Key Battles as Cesare Prandelli's Italy Take on Vicente Del Bosque's Spain

All that is necessary is to mutter "Italy versus Spain" and from those three words, one conjures up images of epic encounters and thoughts of pulsating play. In this week's round of international matches, the two meet again, with both bidding to gain a morale boost ahead of the fast-approaching World Cup.

It is now less than 100 days until the 20th World Cup begins and this round of international friendlies will go some way to showing who is looking superior and who is looking shaky. Italy and Spain are hailed as two of the favourites to be crowned champions—this encounter will see who has the stronger case.

We have to rewind only to last summer for when these two titans most recently met, in the Confederations Cup. The scene was set: It was the semi-finals and a tense goal-less draw had just been played. In the ensuing penalty shootout, La Furia Roja held their nerve to win 7-6.

It was the year before though, in Euro 2012, where they really tested each other's credentials. First there was the 1-1 stalemate in the group stage, with neither team willing to throw too much caution to the wind, before then meeting again in the final.

The stakes were high for both teams, with Italy wanting to rid themselves of recent mediocrity and Spain seeking to not just retain their title of European Champions but also add it to their World Cup victory of 2010. Eventually, Spain recorded an emphatic 4-0 victory.

Prior to that, there had been the quarter-final at the 1994 World Cup in USA, when Dino and Roberto Baggio put on a virtuoso display to defeat Javier Clemente's Spain 2-1 in the dramatic balmy air of Massachusetts.

You get the picture: These two teams are incapable of not putting on a show. It will also have a poignant aspect to it, being the first time the Spanish national team has played since the recent loss of former coach Luis Aragones.

Whilst this friendly does have all the hallmarks of a heavyweight bout, there will also be some notable omissions. Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has opted to leave out Chelsea's Fernando Torres and Manchester United's Juan Mata, whilst his counterpart Cesare Prandelli did not include Roma's Daniele De Rossi—the subject of a three-game ban for punching Inter's Mauro Icardi—whilst Milan's Mario Balotelli is nursing an injury.

This game will be won, and lost, in the micro-battles which engulf all areas of the pitch. Let's now take a look at five of those key battles and deduce who may emerge victorious.

This list has been compiled by examining the squads of both teams, assessing which players may play and also looking at this season's statistics of respective players.

Football stats procured from WhoScored.com, Squawka and Soccerway.

Diego Costa vs. Giorgio Chiellini

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press

Much excitement is surrounding Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa. Having opted to play for his adopted home of Spain—rather than his native Brazil, despite having been capped—he is now hoping to make his debut for the senior team and replicate the scintillating form he has already displayed at club level.

Here's a fact: Diego Costa's debut for Brazil also came against Italy. The game finished 2-2 but he did not trouble the scoresheet.

In take two of his assault on the international scene, the omens are looking good for the Atletico Madird striker: With 21 league goals so far this season he also scored the winning goal last week in the 1-0 win over AC Milan in the Champions League, Italy's sole representative in the competition.

In addition, with this game taking place in Atletico's Vicente Calderon stadium, he will have the added benefit of playing in known surroundings, where he has produced his most impressive performances.

Hoping to crash the party though will be Giorgio Chiellini. Stocked full of experience, his knowledge of the game easily offsets what he lacks in pace. Furthermore, he has remained injury-free so far this season, starting 20 of Juve's 26 league games with his consistent form helping them to achieve their imperious leading position.

Chiellini has not fared well against Spanish opposition this season though: In their Champions League tie against Real Madrid, he was dismissed after 29 minutes with the Italians going on to lose 2-1. 

Whilst debate may continue about whether a player can represent two countries at senior level, it should not detract from the bout which will play out between these two—as will be explored, Costa will be looking to make an immediate impact as to prove he can be Spain's leading striker.

Ciro Immobile vs. Sergio Ramos

Marco Vasini/Associated Press

The list of the current top-five scorers in Serie A yields few surprises. Juve's Carlos Tevez tops the chart with his Argentinian compatriot Gonzalo Higuain of Napoli close behind. The injury-stricken Giuseppe Rossi is up there as too is Luca Toni, with his goals being key to Verona's ascent up the table.

However, one name who does not carry the same resonance is that of Ciro Immobile, the 24-year-old whose rich vein of goal-scoring form has fired him into Prandelli's thoughts. With eight goals in his last ten games—taking his total to 13 for the season—it is hoped his prolific streak could continue all the way until the summer, where he could potentially partner Mario Balotelli.

Having scored ten goals in 14 Under-21 games, Immobile has displayed a penchant for international football. Yet to be capped at senior level though, making his debut against the world and European champions would be a real baptism of fire.

And waiting there for him on the pitch will be Sergio Ramos, one of the finest defenders of the modern generation and a player who was pivotal to Spain's international success over the last six years.

Immobile is representative of a number of young, hungry Italian players who are currently emerging in Serie A. Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne, AC Milan's Mattia de Sciglio and Andrea Poli and Juve's Angelo Ogbonna will all be aiming to build on their early domestic promise and demonstrate their credentials at international level.

The Italian FA (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio) are also hoping to convince Napoli's Brazilian-born midfield maestro Jorginho that he should instead opt for the blue of the Azzurri, and not the yellow of the selecao. As The Independent reported in December, the indications are that their wish will come true.

It is unfortunate that Domenico Berardi was not able to be part of this squad. On loan at Sassuolo from Juventus, he is a real live wire who is currently generating a lot of interest from the media (as displayed in this profile from the Daily Mail)—something which only increased when, in November, he became the only player ever to have scored four league goals against AC Milan.

Xavi vs. Andrea Pirlo

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press

This will be a salivating duel. Whenever these two sartorial magicians do battle—whether it be for club or country—a real high-octane encounter ensues, with both carrying the hopes and dreams of their team.

The last time they were pitted against each other, in the final of Euro 2012, it was the Spaniard who prevailed. Part of that reason could have been because Sergio Busquets had been deployed to annul the threat of Pirlo, leaving Xavi to pull the strings and provide two assists in the 4-0 win.

This time though, one can't help but feel it will be different. With no Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo's role will be more holistic as he and his Juventus teammate Claudio Marchisio will orchestrate proceedings.

Going into this game, both players boast identical stats: Both have played 20 league games, both have contributed three goals and both have pass success rates averaging 90 percent.

Unlike Pirlo's Juve, Xavi's Barcelona do not top the table—but unlike Barcelona, Juventus are no longer in the Champions League.

They are two players who are much-vaunted and upon whose performance the result may depend. This battle is one which we simply need to sit back, drink in and enjoy.

Alvaro Negredo vs. Gianluigi Buffon

Eugene Hoshiko/Associated Press

With David Villa injured and Fernando Torres cast into obscurity, now is a prime opportunity for Manchester City's Alvaro Negredo to display why he can be Spain's leading man in Brazil.

Whilst del Bosque has famously, and successfully, deployed a "false nine" formation of 4-6-0—where he didn't use a recognised striker—he does possess a phalanx of attacking talent in his team, a wealth of riches which would surely be thrust into the starting line-up of other teams. 

Negredo now has the chance and the momentum to seize this opportunity. Since signing in the summer, he has excelled in the EPL where his physical presence and sheer athleticism has reaped rewards: With nine league goals so far, he has also scored five goals in the Champions League. 

At international level, he has good pedigree. In 21 appearances at senior level, his ten goals show that there is life after record-scorer Villa and that Torres' profligacy does not need to be tolerated.

If he is to add to that tally this week though, he has an intimidating foe in his way: They simply do not come more fear-invoking than Italy's Gianluigi Buffon, a player who will surely be heralded as one of the game's greats.

Italy's most-capped player and having experienced a hugely successful career, Buffon wears the captain's armband with natural aplomb. Even at 36—and despite Juventus not possessing Serie A's meanest defence—his preternatural reflexes and unreal agility are something to behold. 

This will be an entertaining match-up with neither player lacking motivation to impress, particularly as Spain tend to play just one striker (either Negredo or Diego Costa in this game).

Whilst Buffon's place is not immediately at risk, Paris Saint-Germain's Salvatore Sirigu is a very able deputy who is playing superbly in Ligue 1 and could easily deputise. 

Lorenzo Insigne vs. Raul Albiol

Felice Calabro'/Associated Press

Occupying third spot, Napoli may be flying high in Serie A but on Wednesday evening two of their star players will be on opposing teams, wearing opposite colours, both hoping to shoot the other down.

Raul Albiol was one of a quadruplet of Spaniards who arrived in the Bay of Naples last summer (alongside Pepe Reina, Jose Callejon and coach Rafael Benitez) and his impact has been immediate. Starting 23 games, the 28-year-old has been a real bedrock in the centre of defence, helping them avoid defeat in eight of their last ten games.

On Wednesday evening though he will be hoping to use his domineering authority to thwart his Napoli teammate, the lively Lorenzo Insigne.

At just 22, the Italian striker lacks the experience of his adversary—who previously played for Real Madrid and was part of Spain's victorious squads in the last three main tournaments—but his feisty approach and unpredictable nature is one which can be exploited, as his recent goal against Swansea proved.

Having started 16 league games, and featured in an additional seven, the youngster is clearly trusted by Benitez—that faith is also being replicated by Italy boss Prandelli, who will provide the opportunity for the Neapolitan native to add to his four caps.

Whilst neither is guaranteed to start, and with Insigne tending to operate on the left-hand side of an attacking trident as opposed to troubling central defence, it is unlikely that they will have to do battle. But if their paths do cross, it will be intriguing to see how the elder stymies Insigne's youthful vigour.