Video: Italy get the job done against Turkey in a single half

Italy hit back in the UEFA Nations League with a commanding 4-1 win over Turkey on Monday, in the second round of Group One fixtures. Three first-half goals settled it. Pio Esposito added the fourth at the start of the second half, and Baris Alper Yilmaz grabbed Turkey's only reply.

The victory takes Italy to 3 points, while Turkey remain pointless. Next up, Italy face France, and Turkey travel to Belgium.

Rout in a single half

Italy went into the match with major changes to the line-up following their 2-0 home defeat to Belgium last Friday, head coach Roberto Mancini fielding eight players who had not featured in the first round.

Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Davide Frattesi doubled the lead in the 22nd minute, before Michael Kayode added a third in the 37th, finishing off a pass from Pio Esposito.

Turkey hit back at the start of the second half, Barış Alper Yılmaz pulling one back in the 47th minute. Italy wasted no time restoring their three-goal cushion, though, as Pio Esposito grabbed the fourth in the 50th to reclaim control of the match.

Turkey pile on the pressure but Italy survive

Turkey chased the game after Yilmaz's goal and threatened Gianluigi Donnarumma's goal more than once. Confusion in the Italian defence handed the hosts space in the 59th minute. Two minutes later, Oguz Aydin whipped in a dangerous cross that found no one to meet it.

The pressure kept coming. Kerem Akturkoglu shot in the 77th minute, only for the defence to block it. The same man then wasted a golden chance in the 80th minute when Arda Guler worked the ball to Aydin, who squared it across the six-yard box, but Akturkoglu blazed over the bar.

Aydin's shot then struck Alessandro Bastoni in the 84th minute to win Turkey a corner. Donnarumma dealt with one last effort from Guler, and Italy saw out a 4-1 win.