Italy experiment in tonight’s friendly with Albania, starting a 3-5-2 formation with Mattia Destro and Alessio Cerci.
It kicks off at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa at 19.45 GMT and was organised to raise funds for the city affected by recent floods.
Italy experiment in tonight’s friendly with Albania, starting a 3-5-2 formation with Mattia Destro and Alessio Cerci.
It kicks off at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa at 19.45 GMT and was organised to raise funds for the city affected by recent floods.
The torrential rain returned over the weekend, causing further damage, but the game was given the go-ahead.
This is the first ever official match between the two nations. There is a huge Albanian population in Italy and it’s reported 10,000 of the 23,000 tickets sold have gone to fans of the visiting team.
Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci, who was suspended for Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Croatia, wears the captain’s armband for only the second time in his career. The other was the friendly against Holland after Daniele De Rossi was substituted.
Antonio Conte had been expected to test a 4-4-2 system, but instead he appears to have stuck with 3-5-2 using Lorenzo De Silvestri and Emiliano Moretti in new roles.
Cerci of Atletico Madrid gets his first appearance since the World Cup, while Andrea Bertolacci and Luca Antonelli start in their home stadium.
Sebastian Giovinco and Destro struggle to get playing time at club level, but are paired together here.
Torino defender Moretti and Genoa midfielder Bertolacci are given their senior Italy debuts.
Those likely to come off the bench for Italy debuts include Sassuolo defender Francesco Acerbi, who was given the all-clear from cancer a few months ago, and Sampdoria pair Manolo Gabbiadini and Stefano Okaka.
Albania have several familiar names, including their Coach Gianni De Biasi, who has turned them into giant-killers in recent months.
They famously beat Portugal in a Euro 2016 qualifier and on Friday held France to a 1-1 friendly draw.
Lazio duo Etrit Berisha and Lorik Cana start with Empoli defender Elseid Hysaj.
Italy: Sirigu; De Silvestri, Bonucci, Moretti; Cerci, Aquilani, Parolo, Bertolacci, Antonelli; Destro, Giovinco
Italy bench: Perin, Rugani, Acerbi, Rossettini, Criscito, Sturaro, Bonaventura, Poli, Gabbiadini, Okaka, Matri
Albania: Berisha; Hysaj, Cana, Mavraj, Agolli; Lila, Abrashi, Kukeli, Memushaj, Lenjani; Cikalleshi
Albania bench: Frasheri, Shehi, Curri, Bulku, Kapllani, Rama, Vila, Shala, Salihi, Balaj, Vajushi, Ajeti, Roshi, Karabeci