Italy Dominates Turkey in Nations League Opener with Early Goals

Italy established a commanding early lead against Turkey in the Nations League, scoring three goals within the first 28 minutes. Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring, followed by Davide Frattesi and Michael Kayode, marking Italy's first goals since Roberto Mancini's return as head coach. The match took place at Bursa’s Ataturk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadium.

Bastoni found the net first, capitalizing on a low corner from Matteo Ruggeri that navigated through a crowded penalty area, aided by a miscued clearance from Zeki Celik. This goal provided some relief for Mancini, whose first game back ended in a 2-0 loss to Belgium.

Davide Frattesi extended the lead in the 22nd minute, scoring from close range after goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failed to hold Kayode's shot amid heavy rain.

Kayode completed the early scoring five minutes later with a well-executed finish, putting further pressure on Turkey, who had already lost to France and faced the possibility of a fourth defeat in their last five matches.

Turkey Starting Lineup vs. Italy

Turkey made four adjustments to their lineup compared to the match against France. Orkun Kokcu returned in midfield, replacing Ismail Yuksek. In defense, Ozan Kabak came in for Abdulkerim Bardakci, and Eren Elmali took the left-back position, with Bayindir starting in goal due to Ugurcan Cakir's suspension.

Turkey: Altay Bayindir, Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Salih Ozcan, Orkun Kokcu, Arda Guler, Can Uzun, Eren Elmali, Ozan Kabak, Oguz Aydin, Baris Alper Yilmaz

Substitutes: Muhammed Sengezer, Samet Akaydin, Kerem Akturkoglu, Demir Ege Tiknaz, Deniz Gul, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ismail Yuksek, Irfan Can Kahveci, Yunus Akgun, Ferdi Kadioglu, Mustafa Eskihellac, Melih Kabasakal, Okan Kocuk

Italy Full Lineup vs. Turkey

Only goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sandro Tonali, and Pio Esposito remained in the starting eleven from Italy's previous match against Belgium. Brentford's Michael Kayode and Aston Villa's Matteo Ruggeri made their debuts at full-back. Pio's brother, Sebastiano Esposito, was also included.

Italy: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Michael Kayode, Matteo Ruggeri, Nicolo Fagioli, Pio Esposito, Sandro Tonali, Giacomo Raspadori, Davide Frattesi, Giorgio Scalvini, Alessandro Bastoni, Sebastiano Esposito

Substitutes: Guglielmo Vicario, Alessandro Romano, Riccardo Calafiori, Moise Kean, Gianluca Scamacca, Marco Carnesecchi, Rolando Mandragora, Issa Doumbia, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Antonio Vergara, Daniele Ghilardi, Giovanni Di Lorenzo

Match Statistics and History

• This was Turkey's 656th international match. They have won 260 and lost 244.
• Turkey has never defeated Italy. Their only goal against Italy in a major tournament was in a 2-1 loss at EURO 2000.
• Three of the last six encounters between these teams were draws, all friendlies in Turkey. The most recent was a 0-0 draw in Bologna in June 2024.
• Turkey had conceded the first goal in their last six matches prior to this game.
• Turkey's current head coach, Vincenzo Montella, scored three goals for Italy in 20 caps between 1999 and 2002.
• Before the loss to France, Turkey had lost only one of their previous nine home matches (7 wins, 1 draw).
• Italy has a strong record in away Nations League group games, winning seven of their last ten and their last four consecutively.
• Italy remains undefeated in 13 matches against Turkey, with nine wins and a 24-7 goal advantage.
• Alberto Orlando is Italy's top scorer against Turkey with four goals, all coming in a 6-0 win in December 1962.

English Translation:

Italy established a commanding early lead against Turkey in the Nations League, scoring three goals within the first 28 minutes. Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring, followed by Davide Frattesi and Michael Kayode, marking Italy's first goals since Roberto Mancini's return as head coach. The match took place at Bursa’s Ataturk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadium.

Bastoni found the net first, capitalizing on a low corner from Matteo Ruggeri that navigated through a crowded penalty area, aided by a miscued clearance from Zeki Celik. This goal provided some relief for Mancini, whose first game back ended in a 2-0 loss to Belgium.

Davide Frattesi extended the lead in the 22nd minute, scoring from close range after goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failed to hold Kayode's shot amid heavy rain.

Kayode completed the early scoring five minutes later with a well-executed finish, putting further pressure on Turkey, who had already lost to France and faced the possibility of a fourth defeat in their last five matches.

Turkey Starting Lineup vs. Italy

Turkey made four adjustments to their lineup compared to the match against France. Orkun Kokcu returned in midfield, replacing Ismail Yuksek. In defense, Ozan Kabak came in for Abdulkerim Bardakci, and Eren Elmali took the left-back position, with Bayindir starting in goal due to Ugurcan Cakir's suspension.

Turkey: Altay Bayindir, Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Salih Ozcan, Orkun Kokcu, Arda Guler, Can Uzun, Eren Elmali, Ozan Kabak, Oguz Aydin, Baris Alper Yilmaz

Substitutes: Muhammed Sengezer, Samet Akaydin, Kerem Akturkoglu, Demir Ege Tiknaz, Deniz Gul, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ismail Yuksek, Irfan Can Kahveci, Yunus Akgun, Ferdi Kadioglu, Mustafa Eskihellac, Melih Kabasakal, Okan Kocuk

Italy Full Lineup vs. Turkey

Only goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sandro Tonali, and Pio Esposito remained in the starting eleven from Italy's previous match against Belgium. Brentford's Michael Kayode and Aston Villa's Matteo Ruggeri made their debuts at full-back. Pio's brother, Sebastiano Esposito, was also included.

Italy: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Michael Kayode, Matteo Ruggeri, Nicolo Fagioli, Pio Esposito, Sandro Tonali, Giacomo Raspadori, Davide Frattesi, Giorgio Scalvini, Alessandro Bastoni, Sebastiano Esposito

Substitutes: Guglielmo Vicario, Alessandro Romano, Riccardo Calafiori, Moise Kean, Gianluca Scamacca, Marco Carnesecchi, Rolando Mandragora, Issa Doumbia, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Antonio Vergara, Daniele Ghilardi, Giovanni Di Lorenzo

Match Statistics and History

• This was Turkey's 656th international match. They have won 260 and lost 244.
• Turkey has never defeated Italy. Their only goal against Italy in a major tournament was in a 2-1 loss at EURO 2000.
• Three of the last six encounters between these teams were draws, all friendlies in Turkey. The most recent was a 0-0 draw in Bologna in June 2024.
• Turkey had conceded the first goal in their last six matches prior to this game.
• Turkey's current head coach, Vincenzo Montella, scored three goals for Italy in 20 caps between 1999 and 2002.
• Before the loss to France, Turkey had lost only one of their previous nine home matches (7 wins, 1 draw).
• Italy has a strong record in away Nations League group games, winning seven of their last ten and their last four consecutively.
• Italy remains undefeated in 13 matches against Turkey, with nine wins and a 24-7 goal advantage.
• Alberto Orlando is Italy's top scorer against Turkey with four goals, all coming in a 6-0 win in December 1962.