Italy answered their opening Nations League defeat with a statement 4-1 win in Bursa, as Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi, debutant Michael Kayode and Francesco Pio Esposito dismantled Türkiye before Barış Alper Yılmaz replied early in the second half.
Match facts
- Result: Türkiye 1-4 Italy (half-time 0-3)
- Competition: UEFA Nations League A, Group 1, Matchday 2
- Venue: Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matlı Stadyumu, Bursa
- Scorers: Türkiye - Yılmaz 47'; Italy - Bastoni 9', Frattesi 22', Kayode 27', F. Esposito 50'
- Red cards: None
- Next: France v Italy; Türkiye v Belgium (Friday 2 October)
How the match unfolded
Both sides started Matchday 2 on zero points: Roberto Mancini's Italy had lost 2-0 at home to Belgium, while Vincenzo Montella's Türkiye had fallen 1-0 to France. Mancini made wholesale changes, handing senior debuts to Michael Kayode, Matteo Ruggeri and Sebastiano Esposito alongside a return for Bastoni, Frattesi and Nicolò Fagioli.
Italy struck early. In the ninth minute Ruggeri's corner was met by Bastoni, who headed past Altay Bayındır to settle the visitors. Giacomo Raspadori and the Esposito brothers stretched Türkiye's back three, and in the 22nd minute Frattesi made it 2-0 with a composed finish after Italy worked the ball through midfield.
Kayode then marked his first senior cap with a goal. Left unmarked in the box in the 27th minute, the Brentford right-back finished after Francesco Pio Esposito helped create the opening, sending Italy into a 3-0 lead that they held to half-time. Can Uzun was booked before the break as Türkiye's frustration grew on a wet surface.
Montella changed shape at the interval, introducing Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Abdulkerim Bardakcı and İsmail Yüksek. Within two minutes of the restart Yılmaz pulled one back, finishing after Oğuz Aydın's assist to make it 1-3. Italy's response was immediate: Francesco Pio Esposito restored the three-goal cushion in the 50th minute.
Raspadori, carrying a knock, was withdrawn at the break for Nicolò Cambiaghi. Türkiye pressed hard down Italy's right in the final half-hour — Aktürkoğlu ballooned over from close range after Arda Güler's work, Kabak was booked, and Gianluigi Donnarumma made a late near-post save from Aydın — but Italy managed the game. Gianluca Scamacca and Giovanni Di Lorenzo were among the late changes as Mancini closed out a first Nations League win of the campaign.
What it means for Group 1
Italy climb to three points, level with Belgium and three behind France, who beat the Red Devils 1-0 in Brussels later the same evening. Türkiye remain bottom on zero points with a -4 goal difference after two home defeats. Mancini told Sky Sport Italia he was satisfied with the approach on a muddy pitch and praised Kayode's debut "quite aside from the goal", while stressing the win did not erase the Belgium defeat. The sharper one-touch play and aggressive full-backs were the clearest change from that opening night.
What happens next
Italy travel to Paris to face France on Friday 2 October. Türkiye host Belgium in the same window, needing points to climb off the foot of Group 1.