Italy beat Turkey 3–1 in Nations League, Scamacca and Calafiori on target

Italy defeated Turkey 3–1 in the fourth match of Nations League Group A1 on 5 October. The Azzurri, coming off a draw at home to France on 30 September, opened the scoring through Scamacca at the Dall'Ara in Bologna in the 23rd minute before Simsir equalized on the hour. Calafiori restored Italy's lead with a header in the 64th minute—his first goal in an Italy shirt—and Esposito sealed the victory from close range in the 87th, converting a cross from Romano. The result leaves Italy second in the group with 7 points, behind France on 10 and ahead of Belgium on 6. Turkey remain pointless after four matches, with manager Vincenzo Montella facing serious questions about his position. AS Roma defender Gianluca Mancini played the full match at centre-back alongside Bastoni, while fellow Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi watched from the bench.

The rivalry between Gian Piero Gasperini and Cesc Fabregas will reignite on the pitch this Sunday when Roma travel to Como, with the two managers having already traded barbs away from the field. Fabregas, attending the Festival dello Sport in Trento, used a Subbuteo table-top football game to demonstrate his tactical approach to stopping Roma, focusing on man-to-man pressing and how the Giallorossi compress forward. When shown footage of the demonstration, Gasperini responded with a quip: "He beat me at Subbuteo and Como won. Hopefully Sunday will be different," the Roma manager said with a smile. Gasperini has substantial respect for Como's recent trajectory. In an interview with Sky Sport, he acknowledged their evolution: "Anyone who follows football appreciates Como's development. It isn't simply a product of wealthy ownership investment, but also the quality of football they express. It's a blend of components that means Como rank among the best teams in the league." On the title race, Gasperini offered a frank assessment: "The Scudetto? I don't know—Inter are superior to everyone. But Como are certainly among those who can compete for it." The tension between the managers stems from last season's encounter, which ended in a heated exchange. After the match, Fabregas accused Gasperini: "Gasperini showed me disrespect." Gasperini's response was equally pointed: "Como are a strong team, but I don't respect their behaviour, on the pitch and on the bench." That confrontation arose from a failed handshake. Sunday's fixture represents another chapter in a rivalry that has elevated Como into the status of a genuine big-match opponent in Serie A.

Italy will face Turkey at Bologna's Stadio Renato Dall'Ara at 20:45 tonight in the Nations League, with Gianluca Mancini set to return to the starting XI in central defence after sitting out Italy's match at the Stade de France. The Roma defender will partner Scalvini, with Kayode challenging Di Lorenzo for the right-back role and the former Roma player Calafiori on the left. Donnarumma captains and keeps goal. Mancini's recall comes as Italy manager Roberto Mancini rotates his squad following four consecutive matches in the international break. Having won one, drawn one and lost one in the cycle so far, Italy beat Turkey 4–1 in Bursa earlier in the competition. The rapid turnaround between the France fixture and tonight's game has forced widespread changes. Mancini told the press: "I believe Turkey is an excellent team, made up of very skilled players. Tomorrow we must finish in style, but four games in quick succession are too exhausting, especially for the players." In midfield, Sandro Tonali is rested after playing in all three previous matches, with Doumbia, Niccolò Barella and Davide Frattesi forming the trio. Moise Kean's injury absence opens the door for Gianluca Scamacca as the centre-forward, flanked in the attack by two of Sebastiano Esposito, Cambiaghi and Raspadori. The manager confirmed: "Moise is unfortunately unwell and tonight we are sending him home." Turkey, managed by former Roma boss Vincenzo Montella, arrive depleted. They will be without injured players Kenan Yildiz and Hakan Calhanoglu, plus suspended pair Arda Guler and Baris Alper Yilmaz. Montella's side have lost to both France and Belgium in the group alongside their earlier defeat to Italy.

Italy host Turkey at the Dall'Ara in Bologna in the fourth matchday of the UEFA Nations League group phase. The Italians come into the match off the back of a draw away to France, while Turkey suffered a 4–1 defeat to Italy in the reverse fixture a week earlier. Coach Roberto Mancini makes further squad rotation and hands Scamacca a starting position in attack. From Roma's perspective, Gianluca Mancini starts in defence for Italy, while Daniele Ghilardi does not feature in the squad. ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni, Ruggeri; Barella, Romano, Doumbia; Vergara, Scamacca, Maldini. Coach: Roberto Mancini. Substitutes: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Scalvini, Calafiori, Kayode, Tonali, Fagioli, Frattesi, Cambiaghi, Inacio, S. Esposito, P. Esposito. TURKEY (4-3-3): Cakir; Celik, Bardakci, Kabak, Kadioglu; Elmali, Ozcan, Kahveci; Simsir, Akgun, Yuksek. Coach: Vincenzo Montella. Substitutes: Bayindir, Sengezer, Demiral, Topcu, Elmaz, Tiknaz, Kabasakal, Eskihellac, Fakili, Akturkoglu, Aydin, Gul.

France defeated Belgium 4-1 at the Stade de France in Paris in the fourth matchday of Nations League Group A1, with Roma midfielder Manu Koné selected to start in midfield by head coach Zidane. Belgium took the lead through Lukebakio's goal in the 35th minute, but France came from behind after the interval. Koné was substituted around the hour mark for tactical reasons despite a solid performance; France then added three goals through Doue, Cherki, and a double from Olise to seal the comeback. Koné had been an unused substitute in France's previous fixture against Italy last Friday, alongside his Roma teammate Gianluca Mancini, who was also benched for that match. France remained top of the group with 10 points, three points clear of Italy in second and four ahead of Belgium in third.

Italy defeated Turkey 3–1 in the fourth match of Nations League Group A1 on 5 October. The Azzurri, coming off a draw at home to France on 30 September, opened the scoring through Scamacca at the Dall'Ara in Bologna in the 23rd minute before Simsir equalized on the hour. Calafiori restored Italy's lead with a header in the 64th minute—his first goal in an Italy shirt—and Esposito sealed the victory from close range in the 87th, converting a cross from Romano. The result leaves Italy second in the group with 7 points, behind France on 10 and ahead of Belgium on 6. Turkey remain pointless after four matches, with manager Vincenzo Montella facing serious questions about his position. AS Roma defender Gianluca Mancini played the full match at centre-back alongside Bastoni, while fellow Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi watched from the bench.

Italy host Turkey at the Dall'Ara in Bologna in the fourth matchday of the UEFA Nations League group phase. The Italians come into the match off the back of a draw away to France, while Turkey suffered a 4–1 defeat to Italy in the reverse fixture a week earlier. Coach Roberto Mancini makes further squad rotation and hands Scamacca a starting position in attack. From Roma's perspective, Gianluca Mancini starts in defence for Italy, while Daniele Ghilardi does not feature in the squad. ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni, Ruggeri; Barella, Romano, Doumbia; Vergara, Scamacca, Maldini. Coach: Roberto Mancini. Substitutes: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Scalvini, Calafiori, Kayode, Tonali, Fagioli, Frattesi, Cambiaghi, Inacio, S. Esposito, P. Esposito. TURKEY (4-3-3): Cakir; Celik, Bardakci, Kabak, Kadioglu; Elmali, Ozcan, Kahveci; Simsir, Akgun, Yuksek. Coach: Vincenzo Montella. Substitutes: Bayindir, Sengezer, Demiral, Topcu, Elmaz, Tiknaz, Kabasakal, Eskihellac, Fakili, Akturkoglu, Aydin, Gul.

Italy defeated Turkey 3–1 in the fourth match of Nations League Group A1 on 5 October. The Azzurri, coming off a draw at home to France on 30 September, opened the scoring through Scamacca at the Dall'Ara in Bologna in the 23rd minute before Simsir equalized on the hour. Calafiori restored Italy's lead with a header in the 64th minute—his first goal in an Italy shirt—and Esposito sealed the victory from close range in the 87th, converting a cross from Romano. The result leaves Italy second in the group with 7 points, behind France on 10 and ahead of Belgium on 6. Turkey remain pointless after four matches, with manager Vincenzo Montella facing serious questions about his position. AS Roma defender Gianluca Mancini played the full match at centre-back alongside Bastoni, while fellow Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi watched from the bench.

Roma players will begin filtering back to Trigoria from tomorrow, 6 October, as Gian Piero Gasperini prepares his squad for the trip to Como on Sunday 11 October at 12:30. The club have trained with a reduced group during the international break, and the staggered returns will allow Gasperini to resume full preparations. Evan N'Dicka, Konstantinos Koulierakis and Giorgio De Marzi are expected back in the morning, with further arrivals throughout the day. The Italy contingent—Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli—will arrive in the evening. Manu Koné, the France midfielder, will be the last to rejoin, returning to the squad on Wednesday and training with the group a day behind the initial batch of returnees.