Italy Under-15s kicked-off 2026 with a victory, beating Slovenia 1–0 at Novarello in the first of two scheduled friendlies.

After missing a penalty through Genoa midfielder Davide Tilli in the 34th minute, Italy took the lead thanks to a goal in the 65th minute from Luca Muzzi Moraes, a Benfica forward and son of former Roma and Siena goalkeeper Artur Guilherme Moraes Gusmão, known by fans as simply Artur.

 

 

Coach Enrico Battisti commented “We’re very pleased with our first half. We controlled the game and created plenty of opportunities. We deserved to take the lead in the first fourty minutes. But in the second half we struggled a bit, dropping in intensity and losing our momentum. Our opponents tried to take advantage of that, but at their best moment we went ahead. Overall, considering the many chances we created, we can say it was a deserved victory.”

The Azzurrini will be back in action against Slovenia on Thursday 11:00 CET in Granozzo con Monticello again. The Azzurrini coach added “It will be an opportunity to give more minutes to those who played less today. Everyone will have the chance to gain experience.”

 

MATCH REPORT. Italy lined up in a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Vitali behind the attacking duo of Rossini and Boga. Slovenia went for the same system, relying up front on Ćapin and Vučić, supported by Mačukat as attacking midfielder.

The Azzurrini made a dynamic start and, within the first minute, almost took the lead when Vitali’s right-footed effort from the edge of the box grazed past the top corner. Battisti’s side kept up the pressure, creating three chances in quick succession, including Rossini’s right-footed shot cleared off the line by Podrenk with Ambrož beaten in the 10th minute, Boga’s left-footed effort a minute later, and Cacucciolo’s header in the 12th minute, both of the latter pushed behind for corners by the Slovenian goalkeeper.

The visitors tried to respond in the 25th minute through Mešanovič, but the number 8’s close-range header from a Ćapin assist drifted wide of the left of the Italian goal. The 33rd minute featured a potential game changing moment: Podrenk brought down Vitali in the Slovenian box, which led to referee Andrea Sasso awarding a penalty. Tilli stepped up, but Ambrož saved from the spot. The teams went into the break goalless.

 

 

 

In the second half, Italy came out with confidence and came close in the 46th minute through Danza, who tried his luck from 25 metres. At the other end, Ćapin rattled Bondone’s goal in the 55th minute, striking the crossbar with a curling right-footed effort from the edge of the area. Ten minutes later, the decisive moment came: Vitali sprinted down the left before shooting on goal. His left-footed diagonal effort was parried by the opposing goalkeeper, who could do nothing about the close-range tap-in from substitute Muzzi Moraes, quick to make it 1–0. Shaken by conceding, Slovenia tried to respond immediately, but Hribar’s shot was saved by the Italian goalkeeper in the 72nd minute. After five minutes of stoppage time, Battisti’s boys celebrated a narrow but deserved victory at the end of a very strong performance, especially in the first half.

 

 

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Matteo Bondone (Genoa), Francesco Ghezzi (Atalanta);
Defenders: Giulio Cacucciolo (Torino), Niccolò Chieffallo (Roma), Christian D’Aiello (Genoa), Mirko Danza (Atalanta), Alessandro Gennaro Esposito (Juventus), Alessandro Guidotti (Cesena), Domenico Lanatà (Stuttgart), Fabrizio Pasotti (Cremonese);
Midfielders: Maxim Broux (Genk), Mattia Gallo (Torino)*, Alessandro Grigioni (Inter), Christian Vigil Hidalgo (Milan)**, Samuel Prendi (Atalanta), Davide Tilli (Genoa);
Forwards: Gian Maria Boga (Cesena), Francesco Buondonno (Napoli), Riccardo Martellini (Torino)***, Luca Muzzi Moraes (Benfica), Leonardo Rossini (Milan), Lorenzo Vitali (Parma).

* called up on 19 January to replace the unavailable Abdl Salam Musah (Fiorentina).
** called up on 19 January to replace the unavailable Marco Vaccarella (Juventus).
*** called up on 19 January to replace the unavailable Mark Chidozie Cordopatri (Parma).

Staff: Head Coach: Enrico Battisti; Deputy Coordinator of Youth National Teams: Daniele Zoratto; Italy Under-15 National Supervisor: Antonio Rocca; Goalkeeping Area Coordinator: Gaetano Petrelli; Assistant Coaches: Antonio Candreva and Bruno Redolfi; Goalkeeping Coach: Davide Quironi; Fitness Coach: Luca Bossi; Match Analyst: Gianluca Mazziotti; Doctors: Gabriele Altavilla and Lorenzo Sapegno; Physiotherapist: Matteo Ficini; Press Office: Alessandro Paoli; Team Secretary: Francesco Lupi.