League of Nations: Italy beat Türkiye 3-1 in Bologna
According to Sports.
Context
Italy's victory in the Nations League not only improves their ranking, but also highlights the evolution of players like Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito, who are gaining experience and confidence. The presence of new talents in the starting eleven, such as Antonio Vergara and Issa Doumbia, could be an indication of Mancini's strategy to revitalize the team and prepare for the next challenges in the UEFA Nations League.
Why this matters
Italy's 3-1 victory over Turkey in the Nations League is crucial to their campaign, placing them 2nd in Group A with 7 points. This result not only improves the team's confidence after a difficult start, but also reinforces its position in the fight to qualify for the next stage of the competition. The performance of players like Calafiori, who scored his first goal for the national team, is a positive sign for the future of the Nazionale.
Main conclusions
- League of Nations: Italy beats Türkiye 3-1 in Bologna.
- Italy defeated Turkey 3-1 in the Nations League.
- Nations League | Italy 3-1 Turkiye: Calafiori first goal for fresh victory - Yahoo Sports.
Italy beat Turkey 3-1, this Sunday, at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium, in Bologna, adding three important points in the group stage of the 2026/27 edition of the UEFA Nations League. Gianluca Scamacca opened the way, Riccardo Calafiori scored the first goal for the national team and Pio Esposito closed the score, in a game in which Roberto Mancini's team needed to know how to suffer to win again.
The Azzurri arrived at this match on a positive note, after a shaky start to the group. A 2-0 home defeat to Belgium was followed by a convincing 4-1 on Turkish soil and a 1-1 draw in France. In Bologna, the series ended with a new victory, which places Italy in 2nd place in Group A, with 7 points, also benefiting from France's 4-1 victory over Belgium in the other game of the day.
Mancini made a real revolution in the eleven, with nine changes compared to the previous game, keeping only Alessandro Bastoni, who had scored two goals in the last two matches. Moise Kean was out injured and there were first-team debuts for Antonio Vergara and Issa Doumbia. On the Turkish side, Vincenzo Montella arrived under pressure from recent poor results — three defeats, one goal scored and eight conceded — and further limited by the absences of names like Kenan Yildiz and Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, as well as the injured Can Uzun and the suspended Baris Alper Yilmaz and Arda Güler.
The first warning even belonged to Turkey: Gianluigi Donnarumma denied Ozan Kabak with a low shot at the near post and, shortly afterwards, responded to a header from Yunus Akgün after Nicolò Barella lost the ball. Scamacca scored in the 23rd minute, but was offside. However, it didn't take long for him to open the scoring: he tried to cushion Giovanni Di Lorenzo's cross, the ball deflected off Ozan Kabak's shoulder and the Italian forward, on his turn, fired in with his right foot, with the ball hitting the crossbar before going in.
Turkey did not give up and, with more possession, threatened through Aral Simsir, who appeared loose at the far post, earning Gianluca Mancini's providential cut. Pio Esposito, launched from the bench, sent a deep ball into Doumbia, forcing Uğurcan Çakır to intervene with his foot.
The Turkish equalizer arrived with justice in a well-worked move: Zeki Çelik crossed late from the baseline, Eren Elmali deflected it with his heel and Aral Simsir appeared alone at the far post to touch it. The Italian reaction was immediate. Four minutes later, Barella sent a wide free-kick to the far post and Riccardo Calafiori, recently arrived at Arsenal, headed the ball home to make it 2-1 — his first goal for the senior team. The VAR analyzed a possible foul on Elmali, but validated the move.
Donnarumma even had to fly in to deny Salih Özcan an equalizer with a palm over the post, and Vergara made a decisive cut past Ismail Yüksek. Near the end, Italy killed the game: Doumbia's shot was blocked, Alessandro Romano's insistence and, in the confusion, Pio Esposito timely scored to make it 3-1 just a few meters from the goal. Doumbia himself also tested Çakır's reflexes from a tight angle, but the result was unchanged.
With this triumph and France's comeback against Belgium, Italy moves up to 2nd place in Group A, gaining 7 points and reinforcing its candidacy for the semi-finals of the competition. Turkey, for its part, leaves Bologna with signs of improvement in the offensive process, but with the urgent need to add points to avoid falling down the table.
Italy 3-1 Turkey — Scorers: Scamacca 26’ (I), Aral Simsir 61’ (T), Calafiori 65’ (I), Pio Esposito 87’ (I).
What happens next
With this victory, Italy hopes to continue its rise in the Nations League, facing future challenges that could define its path in the competition. Roberto Mancini's team should maintain the same intensity and focus, especially with decisive games ahead. Turkey, on the other hand, urgently needs to turn around its situation, as the accumulated defeats put pressure on coach Vincenzo Montella.
Frequently asked questions
What was the result of the game between Italy and Türkiye?
Italy beat Turkey 3-1.
Who scored the goals for Italy in this game?
Italy's goals were scored by Gianluca Scamacca, Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito.
How was the group classification after this game?
After the victory, Italy occupies 2nd place in Group A, with 7 points.
What is Italy's next game in the Nations League?
Italy's next game in the Nations League has not yet been mentioned in the article.
What was Italy's run of results before this game?
Before this game, Italy had a 2-0 defeat against Belgium, a 4-1 win in Türkiye and a 1-1 draw in France.