Italy beat Turkey 3-1 as Calafiori and Pio Esposito seal key win

Italy moved closer to the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals after beating Turkey 3-1 at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, with Riccardo Calafiori and Francesco Pio Esposito striking after Aral Simsir had briefly levelled the contest.

Italy 3-1 Turkey: key match facts

Gianluca Scamacca had put the hosts ahead after Italy controlled much of the opening phase, leading the line forcefully against the Turkey centre-backs and taking his chance clinically before his 56th-minute exit.

Turkey found a route back when Italy were exposed down the flank early in the second half. Simsir punished the defensive lapse in the 61st minute, but the visitors could not build on their momentum.

Roberto Mancini had already made a triple change in the 55th minute, replacing Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Matteo Ruggeri and bringing fresh attacking options. Calafiori, on from the bench, needed nine minutes to swing the game back Italy’s way. Nicolo Barella supplied the decisive pass for the 64th-minute goal.

Esposito had replaced Scamacca a minute later and kept Italy on the front foot. Alessandro Romano set up the late finish in the 87th minute, putting the result beyond Turkey after a difficult spell for the home side.

Midfield control and defensive work

Italy had only 45% of possession but remained organised without the ball. Issa Doumbia protected the defence and repeatedly helped recover and circulate possession, allowing Barella and Romano to operate further forward.

Romano combined sharp distribution with well-timed forward runs, while Barella’s energy proved important during the decisive transitions. Sandro Tonali replaced Barella in the 70th minute and helped settle the midfield as Italy closed out the match.

At the back, Alessandro Bastoni regularly carried the ball into midfield and helped Italy deal with Yunus Akgun’s movement. Gianluca Mancini was strong in the air, winning both of his aerial duels, as Italy registered 34 clearances.

Gianluigi Donnarumma made four saves and handled Turkey’s nine corners well. He had little chance against Simsir’s close-range equaliser.

Ruggeri endured a tougher evening on the left, receiving a yellow card in the 47th minute before being taken off eight minutes later. Michael Kayode replaced him and offered greater protection as Turkey pressed for another opening.

Daniel Maldini contributed defensively despite struggling to unlock Turkey’s compact shape, with Italy making seven interceptions across the match. Antonio Vergara provided balance from the wing but found it hard to get past Ismail Elmali consistently. Davide Frattesi arrived in the 84th minute to help protect the two-goal advantage.

What happens next

The win strengthens Italy’s push for a Nations League quarter-final place. Mancini will take particular encouragement from the impact of Calafiori and Esposito, whose introductions directly changed a match Turkey had threatened to turn after the interval.