Teams looking to move into the driver's seat in Group G clash when Sweden face off with Italy at the 2023 Women's World Cup on Saturday. Sweden, who are looking to finish higher than the third-place they earned in France in 2019, opened with a 2-1 victory over South Africa in their first match on Sunday. Italy, who placed seventh in 2019, have finished as high as sixth in 1991. They earned a 1-0 win over Argentina in Monday's tournament opener. The sides have met 24 times over the years with Sweden holding a 15-4-5 edge.
The match from Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand, will begin at 3:30 a.m. ET. Sweden enter as the favorite at -110 (risk $110 to win $100) on the money line. Italy are at +320, while a draw is set at +215 in the latest Sweden vs. Italy odds at Caesars Sportsbook. The over/under for total goals is 2.5. Before making any Italy vs. Sweden picks, check out what SportsLine soccer expert Brandt Sutton has to say.
Sutton, a former collegiate soccer player, has been SportsLine's top soccer editor for more than five years. He has followed soccer closely for much longer and factors in managerial tactics, projected lineups and past performances to make the most informed decisions possible, keeping his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.
Sutton finished 2022 as SportsLine's top soccer expert with a 165-130-2 mark, returning nearly $2,200 for $100 players. He also entered the World Cup on an 11-6 roll on all soccer picks, returning +332 during that span.
Now, Sutton has set his sights on Italy vs. Sweden and revealed his Women's World Cup best bets. You can only see them over at SportsLine. Now here are the odds and trends for Sweden vs. Italy:
- Italy vs. Sweden spread: Sweden -0.5 (-115), Italy +0.5 (-115)
- Italy vs. Sweden over/under: 2.5 goals
- Italy vs. Sweden money line: Sweden -110, Italy +320, Draw +215
- SWE: Have gone 3-1-2 since the start of the year
- ITA: Have been on a roll, winning four and playing to a draw in their last five matches
- Italy vs. Sweden picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back Sweden
The Swedes have six players with 20 or more career goals for the national team. One of those is 33-year-old Vice Captain Kosovare Asllani. The midfielder has scored 44 goals in 170 appearances, including three in 2023 World Cup qualifying. She had four in 2019 World Cup qualifying and scored three times in the 2019 World Cup in France. Since last season, she has played domestically for A.C. Milan, scoring nine goals in 17 matches.
Forward Stina Blackstenius is another weapon on offense. The 27-year-old has scored 28 goals in 90 matches for the Swedes. She scored three times in 2023 World Cup qualifying and scored five times at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan. Since the start of 2021, she has registered 14 goals in 32 matches for Sweden. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why you should back Italy
Cristiani Girelli helps lead the Italian offense. In 104 appearances for the Italian national team, she has registered a team-high 53 goals. The 33-year-old was a big part of her side's 2019 FIFA World Cup success, when they reached the quarterfinals and finished seventh overall. Between the qualifiers and the first stage of the tournament, she registered 10 goals. She scored three times in a 5-0 win over Jamaica in the first stage and had two other multi-goal matches in qualifying. She has eight goals between qualifying and the first stage of the 2023 Women's World Cup, including two multi-goal matches.
Also helping power the Italians is forward Barbara Bonansea. The 32-year-old has 30 goals in 95 appearances for the national team. She scored a pair of goals in 2023 World Cup qualifying, and scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Australia during the 2019 FIFA World Cup. Bonansea has been a member of Juventus in Serie A on the women's side since 2017, where she has registered 49 goals in 90 appearances. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Italy vs. Sweden picks
Sutton has taken an intensive look at the Sweden vs. Italy matchup and locked in his confident best bets, including one that returns plus money. He's only sharing his picks and analysis on SportsLine.
What are the best bets for Sweden vs. Italy? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Italy vs. Sweden, all from SportsLine's No. 1 soccer expert in 2022, and find out.