Italy delivered one of their most impressive attacking displays in the UEFA Nations League 2026/27, defeating Turkey 4-1 away from home in the early hours of Tuesday, September 29.
The Azzurri wasted little time making their mark in Bursa. Three goals inside the opening 27 minutes gave Roberto Mancini side a commanding advantage and laid the foundation for a convincing victory.
Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Davide Frattesi and Michael Kayode added further goals in the 22nd and 27th minutes.
Turkey managed to respond through Baris Alper Yilmaz shortly after half-time, but Italy quickly restored their three-goal advantage through Pio Esposito.
For Mancini, the result was not simply about the scoreline. The Italy manager was particularly pleased with the intensity, ball movement and overall contribution from his players.
Italy Make Fast Start Count Against Turkey
Italy immediately took control of the match.
Their aggressive approach prevented Turkey from settling into the game, while consistent pressure created opportunities in dangerous areas.
Bastoni gave Italy the lead in the ninth minute, setting the tone for what would become a dominant first half.
Frattesi then doubled the advantage in the 22nd minute before Kayode made it 3-0 just five minutes later.
Three goals in 27 minutes showed just how effectively Italy converted their early pressure into goals.
The fast start also produced a notable statistic for the Azzurri.
Italy scored three goals inside the opening 30 minutes for the first time since their World Cup qualifying match against Lithuania in September 2021.
That sequence highlighted the attacking efficiency that had been missing from some of their previous performances.
Four Goals Mark Another Italy Milestone
Italy did not stop after building a three-goal lead.
Turkey came out strongly after the interval and pulled one goal back through Baris Alper Yilmaz in the 47th minute.
For a brief period, the goal offered the hosts a chance to change the momentum of the contest.
Italy responded almost immediately.
Pio Esposito scored in the 50th minute to restore the three-goal advantage and effectively put the result beyond Turkey’s reach.
The fourth goal also gave Italy another notable record.
The Azzurri scored four times in a single UEFA Nations League match for the first time since their 4-1 victory over Israel in October 2024.
Important numbers from Italy’s victory include:
- Italy scored three goals within the first 27 minutes.
- Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring in the ninth minute.
- Davide Frattesi made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute.
- Michael Kayode added Italy’s third goal in the 27th minute.
- Pio Esposito completed the scoring in the 50th minute.
- Italy recorded four goals in a UEFA Nations League match.
- The Azzurri moved to third place in Group A with three points.
Italy’s Attack Proves Highly Effective
The match statistics also illustrated Italy’s attacking performance.
The Azzurri recorded an expected goals figure of 2.39 from 14 attempts, while Turkey produced an xG of 1.86 from 15 shots.
Those numbers show that Turkey still created opportunities, particularly after the break.
However, Italy proved more effective at converting the momentum and chances they generated into goals.
That difference was particularly important during the opening half.
Italy’s pressure repeatedly forced Turkey into difficult situations, while the visitors were able to make their attacking opportunities count.
The early three-goal advantage then gave Mancini’s team enough room to manage the game after the interval.
Roberto Mancini Praises Every Italy Player
Mancini was pleased with the collective performance.
Rather than focusing on one individual, the Italy manager praised the entire team following the convincing victory.
He also explained the decision to replace Giacomo Raspadori at half-time.
“Every player was excellent. Raspadori had a problem; we were worried we would have to take him off after five minutes of the second half, so we decided to replace him at half-time,” Mancini said.
The decision was therefore related to Raspadori’s condition rather than a reflection of his performance.
Mancini also praised what Italy produced tactically during the match.
“The team pressed more, managed to keep possession and moved the ball well. Raspadori followed our instructions well, his performance was satisfying,” the Italy manager added.
His comments underline the importance of Italy’s collective approach.
The result was built not only around finishing but also around pressure, possession and effective ball circulation.
Pio Esposito Adds Another Positive Moment
Pio Esposito’s goal was another highlight of Italy’s victory.
After Turkey reduced the deficit to 3-1, the young forward restored Italy’s three-goal advantage just three minutes later.
That quick response prevented Turkey from building momentum and allowed Italy to regain control of the match.
For Italy, it was another example of how effectively the team reacted when faced with pressure.
The Azzurri did not allow Turkey’s goal to change the overall direction of the game.
Instead, they answered quickly and maintained their advantage until the final whistle.
Italy Move Third as Turkey Remain Bottom
The victory has moved Italy into third place in Group A with three points.
Turkey, meanwhile, remain at the bottom of the group without a point after once again failing to secure a victory.
For Italy, the 4-1 result provides an important boost after a disappointing previous outing.
The Azzurri can take confidence from several aspects of their performance, particularly their ability to start aggressively and convert that pressure into goals.
Mancini will also have to monitor Raspadori’s condition following the decision to substitute him at half-time.
Still, the biggest takeaway from the night is Italy’s attacking efficiency.
Three goals inside 27 minutes, followed by a quick response to Turkey’s second-half goal, produced a convincing 4-1 victory.
For Mancini, the performance offered plenty of reasons to be satisfied as Italy continue their UEFA Nations League campaign.
ALSO READ :
