Alessandro Bastoni hooked in a clinical first goal, Davide Frattesi scored a second and Michael Kayode added a third as Italy scored their first goals since Roberto Mancini’s return as manager to establish a commanding lead over Turkey in the Nations League at Bursa’s Ataturk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadium on Monday.
Central of Inter sticks capitals when Matteo Ruggeri’s unorthodox corner went through a crowded penalty area, aided by Juventus defender Zeki Celik’s missed clearance.
The first game will have offered some relief for Mancini, the first game of his second spell in charge ending in a 2-0 defeat to Belgium in Rome in Italy. League of Nations opening Friday.
Nerazzurri midfielder Davide Frattesi doubled the lead in the 22nd minute, striking from close range after Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir could not keep out Kayode’s arrowed shot from inside the box in torrential conditions.
Kayode fired over to complete a brilliant move five minutes later Turkeywho lost 1-0 to France on matchday one, faced the prospect of four defeats in their last five games after two costly defeats during the 2026 World Cup group stage.
Turkey has confirmed the starting team against Italy
Turkey made four changes to their starting line-up from the loss to France, including the return of Orkun Kokcu from injury in place of Ismail Yuksek in midfield.
At the back, centre-half Ozan Kabak replaced Abdulkerim Bardakci and Eren Elmali replaced Ferdi Kadıoglu at left-back as part of a defense against goalkeeper Bayindir, who started following Ugurcan Cakir’s red card on matchday one.
Turkey: Altay Bayindir, Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Salih Ozcan, Orkun Kokcu, Arda Guler, Can Uzun, Eren Elmali, Ozan Kabak, Oguz Aydin, Baris Alper Yilmaz
Substitutes: Muhammed Sengezer, Samet Akaydin, Kerem Akturkoglu, Demir Ege Tiknaz, Deniz Gul, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ismail Yuksek, Irfan Can Kahveci, Yunus Akgun, Ferdi Kadioglu, Mustafa Eskihellac, Melih Kabasakal, Okan Kocuk
Full line-up Italy v Turkey in Nations League
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, playmaker Sandro Tonali and striker Pio Esposito were the only players retained from Italy’s line-up since the defeat to Belgium.
Brentford full-back Kayode and Aston Villa left-back Ruggeri made their debuts. Esposito’s brother Sebastiano was among the new faces.
Italy: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Michael Kayode, Matteo Ruggeri, Nicolo Fagioli, Pio Esposito, Sandro Tonali, Giacomo Raspadori, Davide Frattesi, Giorgio Scalvini, Alessandro Bastoni, Sebastiano Esposito
Substitutes: Guglielmo Vicario, Alessandro Romano, Riccardo Calafiori, Moise Kean, Gianluca Scamacca, Marco Carnesecchi, Rolando Mandragora, Issa Doumbia, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Antonio Vergara, Daniele Ghilardi, Giovanni Di Lorenzo
Where to watch Turkey vs France: TV channel, live streaming online
Kick-off on Monday was at 19:45 BST (14:45 ET / 11:45 PT), with live UK coverage on Amazon Prime PPVwhich charges £2.49 for the game.
For worldwide coverage, visit UEFA List of international broadcasters of the League of Nations.
Statistics of Turkey and Italy from the League of Nations
- The match is Turkey’s 656th match of all time with a record of 260 wins and 244 losses, with this being their 11th in Bursa and third at the stadium.
- They have never won in Italy but scored their first European Championship goal against the Azzurri in a 2-1 defeat in Arnhem at EURO 2000.
- Three of the last six meetings between these teams have been draws, all of which were friendlies in Turkey, including the most recent match when neither team scored in a friendly in Bologna in June 2024.
- Turkey have conceded the opener in each of their last six matches, with France the only team on the road not to have scored the opener in the opening 28 minutes.
- Crescent-Stars manager Vincenzo Montella scored three goals in 20 games as a striker for Italy between 1999 and 20025, playing in the UEFA EURO 2000 final and the 2002 World Cup.
- Prior to the loss to France and the friendlies included, Turkey had lost one of their previous nine games at home (W7 D1), with the exception of a 6-0 loss to reigning world champions Spain in World Cup qualifying last September.
- Italy have won seven and lost one of their last 10 away Nations League group games, including wins in their last four away games.
- They have not lost any of their 13 matches against Turkey, winning nine times and scoring a total of 24 goals to seven for their opponents.
- Alberto Orlando, who played for Italy between 1962 and 1965, has four goals in the game, with no other player scoring more than twice.
- All those goals came in a 6-0 EURO qualifying win in Bologna in December 1962, with Italy completing a 7-0 aggregate victory in the second leg.
