Thursday's Nations League predictions and free football tips: Azzurri can maintain their perfect start

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Italy to beat Belgium
7.45pm Thursday
2pts 19-20 general

Both teams to score in Norway vs Slovenia
7.45pm Thursday
1pt 17-20 Hills, Paddy Power

Thursday's Nations League predictions

Italy entertain Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in the pick of Thursday’s Nations League fixtures and the Azzurri can make it three wins from three in League A Group 2.

Luciano Spalletti’s side look keen to impress after their limp showing at the European Championship, where they crashed out in the last 16 following a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland.

But Italy have served up the perfect response and wins away in France and Israel have allowed them to resume control of this Nations League section.

Having finished third at the last two Nations League finals, Italy appear motivated to do better and this may be the perfect time to host a Belgium side who are missing their star turns Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne.

Even so, Belgium have won only four of their last ten internationals and they look a fading force with a 1-0 defeat to Slovakia and a goalless draw with Ukraine at Euro 2024 more than highlighting that.

In Belgium’s 2-0 defeat to France in the Nations League last month, Domenico Tedesco’s team lost the shot count 25 to nine and a confident Italy can capitalise on their weakened squad.

Norway and Slovenia are level at the top of Group B3 with four points from two games and their crunch clash in Oslo could be an entertaining encounter.

These two are becoming regular rivals in the Nations League and it has been a pretty even series so far, with their past four encounters featuring two draws and one win apiece.

Norway, armed with the services of Manchester City’s goalscoring sensation Erling Haaland, are odds-on to oblige and they were 2-1 winners when hosting Austria at the Ullevaal Stadion in September.

But Slovenia have their own striking star in Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and they are unbeaten in 12 internationals, which includes 90-minute draws with England and Portugal at this summer’s European Championships.

Both teams have scored in four of Slovenia’s last five Nations League fixtures, which includes a 2-1 win at home to Norway two years ago, and it may not be one-way traffic for the hosts.

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