Italy Edges Past Albania In Euro 2024 Opener

Luciano Spalletti’s Italy demonstrated resilience and class as they secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Albania in Dortmund.

Despite an unexpected early setback, the defending champions showed their strength and depth to secure a crucial win in their quest to retain the prestigious title.

The match got off to a surprising start as Albania seized the lead after just 23 seconds, capitalizing on a defensive lapse between Federico Dimarco and Alessandro Bastoni. Nedim Bajrami made history by scoring the quickest goal in Euro history, putting Italy on the back foot from the outset.

However, the Azzurri quickly regrouped, with Alessandro Bastoni leveling the score with a well-placed header before Nicolò Barella’s sensational half-volley gave Italy the lead.

Despite holding a narrow advantage at halftime, Italy faced some challenges in the early stages of the second half, showing signs of complacency.

Albania, eager to mount a comeback, pushed forward, but Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroic save denied Rey Manaj a potential equalizer. Italy’s defense held firm, ensuring they emerged victorious despite a less than convincing display.

As Italy looks ahead to a crucial Group B clash against early leaders Spain, their opening win provides a solid platform for further success in the tournament.

For Albania, despite their spirited start and moments of promise, they will need to regroup ahead of their upcoming match against Croatia.