Italy and Turkey Battle for First Win of the Cycle After Opening Nations League Losses

Starting off with a loss is never fun, and it gets even tougher when you have to hit the road right after to try to turn things around. That is exactly the situation facing Italy on Monday, September 28, when they travel to face Turkey at Timsah Arena in Matchday 2 of Group A1 in the 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League. Neither side has a point on the board. Neither side can afford another slip up.

Roberto Mancini's new cycle in charge of the Azzurri kicked off in the worst possible way: a 2-0 loss to Belgium at Rome's Olympic Stadium, with goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio. It is not the kind of statement anyone wants to make on a return, so now Italy heads out on the road looking for the first win of this new era.

Turkey did not exactly get off to a happy start either. Vincenzo Montella's side fell 1-0 to France in Kocaeli, with Kylian Mbappe scoring in the 54th minute. So the match at Timsah Arena carries extra weight: both teams arrive with zero points, and in a group where only the top two advance to the quarterfinals, every point matters right from the start.

Names to Watch

On the Turkish side, all eyes are on Arda Guler. The Real Madrid midfielder started against France, played the full 90 minutes, and once again showed why he is considered the team's main playmaker. Alongside him, Baris Alper Yilmaz stands out as one of the key attacking options as Turkey tries to break its scoring drought on home soil.

Italy, meanwhile, is leaning on Sandro Tonali, who also started in the loss to Belgium and is shaping up as a key piece to bring balance to the midfield. There is also a young name to keep an eye on: Pio Esposito, the Inter forward who started in the Azzurri's opener and will look to gradually earn his place in Mancini's plans.

What History Says Between the Two

The most recent meeting between these two national teams was a 0-0 draw in a friendly played in Bologna in June 2024. But looking further back, recent history clearly favors Italy: over the last five meetings, the Azzurri remain unbeaten, with three wins and two draws, and a goal difference that stands out: 12 scored to just one conceded.

Italy's last win over Turkey came in March 2022, a tight 3-2 victory on the road. There is also a chapter the Turks would probably rather forget: the opening match of Euro 2020, which ended 3-0 in Italy's favor.

The match at Timsah Arena is set to kick off at 3:45 p.m. (Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile time) and 1:45 p.m. (Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador time), with live coverage on Disney+ Premium Plan, exclusive to South America.