Italy seize control before half-time

Roberto Mancini began his second spell as Italy coach with a commanding 4-1 Nations League victory over Türkiye on Monday. The Azzurri scored three times in the opening 27 minutes before Francesco Pio Esposito restored their three-goal cushion early in the second half.

Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring in the ninth minute, reacting quickest after Türkiye failed to clear a corner. Davide Frattesi doubled the advantage in the 22nd minute by converting the rebound after Michael Kayode’s effort was saved by Altay Bayindir.

Kayode then marked his international debut with a goal five minutes later. A combination between Giacomo Raspadori and Francesco Pio Esposito created the opening, and Kayode finished calmly from inside the area.

Türkiye threaten, but Esposito settles the contest

Türkiye responded within 76 seconds of the restart when Baris Alper Yilmaz turned Oguz Aydin’s delivery past Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had advanced from his goal. The hosts’ hopes of a comeback were short-lived, however.

Bayindir’s loose pass presented Italy with another opportunity. Sandro Tonali struck the post, and Francesco Pio Esposito followed up to head in the rebound and make it 4-1 in the 50th minute.

Yilmaz later found the net again, but the effort was ruled out for offside against Arda Guler. Kerem Akturkoglu missed a further chance, while Italy defended effectively enough to secure three points in Group A1.

Brothers make Italian football history

The match also produced a landmark moment for the Esposito family. Francesco Pio Esposito and Sebastiano Esposito became the fourth pair of brothers to play in the same match for Italy, following Filippo and Simone Inzaghi, Aldo and Luigi Cevenini, and Giuseppe and Felice Milano.

Italy finished with 14 shots and an expected-goals figure of 2.39, compared with Türkiye’s 1.86 from 15 attempts. The victory marked Italy’s first Nations League win in the campaign and Mancini’s first since returning to the dugout.