Bursa, Turkey – September 28: Michael Kayode celebrates his third goal with Sandro Tonali as Italy dominate the Nations League clash. Can Turkey recover?
Italy arrived in Turkey as a completely new outfit, cruising to a 4-1 win thanks to goals from Bastoni, Frattesi, debutant Kayode and Francesco Pio Esposito.
Both sides entered the Group A showdown after opening defeats, and Italy made eight changes, debuting Kayode, Matteo Ruggeri and Sebastiano Esposito – the first brothers to start together since 1915. Fagioli returned after a long absence and Bastoni came back from suspension.
Montella’s Turkish side lost keeper Ugurcan Cakir to a red card against France, earning a ban, while injuries sidelined Kenan Yildiz, Hakan Calhanoglu and Mert Muldur.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Pio Esposito’s through ball found Frattesi, whose angled strike skimmed the far post; a weak Ruggeri corner fell to Zeki Celik, whose miskick set up Bastoni for a 12‑yard finish, his first after a World Cup play‑off red card.
The second goal unfolded through crisp one‑touch exchanges among Frattesi, Pio Esposito and Giacomo Raspadori, ending with Kayode’s angled shot saved and rebounded to Frattesi at the back post.
Can Uzun mis‑timed a Barış Alper Yılmaz lay‑off, while Italy replicated the previous move, this time Pio Esposito released Kayode down the right for a near‑post finish that beat the keeper.
Italy hadn’t netted three times in the opening half‑hour of a competitive match since the September 2021 World Cup qualifier versus Lithuania.
Raspadori missed a chance after a Sebastiano Esposito back‑heel flick, and the Sassuolo forward failed to connect with a Kayode cross from another swift passing sequence.
Turkey reshuffled three players at the break and struck after 90 seconds when a cross‑field ball caught Ruggeri and Donnarumma off guard, allowing Oguz Aydın to feed Barış Alper Yılmaz for an easy finish.
Moments later Cambiaghi intercepted a loose pass, laid it back for Tonali’s curling shot, which rebounded off the far post for Pio Esposito to tap home, completing a 1‑4 lead; the Inter striker joins Giuseppe Meazza as the only under‑21 Italians with five international goals.
Giorgio Scalvini was beaten by a lofted ball, yet Donnarumma stayed clear, prompting a yellow card for Yılmaz for simulation.
A scare followed when Yılmaz’s angled effort clipped the far post after a clever Arda Güler pass, but Oguz Aydın was offside, interfering with Donnarumma’s attempt.
Altay Bayındır made a difficult save on Cambiaghi’s angled strike, then smothered the rebound before Kayode could tap it in.
Arda Güler’s curling effort missed the top corner, and Kerem Aktürkoğlu sent a six‑yard balloon over the bar after Güler dribbled past three defenders.
Bastoni 9 (I), Frattesi 22 (I), Kayode 27 (I), Barış Alper Yılmaz 47 (T), P Esposito 50 (I)
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