Alessandro Bastoni hooked in a clinical opener, Davide Frattesi tapped in a second and Michael Kayode added a third as Italy scored their first goals since Roberto Mancini’s return as head coach to establish a commanding early lead over Turkey in the Nations League at Bursa’s Ataturk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadium on Monday.
Inter centre-back Bastoni capitalised when Matteo Ruggeri’s unorthodox low corner rolled through a crowded penalty area, helped by Juventus defender Zeki Celik’s miscued clearance.
The opener will have offered some relief to Mancini, whose first match of his second spell in charge ended in a 2-0 defeat to Belgium in Rome in Italy’s Nations League opener on Friday.
Nerazzurri midfielder Davide Frattesi doubled the advantage in the 22nd minute, striking from close range after Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir could not hold Kayode’s arrowed shot from inside the box in torrential conditions.
Kayode fired in to complete a slick move five minutes later as Turkey, who lost 1-0 to France on Matchday 1, faced the prospect of four defeats in their last five matches following their two costly defeats during the World Cup 2026 group stage.
Turkey confirmed starting team vs Italy
Turkey made four changes to their starting side from the defeat to France, including Orkun Kokcu’s return from injury in place of Ismail Yuksek in midfield.
At the back, centre-half Ozan Kabak supplanted Abdulkerim Bardakci and Eren Elmali came in for Ferdi Kadıoglu at left-back as part of a defence in front of goalkeeper Bayindir, who started as a result of Ugurcan Cakir’s late red card on Matchday 1.
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 line up vs Turkey in Nations League
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, playmaker Sandro Tonali and forward Pio Esposito were the only players retained in Italy’s line-up from the loss to Belgium.
Brentford full-back Kayode and Aston Villa left-back Ruggeri made their debuts. Esposito’s brother, Sebastiano, was among the new faces.
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
Where to watch Turkey vs France: TV channel, live online stream
Kick-off on Monday was at 19:45 BST (14:45 ET / 11:45 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Amazon Prime PPV, which charges £2.49 for the game.
For coverage around the world, visit UEFA’s Nations League international broadcaster list.
Turkey vs Italy Nations League stats
- The game is Turkey’s 656th match of all time across a record spanning 260 wins and 244 defeats, with this their 11th in Bursa and third at the stadium
- They have never beaten Italy but scored their first-ever goal at a European Championship tournament against the Azzurri in a 2-1 defeat in Arnhem at EURO 2000
- Three of the last six meetings between these teams have been draws, all of which were friendlies in Turkey, including the most recent encounter when neither team scored in a friendly in Bologna in June 2024
- Turkey have conceded first in each of their last six matches, with France the only team along the way not to net the opener against them inside the first 28 minutes
- Crescent-Stars head coach Vincenzo Montella scored three goals in 20 caps as a striker for Italy between 1999 and 20025, appearing in the UEFA EURO 2000 final and at the 2002 World Cup
- Before the defeat to France and including friendlies, Turkey had lost one of their preceding nine home matches (W7 D1), the exception being a 6-0 defeat to current world champions Spain in World Cup qualifying last September
- Italy have won seven and lost one of their last 10 Nations League group away matches, including victories in their last four such games on the road
- They have not lost any of their 13 games against Turkey, winning nine times and amassing a total of 24 goals to seven for their opponents
- Alberto Orlando, who played for Italy between 1962 and 1965, has four goals in the fixture, with no other player scoring more than twice
- All of those goals came in a 6-0 EURO qualifying win in Bologna in December 1962, with Italy completing a 7-0 aggregate win in the return match
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com
