Italy 1-3 France: Rabiot scores a brace, Digne creates two assists one own goal

France secured top spot in Nations League Group A2 when they defeated Italy 3-1, largely thanks to the efforts of Adrien Rabiot and Lucas Digne.

Competition events

Rabiot headed home twice at San Siro on Sunday, each time after excellent dead-ball deliveries from Digne.

Digne also played a crucial role in France's second goal, with his exceptional free-kick clattering against the crossbar and bouncing in past the hapless Guglielmo Vicario.

And although Italy hit back through Andrea Cambiaso just two minutes after Vicario's own goal to make it 2-1, they were unable to find a second wind after Rabiot restored Les Bleus' two-goal goal midway through the second half.

Mike Maignan made a fantastic save from Moise Kean deep into injury time at his home stadium to maintain France's lead and ensure Didier Deschamps' side, who were frustrated by Israel last time out, retained top spot.

The result means that France, who did not feel Kylian Mbappe's absence this time as they had against Israel, will be placed in the draw for the quarter-finals, to be played in March.

Data debriefing: delight for Digne and Rabiot

Digne and Rabiot were both playing for France for the 50th time and were the stars of the show as Les Bleus took revenge for their 3-1 defeat to Italy on home soil in September.

Rabiot's first goal – a fine header from a superb Digne corner – came after just one minute and 59 seconds, marking the first goal Italy has conceded in a home match since Opta began recording such data in 2008. It was also France's fastest goal in a home match. away game since Patrick Battiston in a 4-0 win over Luxembourg in October 1984.

France scored three goals from set pieces in a match for the first time since 1991, when they scored three times from dead ball situations against Albania.

Les Bleus have now won each of their last three away games against Italy, more than in their first fourteen.

Italy may feel hard done by for having more shots (10 vs. six) and scoring a higher expected number of goals (0.7 xG vs. 0.4), but France's lethal double act of Digne and Rabiot were worthy match-winners.

0' The match is about to start!

2' Adrien Rabiot opens the scoring for the visitors! Italy 0-1 France

9' Highlight of Italy vs France

18' match event for Italy vs France

33' Digne fires a free kick to score Vicario's own goal! Italy 0-2 France

35' Cambiaso pulls one back for the hosts! Italy 1-2 France

49' Dimarco's cross is deflected and Maignan holds it

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58' Nkunku's long shot is saved by Vicario

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65' Rabiot scores brace and doubles the lead for the visitors! Italy 1-3 France

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69' Highlight of Italy versus France

78' Highlight of Italy against France

Setups

Italy XI: Di Lorenzo, Dimarco, Barella, Locatelli, Guglielmo Vicario, Bastoni, Frattesi, Buongiorno, Tonali, Mateo Retegui, Andrea Cambiaso

Subs: Meret, Donnarumma, Kean, Giacomo Raspadori, Rovella, Okoli, Destiny Udogie, Maldini, Nicolò Savona, Federico Gatti, Niccolò Pisilli, Pietro Comuzzo

France XI: Digne, Maignan, Rabiot, Thuram, Nkunku, Konate, Konde, Guendouzi, Muani, William Saliba, Manu Koné

Subs: Brice Samba, Kante, Coman, Pavard, Theo, Upamecano, Michael Olise, Lucas Chevalier, Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaire-Emery