Italy vs Spain LIVE: Nations League result, final score and reaction tonight
Relive all the action from the San Siro
Spain ended European champions Italy’s world record 37-match unbeaten run as Ferran Torres scored twice in a 2-1 win at the San Siro stadium in their Nations League semi-final.
Spain will face the winners of Thursday’s other semi-final between France and Belgium in Sunday’s decider.
Torres put Spain ahead in the 17th minute, steering a left-wing cross from Mikel Oyarzabal into the far corner past Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Roberto Mancini’s side, who beat Spain on penalties in the Euro 2020 semi-final in July, found themselves down to 10 men in the 42nd minute when Leonardo Bonucci was sent off for a second yellow card after elbowing Sergio Busquets.
Torres then sent Luis Enrique’s side in with a two-goal lead at the break when he was left unattended to head in another fine cross from Oyarzabal.
Italy ensured a tense end to a quality match when they pulled a goal back, seven minutes from the end, as Enrico Chiesa took advantage of hesitant Spanish defending, broke from the halfway line to the box and then slipped the ball to substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini to convert. Relive all the action below:
Italy vs Spain predicted line-ups: Team news ahead of Nations League semi-final tonight
Spain will look to avenge their Euro 2020 semi-final defeat to Italy tonight when they play the European champions in the last four of the Uefa Nations League.
Luis Enrique’s side were a penalty shootout away from joining England in the Euro 2020 final but Alvaro Morata and Dani Olmo missed their kicks as Italy won 4-2.
The sides drew 1-1 in a thrilling semi-final at Wembley, but La Roja are missing a number of players who featured in that match, including Pedri, Morata, Olmo and Jordi Alba.
Team news and predicted line-ups ahead of Italy vs Spain
All the information you need ahead of the Uefa Nations League semi-final
Italy vs Spain - The last meeting
Italy haven’t been beaten in over three years and arguably their toughest opponents in that time were Spain when the sides met at Euro 2020.
It was at the semi-final stage and Spain overcame a rocky start to the tournament to meet Italy in good form. They dominated possession early on but it was the Azzurri who struck first as Federico Chiesa found the target.
After a slow tourament Alvaro Morata came on as a substitute for Spain and levelled in the second half but neither side could force a win and the match went to penalties.
Italy eventually triumphed 4-2 on in the shootout but the match was arguably their sternest test during the competition.
"I can humbly say that they [Spain] were the only team where, had they beaten us, there would have been nothing we could say because they controlled the game, they created chances and made us suffer," said Italtian midfielder Jorginho of July’s close encounter.
Italy face Spain in Nations League semi-final
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as Italy host Spain in the Nations League semi-finals.
Roberto Mancini’s European champions are currently on an unbeaten run of 37 matches, a world record for an international team, but know they face an extremely difficult test against Spain.
The two sides met in the semi-finals of Euro 2020 in an exhilarating and close-fought match that was eventually decided by a penalty shootout and Luis Enrique is eager to see his injury-stricken side avenge that loss.
The winner of tonight’s semi-final will face either Belgium or France in the final.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments