Italy put on a much stronger performance against Türkiye, securing a 4-1 win with goals from Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi, Michael Kayode, and Francesco Pio Esposito.

The Azzurri found themselves at the bottom of Nations League Group A after dropping their first match, but they came back with a commanding first-half display. Vincenzo Montella’s Türkiye also lost their opening fixture, and they were forced into multiple lineup changes due to injuries and suspensions.

Italy made eight changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Belgium, handing debuts to Michael Kayode, Matteo Ruggeri, and Sebastiano Esposito. Sebastiano and Francesco Pio Esposito became the first brothers to start together for Italy since 1915, while Nicolò Fagioli appeared for the first time since October 2024, and Bastoni returned from suspension.

Italy seize control with three first-half goals

Pio Esposito nearly broke the deadlock when he latched onto a Frattesi pass, only for his angled shot to be tipped wide. From the ensuing corner, Zeki Celik’s poor clearance fell to Bastoni, who smashed the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

That goal marked Bastoni’s first appearance since his costly red card in the World Cup play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Italy then doubled their lead with a fluid passing move. Frattesi, Pio Esposito, and Giacomo Raspadori exchanged a series of one-touch passes before Kayode’s angled effort was parried into Frattesi’s path at the back post.

Türkiye found it hard to hit back, with Can Uzun wasting a Baris Alper Yilmaz layoff. Italy responded with another quick passing sequence, as Pio Esposito sent Kayode down the right, and the debutant finished at the near post.

The Azzurri had scored three goals within the first half-hour of a competitive match for the first time since their World Cup qualifier against Lithuania in September 2021.

Türkiye pulls one back after the break

Italy kept creating chances before half-time. Raspadori swept an effort over after Sebastiano Esposito’s back heel, while another passing move ended with Kayode crossing for Raspadori, whose volley missed the target.

Türkiye made three changes at the interval and quickly reduced the deficit. Just 90 seconds into the second half, a cross-field pass caught Ruggeri and Gianluigi Donnarumma off guard, allowing Oguz Aydin to get down the right and pull the ball back for Baris Alper Yilmaz to finish into an empty net.

Italy’s response was immediate. Substitute Nicolò Cambiaghi intercepted a loose pass and pulled the ball back from the left, with Sandro Tonali curling an effort against the far post. Pio Esposito was on hand to head in the rebound and restore Italy’s three-goal lead.

That goal made Pio Esposito only the second player to score more than five goals for Italy before turning 21, after Giuseppe Meazza.

Italy withstands late Türkiye pressure

Türkiye continued to threaten, with Giorgio Scalvini beaten by a long ball over the top. Donnarumma did not make contact with Baris Alper Yilmaz, but the forward was booked for simulation.

There was another scare when Yilmaz’s angled effort went in off the inside of the far post following a clever pass from Arda Guler. However, Oguz Aydin was offside and interfering with Donnarumma’s attempted save, so the goal was disallowed.

Italy also had chances to extend their lead. Altay Bayindir made a difficult save from Cambiaghi’s angled strike before smothering the loose ball ahead of Kayode, who was ready to tap in.

Arda Guler then curled an effort wide of the far top corner, while Kerem Akturkoglu missed a major chance from six yards after Guler had dribbled past three players inside the penalty area.

Italy ultimately held on for a convincing 4-1 victory, completing a much-needed response after their opening Nations League defeat.