Italy v Bulgaria background

Italy will bid to register a second victory against Bulgaria in Palermo, having been held to a 2-2 draw the last two times these sides met in competitive action in Sofia.

• The following players are a yellow card away from a ban: Matteo Darmian, Ciro Immobile (Italy), Svetoslav Dyakov, Yordan Minev, Veselin Minev and Ivelin Popov (Bulgaria).

Previous meetings
• Italy came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Bulgaria in Sofia when these teams faced off for the first time in Group H, in what was Ivaylo Petev's first game as Bulgaria coach.

• The countries have now met 18 times, with Italy's record reading W9 D7 L2. The most famous of those matches was a 2-1 triumph for Italy in the 1994 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, Roberto Baggio striking twice at Giants Stadium in New Jersey before Hristo Stoichkov replied from the penalty spot.

• The two sides also tussled in 2014 World Cup qualifying, Luboslav Penev's Bulgaria holding Cesare Prandelli's Italy 2-2 in Sofia before going down to Alberto Gilardino's goal in the return fixture.

• That away defeat – like this encounter – was in Palermo.

Form guide
• The 1-0 win against Malta in Florence on Thursday means Italy are unbeaten in 37 competitive home qualifiers (W31 D6) since a 3-2 reverse to Denmark on 8 September 1999. Should that run be extended to 38 games against Bulgaria, the Azzurri will not have lost a competitive home qualifier in 16 years.

• Italy have won seven of their eight competitive matches in Palermo, the exception being a 2-1 loss to Croatia in UEFA European Championship qualification in 1994.

• Bulgaria have alternated between wins and defeats in their last six qualifying away fixtures (LWLWLW) – should this pattern continue, they are set to slump in Palermo.

Trivia and links
• Bulgaria's Ivaylo Chochev plays his club football for US Città di Palermo.

• Italy's record in 14 matches against Bulgaria in UEFA age-group competitions is W10 D2 L2.