzeko is one of six players who miss the welcome of Italy having tested positive for COVID-19, a list that Sead Kolasinac has joined.

Italy have a number of players missing for COVID-19 issues, too, with Ciro Immobile one of those to miss out. Leonardo Bonuccia, Roberto Gagliardini and Federico Chiesa are among those sidelined through injury for the Azzurri, while Alessio Romagnoli will be assessed. Domenico Berardi scored off the bench against Poland on Sunday and may be rewarded with a start tonight. 

Probable XIs 

Bosnia and Herzegovina (4231) - Sehic; Cipetic, Hadzikadunic, Sanicanin, Kadusic; Pjanic, Cimirot; Visca, Gojak, Krunic; Hodzic 

Italy (433) - Donnarumma; D'Ambrosio, Acerbi, Bastoni, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Locatelli; Berardi, Belotti, Insigne

Key Battle - Miralem Pjanic vs Jorginho

In a different timeline, these two could have been teammates. Maurizio Sarri wanted to reunite with Jorginho at Juventus, but they couldn't strike a deal with Chelsea for the Italian midfielder. Any transfer would have seen him link up with Miralem Pjanic, even if briefly after his move to Barcelona earlier this year.

Pjanic started for the third time in the UEFA Nations League this season having played 89 minutes in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Netherlands and his experience of playing in Serie A could be vital against Italy. Jorginho, meanwhile, comes into this tie on the back of a man of the match showing against Poland having bagged the opening goal.

The Chelsea man ranks highly for passes for 90 (64.8) in Group 1 and his ball retention qualities could be essential to ensure Pjanic sees as little of possession as possible in order to secure all three points.

Prediction: Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-2 Italy