Italy beats Albania 2-1 in the opening match of Euro 2024: Barella is the driving force, he scores the match goal

The Azzurri show excellent ball movement and dominate the match, Barella (best on the pitch in our opinion) is the man everywhere, he doesn't skimp on the quality and quantity of his offensive and defensive plays , while Chiesa (who received the UEFA award for best in field) is at times unmarkable. After half an hour there is a huge opportunity for Frattesi , who, assisted by Scamacca, beats the goalkeeper with a valuable shot underneath, but the ball hits the post . Azzurri still close to scoring at the end of the first half with Scamacca (one-to-one save by Strakosha) and Pellegrini (header wide). In the middle, an attempt by the Albanians with Asani.

In the second half, Italy continued to control the match without too many problems but slowed down the pace and the scoring opportunities decreased, so the result remained in the balance until the end. The Azzurri create the conditions several times, much less real chances to score. Scamacca and then Chiesa try in the 59th minute, with a great left-footed shot just wide of the post .

The first to shuffle the cards with two changes midway through the second half is the Albanian coach (Laci for Seferi and Hoxha for Asani). After a few minutes the center forward also changes: Manaj comes on for Broja, canceled out by the Azzurri centre-backs. Spalletti (we are at 77') instead brings on Cristante for Pellegrini and Cambiaso for Chiesa , who had just suffered a knock.

So it's Dimarco with a personal action and a shot from outside that commits Strakosha. Two more changes in the 83rd minute, Darmian for Dimarco and Retegui for Scamacca. Shortly afterwards a shiver runs down the backs of the Azzurri fans when Manaj has excellent control behind Calafiori and comes face to face but is neutralized by Donnarumma's body who manages to deflect just enough . Great chance which is a warning to a good Italy who lowered the pace in the second half and were unable to close out the match. And Spalletti knows it, after the first excellent hour of play the coach started to get nervous on the bench.

Luckily Manaj's shot is the only real danger, then there is time for a pitch invasion and for the final substitution, Folorunsho replacing Barella. The last attempt before the final whistle, without pretensions, is from Mitaj. It ends like this, 2-1, and now we turn to Spain , who beat Croatia 3-0 and who the Azzurri will face on Thursday 20 June at 9pm .

(Unioneonline/L)