Esposito seals Italy win over Turkiye in Nations League

Bologna, Italy – Italy secured a decisive 3-1 victory over Turkiye in their Nations League match at the Dall Ara Stadium, a result that bolsters their chances of advancing to the quarter-finals. Gianluca Scamacca put Italy ahead in the 26th minute, but Aral Simsir leveled just after the hour mark. Italy's resurgence continued with goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito, sealing the win in the final three minutes of the game.

This victory places Italy second in Group A1, trailing leaders France by three points and Belgium by one. Turkiye, currently at the bottom of the group, remains without a point. Italy's coach Roberto Mancini is leading the team in their bid to return to the World Cup stage after failing to qualify for the past three tournaments.

The Azzurri demonstrated their defensive strength with a 4-1 victory over Turkiye in their previous match, followed by a 1-1 draw with France in Paris. The Turkish team entered the fixture with several key players unavailable due to suspension and injury, including Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz. After a subdued start, Turkiye displayed more promise in the early stages, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma needing to make quick saves to keep his team in the match.

Scamacca's goal in the 26th minute marked the Azzurri's first breakthrough. In the second half, Turkiye mounted a spirited comeback, equalizing just after the hour through Zeki Celik. However, Italy maintained their lead with goals from Calafiori and Esposito, with the latter scoring his seventh goal in 13 international appearances, extending his goal tally.