2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship – Portugal vs Italy Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Portugal vs Italy taking place? Monday 31st May, 2021 – 20:00 (UK)
Where is Portugal vs Italy taking place? Stadion Stožice, Ljubljana
Where can I get tickets for Portugal vs Italy? Click here for the latest ticket information
What television channel is Portugal vs Italy on? Sky Sports
Where can I stream Portugal vs Italy? Sky subscribers can be streamed live via Sky Go
THE KEY STATS
- Portugal have won 16 of their last 18 U21 EURO matches (includes qualifying). This includes each of the last ten
- Portugal are one of only two teams who finished the group stage of the 2021 finals with a 100% winning record - and also no goals conceded (Denmark are the other team)
- Portugal have lost only one of their last 12 U21 EURO final tournament matches (W8 D3 L1) – only defeat was against Spain in the 2017 group stage (L 3-1)
- Three of the last four U21 EURO final tournament matches between Portugal and Italy finished level (the most recent two meetings were 0-0 draws)
- Portugal have not drawn any of their last 22 U21 EURO matches (includes qualifying)
- Portugal have kept six clean sheets in their last nine U21 EURO matches (includes qualifying) – includes each of their previous three matches in the 2021 final tournament
- Italy have lost only one of their previous seven U21 EURO final tournament matches against Portugal W3 D3 L1
- Italy have lost one of their last 14 U21 EURO matches (includes qualifying) W10 D3 L1
- Italy have been winning at half time in nine of their last 11 U21 EURO matches (includes qualifying)
- Italy have conceded more than one goal in only one of their last 16 U21 EURO matches (includes qualifying)
- Italy have kept nine clean sheets in their last 13 U21 EURO matches (includes qualifying)
- Italy have conceded more than one goal in just one of their previous 13 U21 matches against Portugal (includes qualifying)
THE PREDICTION
Portugal will come into this squad with the same as their group stage squad but key men such as Thierry Correia and Francisco Trincao will be missing due to COVID-related issues. Their impressive group stage campaign ranks them as one of the favourites heading into the knockouts. They come up against an ill-disciplined Italian side that had Sandro Tonali, Riccardo Marchizza, Gianluca Scamacca, Nicolo Rovella and then Riccardo Marchizza sent off once again in three group stage matches. They got through thanks to a 4-0 thumping against the hapless hosts Slovenia. Portugal will be the favourites for this as Italy struggled against the slightly better opposition in Czech Republic and Spain.
