Manager Roberto Mancini secured the first victory of his second stint in charge of Italy as his squad defeated Turkey 4-1 in the UEFA Nations League on Monday. The convincing win in Bursa provided a vital response following an opening 2-0 defeat to Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico.
Italy established a commanding three-goal advantage before halftime. They displayed a ruthless attacking performance after making eight changes from their previous fixture. Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring in the ninth minute, turning in a corner from close range to set the tone for the visitors.
The Azzurri doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute. Davide Frattesi pounced on a parried shot from debutant Michael Kayode to tap home. Just five minutes later, Kayode capped his international debut with a goal of his own, finishing off a well-worked team move with a low strike past Turkey goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
Rapid Response After the Break
Turkey, managed by former Italy striker Vincenzo Montella, faced jeers from their home supporters at halftime. The hosts attempted a comeback early in the second half when Baris Alper Yilmaz swept in a low cross from Oguz Aydin in the 47th minute to reduce the deficit.
However, any hopes of a Turkish revival were quickly extinguished. In the 50th minute, Sandro Tonali saw his powerful strike rattle the post. Pio Esposito reacted quickest to head the rebound past Bayindir, restoring Italy’s three-goal cushion.
Despite late pressure from the hosts, the visitors comfortably saw out the match. This pressure included blocked efforts from Arda Guler and Kerem Akturkoglu, alongside sharp saves by Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Group A1 Standings and Next Steps
The 4-1 victory moves Italy into third place in Group A1 with three points from their opening two matches. Meanwhile, Turkey remains at the bottom of the group without a point. In the other Group A1 fixture, France moved to the top of the standings after Michael Olise scored an 88th-minute winner to secure a 1-0 victory over Belgium in Brussels.
Mancini and his squad will now turn their attention to their next challenge. They will travel to face group leaders France at the Stade de France on Friday.
Match Summary Statistics
- Result: Turkey 1 – 4 Italy
- Competition: UEFA Nations League (Group A1)
- Venue: Bursa, Turkey
- Italy Scorers: Alessandro Bastoni (9′), Davide Frattesi (22′), Michael Kayode (27′), Pio Esposito (50′)
- Turkey Scorer: Baris Alper Yilmaz (47′)
