Nations League | Italy 3-1 Turkiye: Calafiori first goal for fresh victory

BOLOGNA - OCTOBER 05: Riccardo Calafiori of Italy scores his team’s second goal past Ugurcan Cakir of Turkiye during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and Türkiye at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium on October 05, 2026 in Bologna. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Italy weren’t quite as impressive this time, but still managed to push Turkiye aside 3-1 with Gianluca Scamacca, Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito on target.

The Azzurri started this Nations League group with a dismal 2-0 home defeat to Belgium, but confidence was building after the 4-1 victory in Turkiye and 1-1 draw away to France. This run of games ended at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna with Roberto Mancini making nine changes, retaining only Alessandro Bastoni fresh from two goals in as many appearances. Moise Kean was out injured, but Antonio Vergara and Issa Doumbia got their first starts.

Vincenzo Montella was already facing calls for his dismissal after three defeats with one goal scored and eight conceded. Along with Juventus star Kenan Yildiz and Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, he also lost Can Uzun to injury, plus suspended Baris Alper Yilmaz and Real Madrid talent Arda Guler.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Gianluigi Donnarumma had to make the first save of the game, getting down to fingertip the Ozan Kabak daisy-cutter round the base of the near post, then was alert on the Yunus Akgun header after Barella gave it away.

Gianluca Scamacca was well offside when getting the ball in the net after 23 minutes, but he did open the scoring with the first genuine Azzurri opportunity.

He tried to knock down Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s cross, it bounced off the shoulder of Turkish defender Ozan Kabak, so Scamacca smashed it in on the volley from six yards off the underside of the bar.

Turkiye continued to have a lot of possession and Gianluca Mancini was in the right place to clear an Aral Simsir free header at the back post, but substitute Pio Esposito’s through ball sent Doumbia clear to force a difficult save with Cakir Ugurcan’s outstretched foot.

Montella’s men earned a more than deserved equaliser with a well-worked move. Zeki Celik pulled back from the by-line, it was flicked on by Eren Elmali and Aral Simsir was unmarked to sweep in at the back post.

Within four minutes, Italy had restored their advantage. Barella pumped a free kick to the far stick, where he found substitute Calafiori for the looping header. It was the Arsenal defender’s first goal for the Nazionale, and VAR rejected the Turkish appeals for a lean on Elmali.

Vergara got back for a decisive block to stop Ismail Yuksek meeting the Yunus Akgun roll across, then Donnarumma flew to palm the Salih Ozcan strike out from under the bar.

The Azzurri added a third late on to be sure, as Doumbia saw his effort charged down and the Alessandro Romano follow-up turned into an accidental assist for Pio Esposito to poke in from a couple of yards.

Doumbia was determined to get on target himself, testing the goalkeeper from the tightest of angles.

As France came back from a goal down to beat Belgium 4-1, it means Italy are now second in Group A on seven points.

Scamacca 26 (I), Aral Simsir 61 (T), Calafiori 65 (I), Pio Esposito 87 (I)

1st half

Gianluca Scamacca		26'
Gianluca Scamacca		42'

2nd half

Matteo Ruggeri		47'
		55'		Zeki Celik
		61'		Aral Şimşir (Assist: Eren Elmali)
Riccardo Calafiori (Assist: Nicolò Barella)		64'
		81'		Abdülkerim Bardakci
Pio Esposito (Assist: Alessandro Romano)		87'

Italy

Turkey

Goalkeeper

Defender

Defender

Defender

55'

17

Defender

55'

Midfielder

Midfielder

84'

Midfielder

Midfielder

Midfielder

70'

Attacker

55'

Goalkeeper

14

Defender

13

Defender

20

Defender

88'

15

Defender

2

Defender

16

Midfielder

79'

5

Midfielder

Attacker

70'

17

Attacker

70'

19

Attacker

88'

Goalkeeper

Midfielder

Defender

Attacker

Goalkeeper

Attacker

Attacker

Defender

55'

Defender

55'

Attacker

55'

Midfielder

70'

Midfielder

84'

3

Defender

1

Goalkeeper

12

Goalkeeper

8

Midfielder