Nicolo Barella extended Italy’s two-year unbeaten run as he scored the winner in Monday’s 1-0 victory away to the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League while Erling Haaland netted twice for Norway in a 5-1 thrashing of Northern Ireland.
Italy’s win was slightly spoiled by news of rising star Nicolo Zaniolo injury, who will undergo another serious knee operation on Wednesday after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament for the second time in eight months.
Barella’s bullet header in first half stoppage time was enough for Roberto Mancini’s side to take all three points in Amsterdam and top spot in League A, Group 1.
The Azzurri’s are a point ahead of the Dutch, who are playing under interim coach Dwight Lodeweges following Ronald Koeman’s appointment at Barcelona, and third-placed Poland following their 2-1 away win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Haaland on song
In other matches, Romania came out on top against Austria in Klagenfurt, with Denis Alibec, Dragos Grigore and Alexandru Maxim on target in a 3-2 victory.
Norway shook off their opening loss to Austria as Borussia Dortmund striker Haaland helped tear apart Northern Ireland in Belfast.
Paddy McNair cancelled out Mohamed Elyounoussi’s fine finish but Haaland, who struck his first international goal in Friday’s defeat, thumped in from the edge of the area to restore Norway’s lead.
Alexander Sorloth scored twice, the second via an assist from Haaland who completed the scoring on the hour with another superb finish.
Scotland scraped past an inexperienced Czech Republic 2-1 in Olomouc to go top of League B, Group 2.