International Matches - Under 21

Spain 3 – Italy 1

Spain: Kepa; Bellerín, Jorge Meré, Jesús Vallejo, Jonny; Saúl Ñíguez, Marcos Llorente, Dani Ceballos (Oyarzabal 88’); Deulofeu (Denis Suárez 82‘), Sandro (Iñaki Williams 78’), Marco Asensio. 4-3-3.
Italy: Donnarumma; Calabria, Rugani, Caldara, Barreca; Benassi (Garritano 87’), Gagliardini, Pellegrini, Chiesa (Locatelli 61’); Petagna (Cerri 72’), Bernardeschi. 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 53. Saúl. Picked up Ceballos pass and turned shot past Donnarumma.
1-1. 62. Bernardeschi. Collected quick free kick and cut across to score.
2-1. 65. Saúl. Collected Deulofeu pass and fired shot wide of keeper.
3-1. 75. Saúl. Struck shot into near bottom corner of net from Alonso centre.

Yellow cards: Benassi 45’, Gagliardini 50’, 58’, Calabria 56’, Cerri 77’ / red cards: Gagliardini 58’.

A second half hat-trick from Saúl Ñíguez took Spain’s under 21 side in to next Friday’s European championship final! The Atlético Madrid midfielder combined with Dani Ceballos to open the scoring some eight minutes after the break, and although Gagliardini was sent off for a second bookable offence soon afterwards, Bernardeschi levelled it for Italy a few minutes later with a shot which took a deflection off Vallejo. Before all that though Spain keeper Kepa had to make several saves, in particular from Chiesa, Pellegrini and Petagna before the interval, but some twenty minutes in to the second half Saúl beat Donnarumma with a shot from outside of the area, and some ten minutes later he connected with Asensio’s cross to score again, taking his tally for the finals to five. Albert Celades’ side will now face Germany on Friday evening after they beat England on penalties in the other semi-final.