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Italy v Türkiye - UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A1 MD4Getty Images Sport
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Italy do not shine, but win again: 3-1 against Turkey and second place in the table

Italy end this long international break with a win and, for the second time in seven days, beat Turkey in Group 1 of League A in the Nations League. Roberto Mancini's Azzurri came through 3-1 in a game that was far from straightforward and less convincing than the 4-1 win in Turkey, but it gives Italy more momentum and confidence as they move up to second in the group behind France, who beat Belgium.


Mancini made nine changes from the draw in Paris with France and Italy, especially in midfield and in their defensive reading of the game, took a little time to get going. Scamacca's early goal was almost accidental, but it helped free up a side that looked a little sluggish and too imprecise. Vincenzo Montella's Turkey, who also made plenty of changes and were without almost all their stars, chose to attack the space in behind and make runs off the ball so as not to offer reference points, with Donnarumma particularly alert to the lively Simsir. After the break Mancini changed things, but while Italy were settling they conceded the 1-1 goal scored by Simsir himself. The equaliser lasted only four minutes, though, because Calafiori headed in Barella's free-kick to make it 2-1 straight away. Late on the Azzurri improved further and, despite losing Vergare to injury, also found the goal for 3-1 through Pio Esposito, who applied the finishing touch to Romano's shot-cross.


That leaves Italy ending this international break on a clear upward curve. The seven points won in four matches push the opening defeat to Belgium into the background and, ahead of the November break, leave the Azzurri second in the table with two matches still to play for qualification to the Nations League quarter-finals, away to Belgium and at home to France.


Italy-Turkey 3-1

Scorers: 26' Scamacca (I), 61' Simsir (T), 65' Calafiori (I), 87' Pio Esposito (I)


  • Goals and key moments

    87' GOAL - Doumbia produces a brilliant piece of play, winning a shoulder-to-shoulder duel with Bardacki and cutting inside all the way into the penalty area before unleashing a left-footed shot that Celik blocks at the last. Romano pounces on the loose ball and tries a shot-cross, with Pio Esposito doing well to get a foot to it and beat Cakir.


    83' WHAT A RISK! - Another long ball causes problems for the Azzurri defence, with Donnarumma rushing out for Akturkoglu, who gets there first and tries to score with a long left-footed lob that, fortunately for Italy, does not find the target.


    77' GOAL - Another wobble from the Azzurri down Turkey's right flank. Calafiori loses Akgun, who bursts forward, and Bastoni is forced to come out, opening a gap on the edge of the area. Akgun then tees up the onrushing Ozcan, whose first-time right-footed effort Donnarumma turns behind for a corner with an alert save.


    65' GOAL - Turkey's equaliser lasts only four minutes. Barella goes down in the right inside channel and convinces Marciniak to blow for the equaliser. The Inter midfielder takes it himself, hanging up a cross to the far post where Calafiori, leaning slightly on Elmali's back, rises highest and heads past Cakir. Montella and Turkey are furious over the push, but Marciniak does not change his mind.


    61' GOAL -A vertical ball from Akgun picks out the forward run of Celik, forgotten by Doumbia. The Juventus full-back's cross finds Elmali in the middle, and his involuntary backheel sets up Simsir and wrongfoots the entire Italy defence. At the far post, the Trabzonspor forward has a simple finish to beat Donnarumma.


    57' CHANCE - Maldini produces a brilliant piece of play and spreads it left to Pio Esposito. The Inter forward spots Doumbia's run into the area, and the midfielder controls it and shoots right-footed with only Cakir to beat, but the goalkeeper produces a fine old-fashioned star-shaped save and keeps out the effort with his foot.


    50' A misunderstanding between Di Lorenzo and Donnarumma sees them let the ball run on the edge of the area, where Simsir pounces. The Turkish attacker keeps it in play and cuts inside on the byline, only for the recovering Bastoni to stop him at the last moment for a corner.


    40' Italy switch play from right to left, with Ruggeri exploiting Doumbia's run and collecting the ball on the edge of the area. He controls and shoots right-footed, and the defence deflects the effort behind for a corner.


    26' GOAL - Vergara and Di Lorenzo combine on the right before the Napoli full-back swings in a cross. In the middle, Doumbia and Scamacca jump together, with the midfielder's header striking the striker on the back. The ball stays there and, in an instant, the Atalanta forward sets himself and unleashes a powerful right-footed shot that clips the crossbar and ends up in the net.


    17' CHANCE - Akgun makes another run into the Azzurri penalty area and tries to loop a header over Donnarumma, but the Italy goalkeeper is well positioned and gathers high.


    16' Another fine move from the back by Turkey picks out Khaveci between the lines. The ball reaches Ozcan, who curls a shot that Donnarumma does well to hold.


    14' CHANCE - Kabak gets a shot away from the edge of the area. It is a fine, powerful low diagonal effort that Donnarumma stretches to save for a corner.


    12' A very dangerous vertical pass out from defence catches the Italy defence exposed. Khaveci's control is not perfect and the danger passes, but had he brought it down well he would have been clean through on Donnarumma.


    11' Scamacca controls the ball, shifts it onto his right foot and unleashes a powerful shot from the edge of the area that does not find the target.


    0' Kick-off at 20.45 at the Dall'Ara Stadium in Bologna.


    INFO, STATISTICS AND MINUTE-BY-MINUTE LIVE BLOG HERE

  • Italy-Turkey: the match report

    Italy 3-1 Turkey


    Scorers: 26' Scamacca (I), 61' Simsir (T), 65' Calafiori (I), 87' Pio Esposito (I)


    ITALY (4-3-3) - Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo (55' Kayode), Mancini, Bastoni, Ruggeri (55' Calafiori); Barella (70' Tonali), Romano, Doumbia; Vergara (83' Frattesi), Scamacca (55' Pio Esposito), Maldini.

    Available: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Cambiaghi, Fagioli, Inacio, Scalvini, S. Esposito.

    Head coach: Mancini.


    TURKEY (5-4-1) - Cakir; Celik, Elmali, Kabak, Bardakci, Kadioglu; Akgun, Yuksek (78' Akturkoglu), Ozcan, Kahveci (70' Elmaz); Simsir (70' Fakili).

    Available: Bayindir, Sengezer, Demiral, Topcu, Demir Tiknaz, Gul, Kabasakal, Aydin, Eskihellac.

    Head coach: Montella.


    Referee: Marciniak (POL)

    Booked: Scamacca (I), Ruggeri (I), Celik (T), Bardakci (T)

    Sent off: -

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