Reigning EURO champion Italy took a minute to get started in their repeat bid, and that’s all Albania needed at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund on Saturday.
The madness wasn’t over, with all the scoring of a 2-1 Italy win concluded before the match was 16 minutes old.
Nedim Bajrami, coincidentally a Serie A striker for Sassuolo, capitalized on Italian miscommunication after just 23 second of Albania’s first EURO game of the 2024 tourney in Germany, belting the ball near post into the upper 90 for a 1-0 Kuqezinjtë lead.
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The Azzurri were not bothered, however, scoring twice in a five-minutes span to give the game three quick goals. No more would arrive to the home of Borussia Dortmund.
Inter Milan back Alessandro Bastoni thumped in Lorenzo Pellegrini’s corner in the 11th minute, and that’s when the real fireworks took place.
Another Inter man, Nicolo Barella, walked onto a loose ball and scored an aesthetically-pleasing marvel of a goal, swerving an inside-out shot past Brentford backstop Thomas Strakosha.
Italy vs Albania Albania take stunning lead after 23 seconds — Italy 0-1 Albania (1st minute)
ABSOLUTE MADNESS 🤯
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2024
THE REIGNING CHAMPS ITALY ARE DOWN AGAINST ALBANIA 23 SECONDS IN 😱😱 pic.twitter.com/EgRg6ByGJT
Nico Barella goal video — Italy 2-1 Albania (18th minute)
This was too nice 🤤
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2024
Absolute screamer from Nicolò Barella 🇮🇹🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ssu9STAK27
