Italy and Newcastle wait for Tonali medical tests as World Cup play-off loom | OneFootball

Italy star Sandro Tonali will undergo an MRI scan today to learn the extent of a muscle injury suffered during Wednesday’s Champions League match against Barcelona.

Italy and Newcastle will wait for the outcome of Tonali’s medical tests today, Gazzetta reports.

The Italian midfielder was forced to be substituted during the second half of a Champions League match against Barcelona on Wednesday due to a suspected muscle injury.

Newcastle coach Eddie Howe admitted after the match that Tonali is in doubt for the next Premier League fixture against Sunderland, but the Italy national team is even more concerned as the Azzurri will play in the World Cup play-off next week.

Sandro Tonali plays for Italy in Moldova during the 2026 World Cup qualifier (@azzurri)

The Azzurri will host Northern Ireland in the semi-final in Bergamo on March 26, and if they progress to the Final, they’ll play away against Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Tonali was one of the Italy players with a guaranteed spot in the squad and in the starting XI, so coach Gennaro Gattuso will be hoping for good news from Newcastle today.