Bologna offered Italy a less comfortable evening than the score eventually suggested, yet Roberto Mancini’s side found the resilience that has sometimes been missing on their recent international road. A 3-1 win over Turkey, only a week after Italy had swept aside the same opponents away from home, moved the Azzurri into second place in their group with seven points from four matches.
The setting was familiar but the Italian team was markedly changed from the side used against France. Mancini made nine alterations, with Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alessandro Bastoni the only survivors in the starting XI. Turkey, led by Vincenzo Montella, arrived without the suspended Arda Güler and Baris Yilmaz, and initially looked the more adventurous of the two teams.
Gianluca Scamacca and Daniel Maldini tested their range early, while Ozan Kabak brought a save from Donnarumma at the other end. Italy did not reproduce the fluent football of their previous outings, but they again exposed Turkey’s uncertainty in defence. Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s cross was not cleared, leaving Scamacca to drive a first-time finish past the goalkeeper after the midway point of the first half.
A response, then Italy’s decisive edge
Turkey had possession after falling behind but struggled to turn it into clear openings. Italy were content to protect their lead and break through the visitors’ modest press, though without creating much further danger before the interval.
The second half changed the tone. Italy dropped their intensity, and after Doumbia had passed up the opportunity to make it 2-0, Turkey levelled in the 61st minute. Cengiz Çelik supplied the cross from the right and Sindre Simsir, who had already wasted promising positions, arrived unmarked at the far post to finish.
The equaliser did not unsettle Italy for long. Nicolò Barella’s carefully delivered free-kick found Riccardo Calafiori at the back post six minutes later. Calafiori, introduced as part of a triple substitution shortly beforehand, headed Italy back in front.
There was still work for Donnarumma as Turkey continued to test an Italian side that never entirely removed the tension from the night. The release came three minutes from time, when Doumbia created the opening for substitute Pio Esposito to apply a close-range finish for 3-1.
It was not the polished performance Italy may have wanted in Bologna, but it was a useful continental result: an uneven display, a quick answer to adversity and three points that give Mancini’s evolving side a stronger foothold in the group.
