At Saint-Denis, France and Italy produced the kind of Nations League evening that kept shifting between attacking promise and goalkeeper defiance. Michael Olise gave the home side a second-half advantage, Alessandro Bastoni restored parity for Italy, and the match ended 1-1 as Mike Maignan and Gianluigi Donnarumma repeatedly denied a late winner.
Key takeaways
- France remain top of Nations League Group A1 on seven points despite their first dropped points under Zinedine Zidane.
- Olise scored from a cleverly worked free-kick 10 minutes after the restart.
- Bastoni equalised in the 68th minute after France failed to deal with an Italian attacking phase.
- Maignan and Donnarumma each made at least three important saves in a decisive goalkeeping contest.
- Belgium’s 3-0 win over Turkey moved them to within one point of the French at the summit.
Olise strike, Bastoni response
The first half was played at a lively pace, with both teams finding openings but neither able to turn their momentum into a goal. France had entered the fixture with a perfect record since Zidane took charge, yet Italy ensured that the hosts would not extend that run at the Stade de France.
France found their breakthrough 10 minutes into the second period. A short free-kick routine created space for Olise, whose left-footed effort travelled at an angle, struck the crossbar and dropped over the line. It was another demonstration of the forward’s ability to make room for a decisive strike with his favoured foot.
Italy’s centre-forward Moise Kean endured an uneven match, but the visitors recovered through Bastoni in the 68th minute. France’s defensive clearance and positioning left the ball available to the defender, who drove a low shot beyond Maignan to level the contest.
From there, the game belonged to the two goalkeepers. Maignan made a key intervention, Donnarumma answered at the other end, and the sequence continued as both sides sought a late winning goal. Neither goalkeeper allowed the match to tilt again, with at least three saves apiece preserving a point for France and Italy.
Group A1 tightens before October fixtures
France’s draw leaves them first in Group A1 with seven points. Belgium, helped by their 3-0 victory against Turkey, sit second on six. Italy are third with four points, while Turkey remain bottom without a point.
The next round arrives on Monday, 5 October, with France facing Belgium in a meeting that could reshape the race for first place. A French victory would open further distance at the top, while Belgium can move above their rivals with a win. Italy will meet Turkey, seeking a result that would strengthen their position after the draw in Saint-Denis.
