Belgium v Italy betting tips: Azzurri favourites as big guns collide

Preview and odds for Friday’s quarter-final

Belgium are having to do it the hard way at Euro 2020 as they look to win a major tournament for the first time and we have analysed the odds to pick out potential Belgium v Italy betting tips.

The world’s best team according to the rankings have already knocked out defending champions Portugal but must now get past Italy in a match which would have been a worthy final.

Friday’s match is live on BBC One, kicks off at 8pm and is taking place at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

Belgium v Italy match odds

Belgium may be number one in the world but they head into their quarter-final as the underdogs at 23/20 to get through and 11/5 to win in 90 minutes.

That is an indication of the form Italy are in but they were not as impressive in the round of 16 when they needed extra-time goals from Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina to earn a 2-1 win over Austria at Wembley.

The Azzuri had turned heads with an impressive group stage, blitzing past Turkey, Switzerland and Wales with vibrant and high-energy performances to make themselves contenders in the Euro 2020.

But they were unable to recreate that in London and needed two goals in the additional period to book a last-eight tie in Munich, where their credentials will be truly tested.

They will take heart, however, from their resurgence in extra-time and they have posted a new record of 31 games unbeaten.

Austria bossed the second half of normal time and threatened to cause a real shock after Marko Arnautovic’s goal was ruled out by VAR.

They gave themselves hope with Sasa Kalajdzic scoring the first goal against Italy in 11 games late on but they could not force a penalty shoot-out.

Italy are 13/5 to win to nil but Belgium have only conceded one goal themselves, which was in a 2-1 victory over Denmark during the group stage.

A clean sheet against Portugal on Sunday meant Thorgan Hazard’s wonder strike was enough to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory in Seville.

Belgium lost Kevin De Bruyne to injury and faced concerted pressure as the holders rallied after the break but Raphael Guerreiro hitting the post was as close as they came.

Eden Hazard also sustained a muscular problem late on so Belgium may not be at full strength and another cagey encounter could be on the cards.

The match is 2/1 to go to extra-time while a goalless first half is available at 13/10.

Belgium v Italy head-to-head

These two teams are meeting for the second successive European Championship, having faced each other in the opening round of group matches in Lyon five years ago.

On that occasion Italy were deserving 2-0 winners, with Emanuele Giaccherini opening the scoring just after the half-hour mark and Graziano Pelle volleying in a second in stoppage time.

It was the fourth meeting this century with Italy enjoying three wins, including another 2-0 victory in the group stage of Euro 2000.

Another 2-0 win for the Azzurri can be added to Belgium v Italy betting tips at 10/1.

Previous XI

Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Meunier, Witzel, De Bruyne, Tielemans, E Hazard, T Hazard, Lukaku.

Italy: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Spinazzola, Acerbi, Bonucci, Verratti, Jorginho, Barella, Insigne, Berardi, Immobile.

Team news

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez will give De Bruyne and Hazard until the last minute to prove their fitness after neither was able to train with the rest of the squad on Thursday morning.

Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini is back in contention after missing the final Group A win over Wales and the last-16 win against Austria through injury.

Key battles

Romelu Lukaku began Euro 2020 as one of the leading contenders for the golden boot and may need to show why if Belgium are to get past Italy.

The Inter Milan striker scored 24 goals in Serie A this season and has netted three goals at the Euros so far but was unable to make an impact against Portugal and now faces his toughest test yet against a well-organised Italian defence organised by Leonardo Bonucci.

Lukaku is the 7/2 favourite to open the scoring while Ciro Immobile leads the line for Italy and is 4/1 to strike first.

View the latest Euro 2020 odds

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication