Italy are without Andrea Pirlo for tonight's Euro 2016 qualifier against Bulgaria.

He is replaced by Marco Verratti,who makes his 11th appearance for the Azzurri, while Salvatore Sirigu starts ahead of Gianluigi Buffon as Italy goalkeeper.

Sassuolo striker Simone Zaza wins his fifth cap, partnering Borussia Dortmund's Ciro Immobile in attack.

Key man Ivelin Popov starts for Bulgaria, who have won one of their last five matches.

Bulgaria: Mihaylov; Bodurov, Minev, Manolev, Aleksandrov; Alexandrov, Milanov, Gadzhev, Popov, Dyakov; Micanski

Italy: Sirigu; Chiellini, Barzagli, Bonucci; Verratti, Bertolacci, Candreva, Antonelli, Darmian; Zaza, Immobile

Follow Sports Mole's live text updates of the Group H clash by clicking here.

Written by
Jonathan McIntosh