Italy end 1,198-day wait for Mancini victory with emphatic Nations League win over Turkey

Italy ended a 1,198-day wait for a victory with Roberto Mancini by beating Turkey 4-1 in their UEFA Nations League Group A match in Bursa.

Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi, Michael Kayode and Pio Esposito scored for the Azzurri, while Barıs Yılmaz replied for Turkey.

The result was Italy’s first win by a margin of three goals since November 2019, when they defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-0. It was also their first victory with Mancini since a 3-2 success against the Netherlands in June 2023.

Turkey suffered their heaviest defeat in the Nations League. They have still never beaten Italy, who have now recorded eight wins and four draws in the sides’ previous meetings.

Italy moved on to three points, level with Belgium and behind leaders France, who have six points. Turkey remain bottom without a point.

Italy will face France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris, on Friday, 2 October. Turkey will travel to play Belgium in the third round of group matches.

Esposito brothers make history

Sebastiano Esposito and his brother Francesco Pio Esposito started together in attack for Italy.

It was the first time two brothers had played in the same match for Italy since Filippo Inzaghi and Simone Inzaghi appeared together in 2000.

Arda Guler and Barıs Yılmaz led the Turkey attack.

Italy take control early

Turkey goalkeeper Altay Bayındır produced an important save to deny Pio Esposito in the eighth minute.

Italy took the lead a minute later when Bastoni’s low shot found the net. Frattesi then doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute, finishing a move built by a sequence of excellent passes.

The visitors added a third five minutes later. Advanced full-back Michael Kayode found space inside the Turkey penalty area and converted a low shot after benefiting from poor defensive marking.

Italy therefore went into half-time 3-0 ahead.

Turkey pulled one goal back two minutes after the restart. Oguz Aydın took advantage of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s advanced position and sent a low cross into the area, where Yılmaz was able to turn the ball into an unguarded net in the 47th minute.

Italy almost restored their three-goal lead when Sandro Tonali struck the right post in the 50th minute. Esposito reacted quickest to the rebound and headed into the net to make it 4-1.

Substitute Kerem Akturkoglu had an opportunity to reduce the deficit, but his effort went over the crossbar as Italy secured a comprehensive victory.