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Italy vs Hungary Live Stream & Predictions – Hungarian Defense to Shine at the European Championship

vedran-ostojic
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Last updated: Sun 18 Jan 2026 10:23
Hungary's defense demonstrated exceptional strength in the opening round against Italy. Despite Italy's reputation, they've had ongoing challenges in successfully scoring against high-level opponents. The analysis forecasts that Italy is unlikely to score over 27.5 team goals against this elite Hungarian defense. This matchup highlights the importance of defensive prowess and strategic planning in international competitions.
Vedran Ostojic 18 Jan 2026
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  • Hungary's defense was elite in the opening round
  • We don't see Italy scoring a lot of goals tonight
  • Watch Italy vs Hungary live at the European Championship
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Watch Hungary vs Italy Live (Getty Images)

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Hungary delivered a defensive masterclass against Poland in the opening round, while Italy struggled badly to generate offense against Iceland. With the Magyars facing another attack-oriented but limited opponent, it’s hard to see Italy breaking through consistently against one of the tournament’s strongest defensive squads. 

Italy Struggling Against Elite Opposition 


Italy’s hopes of progressing at the European Championship 2026 took a major hit after a heavy 39–26 defeat to Iceland on Friday. Their offense never found rhythm, with Leo Prantner leading the scoring charts on just six goals. 

They qualified for the tournament as one of the best third-placed teams, finishing behind Spain and Serbia in Group 4 and ahead of Latvia, posting a 3–3 record in the process. 

January friendlies brought mixed outcomes. Italy edged Romania 35–34, beat the Faroe Islands 36–34, then lost the rematch 38–34, once again underlining their defensive issues when games open up. 

Hungary’s Defense Setting the Tone 


Hungary were extremely convincing in their opening clash, dominating Poland 29–21 with discipline and physicality at the back. Richard Bodó led the scoring with five goals, but the real difference came in Hungary’s ability to shut down Poland’s backcourt. 

The Magyars cruised through qualification, topping Group 2 ahead of Montenegro, Finland and Slovakia with five wins and one draw, scoring 203 goals across six matches. 

Preparation was limited but effective. Hungary played just one friendly earlier this month, comfortably beating Romania 33–23 in a controlled performance from start to finish. 

Verdict

Hungary’s defensive structure looked elite in the opening round, and Italy have consistently struggled offensively against top-tier opposition. I don’t expect the Azzurri to reach the high 20s here. Italy under 27.5 team goals is the play. 

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18 Jan 2026

Italy v Hungary