Italy earned a 1-1 draw on the road against France in the Nations League, as Alessandro Bastoni wiped out Michael Olise’s opener in Paris. France ended the game with ten men following Dayot Upamecano’s dismissal.
The Azzurri made two alterations from the lineup that defeated Türkiye 4-1, with Riccardo Calafiori coming back in at left-back and Moise Kean taking the place of the injured Giacomo Raspadori. Michael Kayode also retained his spot after a standout debut that featured a goal, while Nicolò Barella surprisingly started on the bench.
France 1-1 Italy in an entertaining first half
Italy carved out the first big chance after eight minutes when Kayode delivered a low cross from the right. Kean had an opportunity to score from close range at the back post, but his mishit attempt allowed Mike Maignan to save.
France went close when a Désiré Doué cross deflected off Sandro Tonali and hit the top of the crossbar. At the other end, Sebastiano Esposito failed to connect cleanly with a promising volley.
Ousmane Dembélé tested Gianluigi Donnarumma, though he was ultimately flagged offside. Italy then created two notable chances in the 42nd minute. Pio Esposito headed down a long Kayode throw-in for Davide Frattesi, whose shot was deflected just wide. From the ensuing corner, Kean found the net but was ruled offside.
Nations League pressure after the break
France maintained their attacking pressure after the interval, but Donnarumma produced a superb double save. He first denied a curling attempt from Doué before reacting swiftly to stop Dembélé from close range. The Italy goalkeeper then saved another Olise effort moments later.
France finally broke the deadlock when a Rayan Cherki free-kick from just outside the box was flicked on for Olise. His powerful strike deflected off the wall before bouncing into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
Italy responded by bringing on Napoli winger Antonio Vergara for his debut and shifting Kean into a centre-forward role. The change quickly paid off as a Vergara counterattack was blocked, while Da Cunha was dispossessed by Bastoni, who had surged forward from defence. The defender then fired into the net from the edge of the area.
Bastoni’s equaliser was the first goal conceded by Zidane’s France and meant the French side had still not kept a clean sheet against Italy since their 0-0 draw in September 2007.
Bastoni and Donnarumma preserve Italy’s draw
Donnarumma remained central to Italy’s resistance, getting down to make a decisive fingertip save from Adrien Rabiot and push the angled effort around the far post. France also appealed for a penalty after an accidental coming together between Doué and Barella, but the claims were rejected.
Italy came close to completing the comeback when Vergara floated a cross towards the back post for Kean. His looping header was tipped onto the top of the crossbar by Maignan, while Donnarumma later made another impressive save to palm away an Eduard Camavinga strike.
France were reduced to 10 men when Upamecano received a second yellow card. The defender was first booked for arguing with Kean before receiving another yellow for wrestling the striker to the ground.
Barella then failed to make clean contact with a deflected Vergara pull-back from 10 yards, sending the ball over the crossbar. In stoppage time, Donnarumma denied another Camavinga effort before Bastoni made a crucial sliding challenge on Olise, with France’s penalty appeals again rejected.