Almost making an immediate impact, young sub Pafundi flicks the ball on for Chiesa, but Berisha is able to complete a routine save.
90' +1
A. Pinamonti enters the game and replaces L. Bonucci.
A slice of history is made, as 16-year-old Pafundi comes on for his international debut; Verratti makes way.
A striker, Pinamonti, comes on for Italy captain Bonucci.
90'
F. Chiesa enters the game and replaces G. Raspadori.
S. Pafundi enters the game and replaces M. Verratti.
The first of an Italy triple substitution sees Raspadori replaced by Chiesa, who only recently returned to fitness after almost a year on the sidelines.
88'
X. Skuka enters the game and replaces M. Uzuni.
SAVE! Meret again comes to the Azzurri's rescue; making a sharp stop to repel a spectacular overhead kick from substitute Skuka! Bastoni failed to clear, and his goalkeeper had to get down quickly to keep the ball out and clear up the mess.
87'
Q. Laçi enters the game and replaces K. Bare.
Booked today, and an irritant to the Italians for most of the second half, Bare makes way for Laci.
Reja also makes a switch up front: Uzuni makes way for Skuka.
86'
For a raised boot while challenging Ramadani in the Albania area, following the corner, a bemused Raspadori is penalised; conceding a free-kick.
84'
After smart interplay between the diminutive pairing of Raspadori and Gnonto, the former sees a shot from outside the box deflected well wide of the target for a corner.
82'
The pace has dropped a little, post-substitutions. Perhaps Albania's belief in overturning the scoreline has dimmed too, which surely plays a part.
77'
N. Fagioli enters the game and replaces N. Zaniolo.
Y. Ramadani enters the game and replaces A. Abrashi.
W. Gnonto enters the game and replaces V. Grifo.
Following a superb display up front, Grifo is given a rest; Gnonto will provide some fresh legs for the Azzurri.
Zaniolo also makes way; the breakthrough star of Juventus' recent revival, Fagioli, is offered a cameo appearance.
Reja decides to make a change too: Abrashi comes off for Ramadani.
Minute
Description
75'
SAVE! Berisha has to be alert to cover his near post, as Dimarco watches a dropping ball onto his left foot on the left side of the area, and unleashes a well-struck volley on target! Good stop!
73'
After a disjointed period of play, Italy are in the ascendancy again. Their third goal seems to have knocked some off the stuffing out of Albania.
71'
K. Asllani enters the game and replaces N. Bajrami.
A. Bajrami enters the game and replaces A. Ismajli.
Nedim Bajrami, who set up the opening goal, is also replaced; Inter midfielder Asllani comes on instead.
Today's opening goalscorer Ismajliis withdrawn, as Adrian Bajrami comes on in his place for the final 20 minutes or so.
69'
Verratti and Bare battle for the ball in the centre-circle, and after their earlier conflagration, there's certainly no love lost there! It's becoming a more fractious affair as the game goes on, considering it is supposed to be a 'friendly'.
67'
From a central position, just over 20 yards out, Bajrami fails to hit the target with a dipping free-kick, which Meret watches sail harmlessly over his crossbar.
65'
O. Roshi gets yellow.
Perhaps partly due to frustration at conceding another goal, Roshi picks up a booking for a reckless challenge in midfield.
64'
V. Grifo has scored a goal for Italy!
GRIFO STRIKES AGAIN! After survivng another scare, Italy go 3-1 up, as Verratti's heavily deflected low cross from the right rolls into the path of Grifo inside the area, and the in-form forward scores his second goal of the game! Picking out the far corner, Berisha was left with no chance!
61'
M. Verratti gets yellow.
K. Bare gets yellow.
After a couple of questionable challenges on either side, Verratti loses his head and grabs Bare by the shirt. A melee ensues, and by the time order is restored, the PSG midfielder is shown a yellow card.
After heating up the combustible Verratti with some close physical attention, a multi-player scuffle kicks off, and Bare ultimately sees yellow.
58'
After losing the ball on the edge of Albania's area, Zaniolo is penalised for a foul on Ismajli, and frustration is etched across his face when the referee awards a free-kick. He really wants to score today.
56'
Having just struck the woodwork, Uzuni threatens to sprint away from Bonucci on the right side of the area, before the Azzurri centre-back uses all his accrued nous to narrow the angle and settle for conceding just a corner.
51'
O. Roshi enters the game and replaces A. Broja.
A downcast Broja limps off the pitch, as he has picked up an injury and is withdrawn by Reja; Roshi is his replacement.
48'
Ending a superb run down the right by Broja, who ultimately lacks support and loses the ball, Verratti intercepts and sets Italy off on the counter-attack.
46'
Albania kick off, and we are back under way in Tirana!
45' +4
HALF-TIME: ALBANIA 1-2 ITALY
Now, Dimarco is down injured after taking a heavy blow. Thankfully, unlike stricken team-mate Tonali, he is ultimately able to peel himself off the turf and returns to the fray.
45' +3
M. Kumbulla gets yellow.
Penalised for a foul right at the end of the half, Kumbulla is shown a yellow card by the referee.
45' +2
S. Ricci enters the game and replaces S. Tonali.
After a delay, while Italy continue with 10 men, the injured Tonali is finally replaced by Ricci.
42'
Once again, Tonali is felled. This time, he topples over an opposing player in challenging for the ball aerially and lands awkwardly. Therefore, the action stops while the Milan midfielder receives treatment from the medics.
40'
Zaniolo appears to have hexagonal boots on today, as his latest effort at goal flies wildly over the crossbar from more than 20 yards out. Perhaps it was worth a try from there, but that's a waste!
39'
The game comes to a temporary halt, as Tonali stays down on the soggy turf with an injury following a challenge from Bare in midfield.
37'
It's all Italy now, as 10 Azzurri shirts occupy their hosts' defensive half. Albania are not exactly under siege, but they just can't get their foot on the ball.
35'
Berisha makes a regulation save low down to his left, after Raspadori scuttles a tame shot towards goal - and perhaps slightly off target - from around 20 yards out.
33'
Lenjani has to intervene at the back post with a timely header, after Grifo clips over another dangerous ball. The Freiburg forward has had plenty of joy on his flank so far today, also adding a goal for good measure.
31'
Now in front, Italy are attempting to reduce the tempo to their preference, and they keep the ball under little pressure in midfield.
29'
There's little between the sides in an evenly-fought period of the first half, as Albania aim to recover from the shock of conceding two quick goals.
25'
V. Grifo has scored a goal for Italy! Assist by G. Raspadori.
After making his way into the right side of the area, Raspadori pulls the ball back across the box for Grifo to slot home Italy's second goal.
ITALY GO IN FRONT! What a turnaround in Tirana! A clever cutback from Raspadori, who unselfishly offloads the ball in the area, picks out Grifo unmarked near the penalty spot, and the Bundesliga-based striker stays cool to slot the ball home; making it 2-1 to the Azzurri!
24'
Latching on to a long ball down the left, Zaniolo gets under a lofted shot towards goal and sends the ball well over the crossbar, with Berisha caught out of position.
22'
Bonucci goes up for a free-kick, which is swung over from the right, but is caught offside; ending Italy's attacking phase.
20'
G. Di Lorenzo has scored a goal for Italy! Assist by V. Grifo.
ITALY EQUALISE! Arriving at speed from the right flank, Di Lorenzo storms towards the six-yard box and steers home an inswinging cross from Grifo past a helpless Berisha from close range! Totally unmarked, the Napoli captain puts La Nazional back on level terms in Tirana: 1-1!
From the left touchline, Grifo cuts inside and sends a dangerous inswinging cross over towards the centre of the area, where Di Lorenzo's run meets the ball.
16'
A. Ismajli has scored a goal for Albania! Assist by N. Bajrami.
Made in Serie A, Bajrami crosses brilliantly from a free-kick on the right wing to pick out goalscorer and Empoli team-mate Ismajli in the centre.
ALBANIA LEAD! Rising imperiously above Bonucci near the penalty spot, Ismajli meets a pinpoint free-kick by Bajrami from the right with a powerful header past Meret! He thumps the ball in off the crossbar and gives his nation a one-goal lead: Albania 1-0 Italy - the shock is on!
14'
Having survived a major scare, Albania are able to move a little further up the pitch and instead give their Italian counterparts something to deal with defensively.
12'
SAVE! Albania captain Berisha keeps out Raspadori's close-range strike by his right-hand post, then when the ball breaks to Zaniolo on the follow-up, the Roma forward shanks it over the bar from no more than 15 yards out!
10'
After an uncertain satrt, Italy are starting to dominate possession; moving the ball sharply and causing Albania to drop off towards their own area.
8'
From deep on the left flank, Hysaj charges down a Dimarco cross and concedes a corner. The Inter wing-back delivers it himself, and after the ball is recycled, Zanioli sends a dangerous ball past the far post and just too far away from his Azzurri-clad colleagues.
6'
Another Bajrami corner from the right is seen off by the Azzurri rearguard, but they have not been entirely confident in dealing with the Empoli midfielder's crosses so far. That could be a good route to goal for the home side today.
4'
After Raspadori tries to whip a cross over from the flank, a well-set Albanian defence clears their lines before Zaniolo can reach the ball.
2'
Italy struggle to clear an early corner from the right, and their hosts then keep them penned in for a spell, much to the delight of the home crowd.
1'
The visitors kick off, and we are under way in Tirana!
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's international friendly fixture between Albania and Italy in Tirana!
As they welcome the European champions to Tirana today, Albania are amid a troubling run which saw them fail to win in four UEFA Nations League fixtures this year. Such a streak saw them avoid relegation to League C only by virtue of Russia's disqualification, while the Eagles also came up short in pursuit of a World Cup debut in Qatar. Edy Reja's men won six of their 10 matches in Group I, but ultimately finished third behind England and Poland.
Missing out on the World Cup due to another play-off calamity in qualification for Qatar, today Italy seek to build on their recent revival in the Nations League. Also aiming towards the defence of their European crown in less than two years time, the Azzurri recovered from their 'disastro' at the hands of North Macedonia - plus three-goal defeats to both Argentina and Germany - to top their group and reach next year's Nations League finals. Roberto Mancini has also added a dash of youth to the squad for his latest Nazionale selection.
SUBS: Gentian Selmani, Elhan Kastrati, Kristjan Asllani, Adrian Bajrami, Eneo Bitri, Tedi Cara, Enis Cokaj, Erdenis Gurishta, Andi Hadroj, Qazim Laci, Ernest Muci, Arbnor Mucolli, Ylber Ramadani, Odise Roshi, Xhuliano Skuka.
ITALY (3-4-3): Alex Meret; Giorgio Scalvini, Leonardo Bonucci, Alessandro Bastoni; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Marco Verratti, Sandro Tonali, Federico Dimarco; Nicolo Zaniolo, Giacomo Raspadori, Vincenzo Grifo.
The players are out on the pitch in the Albanian capital, and we are now just moments away from kick-off!
As things stand, Italy are on course for a third straight win since their 5-2 humbling by Germany in June. Can Mancini's men hold on, or even extend their advantage after the interval - and will any of their teenage young guns make an appearance at some stage?
That's all from Tirana today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
Italy will conclude their camp with a game against Austria at the weekend, while Albania get another chance to end their winless streak on Saturday, when they meet Armenia.
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