Turkey looked better in the opening round: prediction for Turkey vs Italy
The second-round UEFA Nations League clash between Turkey and Italy will take place in Bursa on September 28. Both teams opened the campaign with defeats: Turkey lost 0-1 to France, while Italy suffered a 0-2 home defeat to Belgium.
Turkey: defeat to France, but the performance offered hope
Turkey are playing their first season in League A after securing back-to-back promotions. In their opening match, Vincenzo Montella’s team held France at bay for a long time and conceded only after an hour of play, when Kylian Mbappe found the net.
After the break, Turkey created several dangerous chances of their own, but Ugurcan Cakir’s sending-off made the task considerably tougher. Altay Bayindir is expected to start in goal now, while the main creative burden will once again fall on Arda Guler.
Italy: Mancini’s return began with a defeat
Roberto Mancini returned as Italy’s head coach, but his first match ended in disappointment. The Azzurri lost 0-2 to Belgium in Rome, conceding once in each half.
Italy are currently undergoing a rebuild and are playing with a revamped squad. Mancini is also dealing with several absences: Federico Dimarco, Bryan Cristante and Manuel Locatelli will miss the match, while Mateo Retegui was not called up at all.
Match facts
- Turkey lost 0-1 to France but kept the score level for a long time and created chances after the break.
- Italy lost 0-2 to Belgium in the first match following Roberto Mancini’s return.
- Turkey will be without Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz, while Italy are also missing several notable players.
The hosts can take advantage of their opponents’ rebuild: prediction for Turkey vs Italy
Despite the defeat, Turkey looked more organized and competitive in the opening round than Italy. Montella’s team have been working within the same system for a long time, whereas Mancini is only beginning to reshape his squad.
Italy still possess plenty of individual quality, but their lack of cohesion and injury absences could hurt them again. On home soil, Turkey can make the most of their chances and claim their first-ever victory in League A.
