14 October 2014
Italy kept up their 100 per cent start to this Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a 1-0 win over Malta in Ta’Qali.
Six Bianconeri played a part in yesterday’s Group H game which saw two red cards for either side and Graziano Pellè’s solitary strike decide the encounter after only 23 minutes had elapsed.
Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Claudio Marchisio all started Monday evening’s meeting whilst Angelo Ogbonna and Sebastian Giovinco both entered the fray after the break. Andrea Pirlo was an unused substitute.
In a first-half completely dictated by the away side, Maltese frontman Michael Mifsud was sent off for a strong challenge on Roma’s Alessandro Florenzi four minutes after Pellé’s tap-in.
However, the game somewhat petered out after the interval before Bonucci was later dismissed 17 minutes from the end for upending André Schembri as the last man.
The 27-year-old’s sending off didn’t hamper Italy though, as Antonio Conte’s side went on to see out a relatively comfortable 1-0 victory.
The seven Bianconeri landed back on Italian soil earlier this morning and will join up with the rest of Massimiliano Allegri’s squad in the coming days as he looks ahead to Saturday’s Serie A action with Sassuolo.
