Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella will be handed a starting berth when Italy face Bulgaria in a 2022 World Cup Qualifier in Sofia tomorrow.
The Azzurri look to build on a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in their opening match in Group C, before taking on Lithuania on Wednesday.
As reported on Italian television channel Sky Sport 24 earlier today, coach Roberto Mancini is expected to play Barella from the start alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti.
However, fellow Nerazzurri midfielder Stefano Sensi is likely to miss out, with the final spot in the middle expected to go to Sassuolo’s Manuel Locatelli.
Elsewhere, Inter centre-back Alessandro Bastoni is set for a place on the bench in Bulgaria, with Lazio defender Francesco Acerbi selected to partner Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci at the back in the absence of Giorgio Chiellini.
Barella made his Italy debut in a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in October 2018 and has gone on to earn 19 caps for the Azzurri, scoring four goals. Sensi, meanwhile, has represented the national team six times whilst Bastoni has three caps.
