Italy: Scuffet; Ferrari, Masina, Biraschi, Mandragora (Locatelli 63’); Benassi, Cataldi (Favilli 63’), Pellegrini (Verre 76’); Berardi (Ricci 92’), Cerri (Calabria 63’), Chiesa (Di Francesco 72’). 4-3-3.
Spain: Pau López; Bellerín, Yeray (Diego González 54’), Jorge Meré, Jonny; Saúl Ñíguez, Marcos Llorente, Denis Suárez; Marco Asensio (Odriozola 77’), Borja Mayoral (Dani Ceballos 73’), Williams (Oyarzabal 77’). 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 34. Saúl Ñíguez. Acrobatic shot after Scuffet saved shot from Denis Suárez.
0-2. 38. Mayoral. Header from close up after defender headed back Asensio corner.
1-2. 71. Pellegrini. Looped header wide of Pau López after Berardi laid ball across.
Spain’s under 21 side clocked up a second victory in four days after they beat Italy 1-2 in Roma’s Olympic Stadium. The youngsters started well, Borja Mayoral testing Scuffet a couple of times in the opening minutes. And although Pau López had to save from Berardi soon afterwards, Saúl Ñíguez fired home the opener after the local keeper pushed out a shot from Denis Suárez with ten minutes to go to the break. Some four minutes later Mayoral headed the second after a defender headed back a Marco Asensio corner, and with half time approaching Scuffet saved again from Saúl. A minute after the restart though Benassi came up against Pau López and then fired the rebound against the bar, but a few minutes later Asensio also hit the woodwork at the other end. With twenty minutes to go Pellegrini headed one back for the hosts after Berardi laid the ball across, but Spain closed up shop after that to ensure a win against another of the teams who will be competing with them in the European finals this summer.