Italy target second spot as they face winless Turkey

Italy welcome Turkey to the Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna on Monday in a Nations League match that could tighten their grip on second place in Group A1. Kick-off is at 2:45 p.m. Eastern time.
Italy sit second in Group A1 after a 1-1 draw with France on Saturday, in which Alessandro Bastoni's 68th-minute equalizer cancelled out Hugo Ekitike's early opener. A week ago they thrashed Turkey 4-1 in Bursa, with goals from Federico Dimarco, Moise Kean, Giacomo Raspadori and Ekitike.
Turkey have yet to earn a point from three matches, conceding eight goals. They are also without Arda Guler and Baris Alper Yilmaz, both suspended, while Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz are injured. Their record defeat came against Belgium, who beat them 3-0.
Luciano Spalletti is likely to rotate his side with France next, and Bastoni, Francesco Acerbi and Matteo Darmian are all one yellow card from suspension. For Turkey, interim coach Selcuk Inan has called up seven teenagers as he plans for the 2028 Euros.
Referee Szymon Marciniak will take charge. A home win would keep Italy second behind France before the final group games in November.
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