Italy overcame an historic early setback to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Albania in their Euro 2024 opener.
Albania’s Nedim Bajrami made history by scoring the fastest goal in European Championship history, striking just 23 seconds into the match. However, Italy quickly responded, with Alessandro Bastoni heading in an equaliser in the 11th minute, followed by Nicolo Barella’s stunning 20-yard goal five minutes later.
Despite Albania’s initial jubilation, Italy’s dominance was evident as they controlled possession and created numerous chances, entering halftime with a commanding 72.2% possession and 13 shots.
In the second half, Italy maintained control but struggled to extend their lead, with Albania unable to mount a serious threat. Key performances from Jorginho and Federico Chiesa allowed Italy to exploit Albania’s defensive gaps.
Although goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha made crucial saves to keep Albania in the game, their best chance for an equaliser was thwarted by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
While challenging matches against Croatia and Spain loom, the win sets a positive tone for Italy’s title defense.
