- Italy beat Albania 2-1 in Euro 2024 group stage
- Nedim Bajrami with fastest goal in Euros history
- Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella secured win for Azzurri
The Azzurri conceded inside the first minute but quickly dusted themselves off to flip the script again to open their Euro 2024 campaign.
Sylvinho's Albania were always within striking distance of Italy but their lack of individual quality told and they eventually fell to defeat.
Inside 23 seconds, Albania took a shock lead with the fastest goal in Euros history. Federico Dimarco's poor throw-in towards the static Alessandro Bastoni was cut out by Nedim Bajrami, who smashed high into the roof of the net at Gianluigi Donnarumma's near post.
Italy could have been level almost straight from kick off when a clever flick from Gianluca Scamacca found Lorenzo Pellegrini on the edge of the Albania box, but he was off balance and his strike trickled wide.
After 11 minutes, the Azzurri found their equaliser. Having initially played it short from a corner, Pellegrini delivered a fantastic cross for Bastoni at the back post, and his header left goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha stranded.
Moments later, Italy went in front. Scamacca's deflected strike was cleared by Jasir Asani but only to Nicolo Barella on the edge of the box, whose first-time half-volley flew into the bottom corner.
Davide Frattesi's delectable dink was then tipped onto the post by Strakosha after Scamacca's reverse pass caught the Albanian backline off guard.
Strakosha again came to Albania's rescue when Pellegrini's knockdown was lashed towards goal by Scamacca, who was denied by the Brentford stopper.
With one final attack before the interval, Pellegrini flew onto the end of a whipped Federico Chiesa cross, but his attempt ricocheted off his shoulder and sailed away from goal.
Albania sought to slow the game down after the break but the best chances continued to fall Italy's way, with Strakosha quick off his line to again thwart Frattesi before Chiesa curled a shot wide.
In the final minute of regulation time, Albania missed their one last chance to equalise. Kristjan Asllani picked out the run of Rey Manaj with an incredible ball over the top of the Italy defence, but his lob bounced behind off the hip of Donnarumma and the holders clung on to claim three points.
