Italy vs Saudi Arabia, 2018 International Friendly, International Friendly

Mario Balotelli scores on international return as Italy hold off Saudi Arabia

Mario Balotelli returned to Italy duty with a bang following a four-year absence as his first-half goal set the tone for a 2-1 friendly victory.

• 0': First Half begins.
• 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
• 2': Offside, Italy. Jorginho tries a through ball, but Lorenzo Insigne is caught offside.
• 5': Foul by Mario Balotelli (Italy).
• 5': Omar Hawsawi (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 7': Attempt missed. Mario Balotelli (Italy) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Leonardo Bonucci with a cross.
• 9': Offside, Italy. Leonardo Bonucci tries a through ball, but Mario Balotelli is caught offside.
• 11': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Abdullah Ateef.
• 12': Attempt missed. Matteo Politano (Italy) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lorenzo Pellegrini following a corner.
• 12': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Osama Hawsawi.
• 13': Attempt missed. Matteo Politano (Italy) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Alessandro Florenzi following a corner.
• 13': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Mohammed Kanno.
• 13': Attempt missed. Lorenzo Pellegrini (Italy) header from very close range misses to the right. Assisted by Matteo Politano with a cross following a corner.
• 14': Foul by Domenico Criscito (Italy).
• 14': Yasir Al Shahrani (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• 15': Davide Zappacosta (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 15': Foul by Salman Al Faraj (Saudi Arabia).
• 18': Foul by Omar Hawsawi (Saudi Arabia).
• 18': Lorenzo Insigne (Italy) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
• 19': Attempt missed. Matteo Politano (Italy) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Lorenzo Insigne with a headed pass.
• 21': Goal! Italy 1, Saudi Arabia 0. Mario Balotelli (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.
• 22': Attempt blocked. Lorenzo Pellegrini (Italy) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mario Balotelli.
• 24': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Omar Hawsawi.
• 29': Offside, Saudi Arabia. Abdullah Ateef tries a through ball, but Yasir Al Shahrani is caught offside.
• 30': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Taiseer Al Jassam.
• 31': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Mohammed Al Owais.
• 32': Attempt missed. Alessio Romagnoli (Italy) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
• 33': Foul by Mario Balotelli (Italy).
• 33': Osama Hawsawi (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 36': Attempt blocked. Taiseer Al Jassam (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Yahya Al Shehri.
• 38': Foul by Mansour Al-Harbi (Saudi Arabia).
• 38': Matteo Politano (Italy) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• 39': Attempt missed. Lorenzo Pellegrini (Italy) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Matteo Politano.
• 40': Attempt saved. Domenico Criscito (Italy) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Lorenzo Pellegrini.
• 40': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Taiseer Al Jassam.
• 42': Foul by Jorginho (Italy).
• 42': Salman Al Faraj (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 45'+1': First Half ends, Italy 1, Saudi Arabia 0.
• 45': Second Half begins Italy 1, Saudi Arabia 0.
• 45': Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Salem Al Dawsari replaces Mohammed Kanno.
• 46': Attempt missed. Taiseer Al Jassam (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Salem Al Dawsari.
• 46': Offside, Saudi Arabia. Salman Al Faraj tries a through ball, but Mohannad Aseri is caught offside.
• 53': Foul by Domenico Criscito (Italy).
• 53': Taiseer Al Jassam (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• 54': Attempt blocked. Mario Balotelli (Italy) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Leonardo Bonucci.
• 54': Attempt missed. Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left.
• 56': Attempt missed. Lorenzo Pellegrini (Italy) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Davide Zappacosta with a cross.
• 58': Substitution, Italy. Andrea Belotti replaces Mario Balotelli.
• 62': Attempt missed. Andrea Belotti (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jorginho.
• 67': Substitution, Italy. Giacomo Bonaventura replaces Alessandro Florenzi.
• 68': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Omar Hawsawi.
• 68': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Osama Hawsawi.
• 68': Attempt saved. Andrea Belotti (Italy) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Giacomo Bonaventura with a cross.
• 68': Goal! Italy 2, Saudi Arabia 0. Andrea Belotti (Italy) right footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal following a corner.
• 69': Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Fahad Al Muwallad replaces Mohannad Aseri.
• 70': Offside, Italy. Gianluigi Donnarumma tries a through ball, but Andrea Belotti is caught offside.
• 71': Attempt saved. Lorenzo Insigne (Italy) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Domenico Criscito.
• 71': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Mohammed Al Owais.
• 71': Attempt blocked. Alessio Romagnoli (Italy) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Giacomo Bonaventura with a cross.
• 71': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Fahad Al Muwallad.
• 72': Goal! Italy 2, Saudi Arabia 1. Yahya Al Shehri (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Salem Al Dawsari following a fast break.
• 73': Substitution, Italy. Simone Verdi replaces Lorenzo Pellegrini.
• 73': Substitution, Italy. Bryan Cristante replaces Matteo Politano.
• 73': Offside, Italy. Leonardo Bonucci tries a through ball, but Andrea Belotti is caught offside.
• 74': Foul by Davide Zappacosta (Italy).
• 74': Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 75': Attempt missed. Andrea Belotti (Italy) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Leonardo Bonucci.
• 76': Abdullah Ateef (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 76': Foul by Bryan Cristante (Italy).
• 78': Attempt saved. Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Taiseer Al Jassam.
• 79': Attempt saved. Fahad Al Muwallad (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
• 79': Corner, Saudi Arabia. Conceded by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
• 83': Fahad Al Muwallad (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
• 83': Foul by Bryan Cristante (Italy).
• 84': Substitution, Italy. Federico Chiesa replaces Lorenzo Insigne.
• 84': Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Ali Albulayhi replaces Osama Hawsawi.
• 84': Attempt missed. Salman Al Faraj (Saudi Arabia) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
• 85': Foul by Andrea Belotti (Italy).
• 85': Mansour Al-Harbi (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 85': Attempt missed. Fahad Al Muwallad (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Taiseer Al Jassam.
• 86': Foul by Davide Zappacosta (Italy).
• 86': Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
• 87': Foul by Simone Verdi (Italy).
• 87': Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
• 88': Substitution, Italy. Mattia De Sciglio replaces Domenico Criscito.
• 90'+2': Attempt blocked. Simone Verdi (Italy) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
• 90'+2': Attempt blocked. Bryan Cristante (Italy) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
• 90'+2': Attempt blocked. Andrea Belotti (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
• 90'+2': Foul by Federico Chiesa (Italy).
• 90'+2': Mohammed Al Owais (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 90'+3': Delay in match Omar Hawsawi (Saudi Arabia) because of an injury.
• 90'+3': Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Hussain Al-Mogahwi replaces Salman Al Faraj.
• 90'+4': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• 90'+4': Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Motaz Hawsawi replaces Omar Hawsawi because of an injury.
• 90'+4': Foul by Motaz Hawsawi (Saudi Arabia).
• 90'+4': Simone Verdi (Italy) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
• 90'+5': Second Half ends, Italy 2, Saudi Arabia 1.
• 90'+5': Match ends, Italy 2, Saudi Arabia 1.