The Netherlands will be looking to move onto six points in Group 1 of League A in the UEFA Nations League when they welcome Italy to Amsterdam on Monday night.
Dwight Lodeweges's side recorded a 1-0 win over Poland in their competition opener on Friday night, while Italy were held to a 1-1 draw by Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Match preview
© Reuters
The Netherlands reached the final of the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League, losing 1-0 to Portugal, with Goncalo Guedes's second-half strike providing to be the difference between the two sides.
Holland will be keen to make another impression in the latest edition of the tournament, and they are in a good position ahead of this match, having recorded a 1-0 victory over Poland on Friday night.
Tottenham Hotspur attacker Steven Bergwijn scored the only goal of the match in the second period, handing Oranje a victory in their first match under the leadership of Lodeweges, who has temporarily replaced Ronald Koeman at the helm.
Securing another three points against the Italians on Monday would leave them in an excellent spot ahead of their next two games in the section away to Bosnia and Italy in October.
© Reuters
Italy, meanwhile, were held to a 1-1 draw by a tough Bosnia on Friday night, with Stefano Sensi equalising for Roberto Mancini's side after Edin Dzeko had made the breakthrough.
Italy struggled to impress in the inaugural UEFA Nations League, finishing second behind eventual winners Portugal in their group, having only won one of their four matches.
Mancini's side stormed through their Euro 2020 qualification group, though, winning all 10 of their matches, scoring 37 times and conceding just four during an excellent campaign.
The Azzurri had actually been on an 11-game winning run entering the clash with Bosnia, but they were unable to make it 12 in a row, which has increased the importance of a positive result in this game.
Italy have a superior head-to-head record over the Netherlands, recording 10 victories from their 21 previous meetings in all competitions, suffering just three defeats in the process.
Netherlands Nations League form: WDWLW
Netherlands form (all competitions): WWWDWW
Italy Nations League form: DLWDD
Italy form (all competitions): WWWWWD
Team News
© Reuters
The bulk of the XI that started against Poland are again expected to take to the field for this match, meaning that new Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek is likely to be named on the bench once again.
There could be a change in the final third for the Netherlands, though, with Luuk de Jong potentially replacing Quincy Promes, which would see Memphis Depay drop into a wider position.
Stefan de Vrij has withdrawn from the squad through injury, while neither Matthijs de Ligt nor Daley Blind made the initial squad, meaning that Joel Veltman should continue alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defence.
As for Italy, Mancini is expected to make changes from the clash against Bosnia, with Ciro Immobile and Nicolo Zaniolo potentially replacing Andrea Belotti and Federico Chiesa in attack.
There will definitely be an alteration in central defence as the Italian head coach has already confirmed that Giorgio Chiellini will be coming into the XI in place of Francesco Acerbi.
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho is also pushing for a start, although it seems likely that Lorenzo Pellegrini will keep his position in the middle of the park.
Federico Bernardeschi pulled out of the squad ahead of the Bosnia clash due to a muscular problem, but Lorenzo Insigne overcame an ankle issue to start on Friday night.
Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; Hateboer, Veltman, Van Dijk, Ake; F. de Jong, De Roon; Depay, Wijnaldum, Bergwijn, L. de Jong
Italy possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Florenzi, Bonucci, Chiellini, Biraghi; Barella, Sensi, Pellegrini; Insigne, Immobile, Zaniolo
We say: Netherlands 1-1 Italy
Both sides will feel that they are capable of causing problems in the final third, and it promises to be a very interesting battle in Amsterdam. Italy's record against the Netherlands is excellent, but we are struggling to separate the two teams on this occasion, ultimately backing a low-scoring draw.
