Italy displayed their superiority in a dominating performance against Malta, securing a comfortable 2-0 victory at Ta’ Qali National Stadium. The European champions took control of the game early on, but not before surviving an early scare from the home side. Alex Satariano had an opportunity to put Malta ahead after just five minutes, but failed to capitalize on it.
Italy quickly regrouped and took full control of the match, punishing Malta for their poor defensive positioning. Midway through the first half, Mateo Retegui broke the deadlock with a clinical finish, which was quickly followed by Matteo Pessina’s goal just 13 minutes later.
Despite a valiant effort by the Maltese, Italy’s quality proved too much to handle. The absence of Teddy Teuma in midfield, who was not fully fit, was sorely felt by the home side. Italy’s midfield dominance was evident throughout the game, allowing them to control possession and create numerous scoring opportunities.
The victory was Italy’s first in Group C of the Euro 2024 qualifiers, and they will look to build on this performance as they aim to secure their spot in the tournament.
