After their win in their opener against Switzerland and narrow home defeat to Sweden in Castel di Sangro, Italy are set to continue their Nations League journey against the teams that currently lead the FIFA ranking. In what will be two big tests, the Azzurre will face the World Champions at 17:45 CEST on Friday 27 October at the Stadio Arechi in Salerno, while their return fixture against the Swedes (the No.1 ranked team in the world) at the Malmö New Stadium is scheduled for 18:30 CET on Tuesday 31 October.

Andrea Soncin has called up 28 players for the double-header. Compared to the squad for the team’s first two games in Group 4, Lisa Boattin, Michela Catena, Cecilia Salvai and Martina Tomaselli are all back in the Italy fold, while Michela Cambiaghi has earned her first senior call-up. The Azzurre will gather at the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano on Sunday. On Wednesday 25 October, they will travel to Salerno, where, at the Arechi, they’ll put the finishing touches to their preparations the next day. After their game against Spain, the group will return to Coverciano, where they’ll remain until their departure for Sweden on Sunday 29 October.

Italy vs. Spain. Italy and Spain have met 17 times, with their last encounter finishing 1-1 on 1 July 2022 in Castel di Sangro following goals from Bergamaschi and Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas. In total, there have been eleven Azzurre wins compared to two Spanish victories; four draws complete the picture. Italy Women have played in Salerno twice before: the Azzurre beat Switzerland 2-1 there in 1970 before drawing 1-1 against Czechoslovakia in 1976. 

Sweden vs. Italy. The Azzurre haven’t beaten Sweden since Sabatino bagged the winner in Cremona in 2018. The last few meetings have seen Italy pick up a draw and suffer two defeats, including at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in the summer. The National Team previously took to the pitch in Malmö in 1990. Back then, the two sides played out a draw after a goal from Carta cancelled out Sundhage’s early opener. The upcoming clash at the New Stadium will be the 27th time Italy and Sweden have met, with the Azzurre’s record reading as follows: four wins, five draws and 17 defeats.

MEDIA ACCREDITATIONS - Media editors are informed that accreditation procedures for the game against Spain in Salerno are open exclusively on the online electronic system https://figc.getyourevent.online/ until Wednesday 25 October (18:00 CEST). It is only possible to submit an accreditation request after registering on the portal.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Roberta Aprile (Juventus), Rachele Baldi (Fiorentina), Laura Giuliani (Milan), Katja Schroffenegger (Fiorentina);
Defenders: Elisa Bartoli (Roma), Valentina Bergamaschi (Milan), Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Lucia Di Guglielmo (Roma), Sara Gama (Juventus), Martina Lenzini (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Alice Tortelli (Fiorentina);
Midfielders: Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Michela Catena (Fiorentina), Giulia Dragoni (Barcellona), Aurora Galli (Everton), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Giada Greggi (Roma), Martina Tomaselli (Roma);
Forwards: Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Agnese Bonfantini (Inter), Michela Cambiaghi (Inter), Sofia Cantore (Juventus), Benedetta Glionna (Roma), Valentina Giacinti (Roma), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Annamaria Serturini (Roma)

UEFA WOMEN’S NATIONS LEAGUE – LEAGUE A, GROUP 4

Friday 27 October
17:45 CEST - ITALY vs. Spain (Salerno)
18:30 CEST - Sweden vs. Switzerland

Tuesday 31 October
18:30 CET - Sweden vs. ITALY (Malmö)
19:00 CET - Switzerland vs. Spain

Friday 1 December
Spain vs. ITALY
Switzerland vs. Sweden

Tuesday 5 December
ITALY vs. Switzerland (Parma)
Spain vs. Sweden

STANDINGS (after matchday two)
Spain 6, Sweden and ITALY 3, Switzerland 0