Spain 1-1 Italy: Pisilli maintains positive run in U21 European Championship

FLORENCE, ITALY – OCTOBER 07: Niccolo Pisilli of Italy poses for a portrait prior to the Italy training session at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on October 07, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Niccolò Pisilli’s angled drive gave Italy a 1-1 draw with Spain, meaning they finish second in the group on goals scored, but were already through to the European Under-21 Championship quarter-final.

Both these teams had already qualified for the quarter-finals, having won their opening two matches in the group. Those were slender victories, both 1-0 for Italy against Romania and Slovakia, while Spain got late 2-1 and 3-2 wins. The Azzurri transformed their starting XI and rested many players for this head-to-head over top spot which ultimately makes little difference for the draw.

Ex-Lazio winger Raul Moro cut inside to see a shot charged down, but the first effort on target was from Jacopo Fazzini, whose scorcher from outside the box stung Pablo Cunat’s gloves.

Michael Kayode forced a tough save at the near post only for Niccolò Pisilli to shin the rebound over from a promising position.

However, Spain broke the deadlock with their first shot on target and the first goal conceded by the Azzurrini. Alberto Moleiro surged forward from midfield, spread the play down the right for Moro, who rolled across for Jesus Rodriguez to side-foot home first-time from 12 yards.

That lead didn’t last long, as Roma’s Pisilli ran onto a Daniele Ghilardi ball over the top, shrugged off a defender and drilled it into the far bottom corner from a very difficult angle.

Roberto Fernandez forced a tough save from Gioele Zacchi outside the area, while Campos made a very tricky one-handed parry on Riccardo Turicchia from a set play and nobody was able to get the final touch on a dangerous Matteo Ruggeri free kick.

Pisilli threatened a brace, his snapshot flashing inches wide of the near post.

Spain 1-1 Italy

Jesus Rodriguez 53 (S), Pisilli 59 (I)

Spain U21: Cuñat; Pubill (Juanlu 74), Rafa Marin, Juanma Herzog, Andres Garcia; Jaureguizar, Pablo Marin (Diego Lopez 65); Moro (Tarrega 90), Moleiro (Torre 74), Jesus Rodriguez (Javi Guerra 65); Roberto Fernandez

Italy: Zacchi; Kayode, Ghilardi, Coppola, Turicchia (Ruggeri 85); Bianco, Guarino (Pirola 85), Doumbia; Pisilli (Prati 90), Fazzini (Casadei 74); Ambrosino (Gnonto 74)

Ref: Walsh (SCO)