The statistics suggest a stalemate this evening, as Italy have drawn their last five at home and Portugal are unbeaten on their competitive travels for over two years.
The Nations League clash kicks off at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza at 19.45 GMT.
Italy are on a disconcerting run of five consecutive stalemates in the Peninsula, their longest winless home streak since 1923-25.
Save for the 0-0 World Cup play-off disaster against Sweden in November 2017, the other results with Ukraine, Poland, the Netherlands and Macedonia all ended 1-1.
The statistics suggest a stalemate this evening, as Italy have drawn their last five at home and Portugal are unbeaten on their competitive travels for over two years.
The Nations League clash kicks off at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza at 19.45 GMT.
Italy are on a disconcerting run of five consecutive stalemates in the Peninsula, their longest winless home streak since 1923-25.
Save for the 0-0 World Cup play-off disaster against Sweden in November 2017, the other results with Ukraine, Poland, the Netherlands and Macedonia all ended 1-1.
Portugal, on the other hand, are unbeaten in competitive away fixtures – excluding friendlies and tournaments – since a 2-0 loss in Switzerland on September 6, 2016.
Since that opening World Cup qualifier, the Seleçao have won five on the trot, scoring 15 goals and keeping four clean sheets.
The only two goals they conceded were in a 3-2 Nations League victory in Poland on October 11.
However, there is some hope for Italy in the form of Portugal’s record at San Siro, where they lost all four visits to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
They fell 6-1 on December 1, 1929, then 3-0 on December 22, 1957 and the same 3-0 result on December 5, 1987.
The most recent trip was precisely 25 years ago, a 1-0 Italy victory sealed by Dino Baggio on November 17, 1993.
Roberto Mancini, now the Azzurri Coach, came off the bench in that World Cup qualifier for Arrigo Sacchi’s side.