Bonucci reveals Mancini will mark Haaland in Italy vs. Norway ‘battle’

Italy member of staff Leonardo Bonucci reveals Gianluca Mancini will be ‘most involved in the battle’ with Erling Haaland of Norway in tonight’s showdown.

It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

Although a win here would put both teams joint top on 21 points, it would require a 9-0 result to overturn the huge gap in goal difference.

Norway have a 100 per cent record in this World Cup qualifying group, having won all seven games with 33 goals scored and only four conceded.

“This is a match where the objective is to win, create consistency, and prepare for March with the utmost confidence and self-esteem, as winning helps you to keep winning,” Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia.

Haaland is the top scorer in the European qualifying campaign with an incredible 14 goals in seven games, facing off tonight against his Manchester City teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The Azzurri switch back to a 3-5-2 formation after playing with the 4-4-2 in Thursday’s 2-0 victory away to Moldova.

“Haaland is proving himself to be a great striker, but we have great defenders who have always done well against players like this,” noted former centre-back Bonucci.

“We have the utmost faith in them, Mancini will be the one most involved in that battle, and we are sure Gianluca will have a strong performance, along with the whole team.”

Roma defender Mancini has made an impact for Italy in attack too, scoring in each of his last two games for the Nazionale.

Italy therefore know they are heading towards the World Cup play-offs, which will be in March 2026 with a semi-final and then a final to book their place at the tournament. Are they already looking at the potential opponents?

“We are concentrated on this evening, because the stadium is full, there is lots of enthusiasm that we’ve got to keep going so that we can arrive in March in the best condition,” concluded Bonucci.