Roberto Mancini's second spell as Italy head coach is showing signs of clicking into gear as his side prepares to take on Turkey in Group A1 of the UEFA Nations League in Bologna on Monday.
Having led the Azzurri to European Championship glory during his first spell in charge, Mancini returned to the role over the summer and suffered a rude awakening in his first game back at the helm - a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium in their group opener.
However, Italy responded to that setback with a 4-1 thrashing of Turkey last Monday and they have since earned a credible 1-1 draw away to a star-studded France.
Mancini will hope his side can secure another three points in this return game against a Turkey team that are yet to pick up a point in the group, with the pressure mounting on their head coach Vincenzo Montella, who also oversaw their disappointing performance at the World Cup.
Another defeat against the country of his birth could prove a step too far for Montella, who is a former team-mate of Mancini's at Sampdoria.
Italy v Turkey Tips Summary
Best Bet - Italy win to nil @ 6/4
Alternative Bet - Alessandro Bastoni anytime scorer @ 6/1
Bet Builder - Italy to win, Alessandro Bastoni 1+ shots on target & Ismail Yuksek 2+ fouls committed @ 24/5
Italy v Turkey Prediction
Best Bet: Italy win to nil @ 6/4
Italy ran out comfortable 4-1 winners when these two sides met in Bursa last Monday, with the result never really in doubt after they raced into a three-goal lead inside the opening 27 minutes.
That extended the Azzurri's unbeaten record against Turkey to 12 matches, eight of which have ended in victory.
They should claim another three Nations League points at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara given their opponents have lost all three of their group games and are without some of their key attacking protagonists.
Serie A-based pair Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz were already missing from Montella's squad through injury and talisman Arda Guler and fellow forward Baris Yilmaz will now sit out this game due to suspension.
Real Madrid star Guler is Turkey's most creative player, firing off 15 shots in three games, while Yilmaz has scored his side's only goal in the group - the consolation effort against Italy.
With arguably Turkey's four biggest attacking threats missing, this is a match Italy can expect to win and they have every chance of keeping a clean sheet, especially if goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is in the same kind of form he showed against France, a match where he made seven saves.
Alternative Bet: Alessandro Bastoni anytime scorer @ 6/1
Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni did not feature in Italy's group opener against Belgium, but he has certainly made his presence felt since and not necessarily in the way many would have expected, as he has scored two goals in two games.
The centre back opened the scoring in Italy's 4-1 win in Turkey before grabbing the equaliser against France, taking his tally for international goals to a more than respectable five in 45 appearances.
There was variety to those goals as well, with the strike against Turkey coming from a corner, while his effort at the Stade de France came after he forced a mistake by pressing high up the pitch.
Given he is in red-hot form in front of goal, Bastoni could offer plenty of value to get on the scoresheet for the third game in a row.
Italy v Turkey Bet Builder Tip
Italy to win
Alessandro Bastoni 1+ shots on target
Ismail Yuksek 2+ fouls committed
Pays 24/5
Italy have won six of their seven competitive meetings with Turkey, the last two of which have been by comfortable three-goal margins, and given the gulf between the two sides in the reverse clash, there should only be one winner on Monday.
Bastoni got the ball rolling for Italy in Bursa and not only has he scored in successive games, he has fired off a total of five shots and underlined his threat from both open play and set pieces.
For Turkey, midfielder Ismail Yuksek has given away a team-high six fouls, three of which were conceded against Belgium on Friday.
In a match that could prove a frustrating one for the visitors, who may even be confirmed to finish bottom of the group if results go against them, Yuksek could easily be penalised by the referee on more than one occasion.
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Key Match Stats
Italy are unbeaten in their 12 previous meetings with Turkey
The Azzurri have won six of their seven competitive matches against Turkey
It finished 4-1 to Italy when these two sides met in Bursa earlier in this Nations League group
Alessandro Bastoni has scored in his last two games for Italy
Turkey have lost five of their last six internationals
Head coaches Roberto Mancini and Vincenzo Montella were team-mates at Sampdoria
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
