Nations League | Turkiye 1-4 Italy: Transformed Azzurri’s Turkish delight

BURSA, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Michael Kayode of Italy celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with teammate Sandro Tonali during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

Italy were a completely transformed team in Turkiye, emerging with a 4-1 victory thanks to Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi, debutant Michael Kayode, and Francesco Pio Esposito.

This was a head-to-head at the foot of Nations League Group A after both teams lost their opening games. The Azzurri made eight changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Belgium, including debuts for Michael Kayode, Matteo Ruggeri and Sebastiano Esposito, meaning two brothers started together for the first time since 1915. Nicolò Fagioli had his first appearance since October 2024, while Alessandro Bastoni returned from suspension.

Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye had goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir sent off in the 1-0 defeat to France, so he was banned, with Kenan Yildiz, Hakan Calhanoglu and Mert Muldur among those injured.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Pio Esposito ran onto the Davide Frattesi through ball and his angled drive was fingertipped past the far post, but on the resulting weak Ruggeri corner, Zeki Celik scuffed the clearance, turning into an accidental assist for Bastoni to sweep into the roof of the net from 12 yards. It was his first appearance since the damaging red card in the World Cup play-off with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The second goal was well-worked with a series of one-touch passes involving Frattesi, Pio Esposito and Giacomo Raspadori until the Kayode angled drive was parried into the path of Frattesi at the back post.

Can Uzun got the finish all wrong on a Baris Alper Yilmaz lay-off, but the Azzurri added a third with essentially a carbon copy of the second goal. It was a very similar move with a series of quick passes, concluding with Pio Esposito sending Kayode down the right, this time finishing at the near post to beat the goalkeeper.

The Nazionale had not scored three goals in the opening half-hour of a competitive game since the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania in September 2021.

Raspadori swept over after a Sebastiano Esposito back-heel flick, while the Sassuolo striker couldn’t keep his volley on target from a Kayode cross after another good passing move.

Turkiye made three changes at half-time and scored within 90 seconds after a chaotic mess in the Italy defence. A cross-field pass surprised Ruggeri and Gianluigi Donnarumma, allowing Oguz Aydin down the right to pull back for Baris Alper Yilmaz to sweep into an empty net undisturbed.

It didn’t last long, as moments later substitute Nicolò Cambiaghi intercepted a wayward pass, pulled back from the left for Sandro Tonali’s curler to bounce off the far post, with Pio Esposito ready to nod in the rebound for 1-4. The Inter striker is only the second player to score over five goals for Italy before turning 21, the other was Giuseppe Meazza.

Giorgio Scalvini was surprised by a long ball over the top, but Donnarumma did not make contact with Baris Alper Yilmaz, so the striker was instead booked for simulation.

There was another scare when Baris Alper Yilmaz saw his angled drive bounce in off the inside of the far post after a smart Arda Guler pass, but Oguz Aydin was offside and interfering with Donnarumma’s attempted save.

Altay Bayindir made a tricky save on Cambiaghi’s angled drive, then managed to smother before Kayode could pounce on the loose ball for a tap-in.

Arda Guler’s curler was wide of the far top corner, but Kerem Akturkoglu horribly ballooned over from six yards after Arda Guler dribbled past three inside the area.

Bastoni 9 (I), Frattesi 22 (I), Kayode 27 (I), Baris Alper Yilmaz 47 (T), P Esposito 50 (I)

1st half

		9'		Alessandro Bastoni
		22'		Davide Frattesi
		27'		Michael Kayode (Assist: Pio Esposito)
Can Uzun		38'

2nd half

Barış Alper Yılmaz (Assist: Oğuz Aydın)		47'
		50'		Pio Esposito
Barış Alper Yılmaz		54'
Ozan Kabak		72'

Turkey

Italy

1

Goalkeeper

13

Defender

3

Defender

46'

15

Defender

2

Defender

10

Midfielder

11

Midfielder

46'

6

Midfielder

46'

5

Midfielder

76'

21

Attacker

48'

18

Attacker

Goalkeeper

Defender

Defender

17

Defender

Defender

Midfielder

82'

Midfielder

76'

Midfielder

Attacker

75'

Attacker

46'

Attacker

63'

23

Goalkeeper

19

Attacker

7

Attacker

17

Attacker

12

Goalkeeper

16

Midfielder

4

Defender

22

Midfielder

20

Defender

46'

14

Defender

46'

9

Attacker

48'

8

Midfielder

76'

Defender

Goalkeeper

Midfielder