Italy claimed a routine victory in Malta as they bounced back from defeat by England to gain their first points in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Mateo Retegui scored his second goal in just his second appearance for the European champions to put them ahead.
The 23-year-old headed in Sandro Tonali’s cross to add to his goal in the 2-1 loss to England on Thursday.
Malta midfielder Matthew Guillaumier diverted into his own net shortly afterwards to make it two.
Roberto Mancini’s side, who beat England in the Euro 2020 final, sit second in Group C after the opening two matches of qualifying.
Line-ups
Malta
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Bonello
- 13ApapSubstituted forBrownat 83′minutes
- 4Borg
- 2AttardSubstituted forMuscatat 64′minutes
- 7Mbong
- 17MuscatSubstituted forTeumaat 76′minutes
- 6Guillaumier
- 20Yankam
- 15Corbalan
- 14SatarianoSubstituted forNwokoat 64′minutes
- 23JonesSubstituted forDimechat 76′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Camenzuli
- 5Micallef
- 8Mbong
- 9Nwoko
- 10Teuma
- 11Paiber
- 12Grech
- 16Formosa
- 18Brown
- 19Kristensen
- 21Dimech
- 22Muscat
Italy
Formation 4-3-3
- 1G Donnarumma
- 2Di LorenzoBooked at 36minsSubstituted forDarmianat 45′minutes
- 14ScalviniBooked at 54minsSubstituted forTolóiat 83′minutes
- 23Romagnoli
- 13Emerson
- 12Pessina
- 16Cristante
- 20TonaliSubstituted forVerrattiat 67′minutes
- 17Politano
- 19ReteguiSubstituted forScamaccaat 66′minutes
- 10GnontoSubstituted forGrifoat 22′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Tolói
- 4Spinazzola
- 5Darmian
- 6Verratti
- 7Grifo
- 8Jorginho
- 9Scamacca
- 11Berardi
- 15Acerbi
- 18Frattesi
- 21Carnesecchi
- 22Meret
Live Text
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Match ends, Malta 0, Italy 2.
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Second Half ends, Malta 0, Italy 2.
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Attempt missed. Vincenzo Grifo (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Matteo Pessina.
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Foul by Gianluca Scamacca (Italy).
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Steve Borg (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Gianluca Scamacca (Italy) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Matteo Politano.
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Foul by Gianluca Scamacca (Italy).
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Juan Corbalan (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Matteo Pessina (Italy).
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Zach Muscat (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Malta. James Brown replaces Ferdinando Apap.
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Substitution, Italy. Rafael Tolói replaces Giorgio Scalvini.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Steve Borg (Malta).
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Corner, Malta. Conceded by Emerson.
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Attempt blocked. Joseph Mbong (Malta) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yannick Yankam.
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Attempt missed. Vincenzo Grifo (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Bryan Cristante.
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Foul by Matteo Politano (Italy).
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Juan Corbalan (Malta) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Substitution, Malta. Teddy Teuma replaces Nikolai Muscat.