Italy moved to the top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group by claiming a 1-0 victory over Malta at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
The Azzurri struggled to create chances in the first half and only managed one shot on target before the break.
As the game approached the hour mark, Manolo Gabbiadini almost broke the deadlock with a curling effort that crashed against the woodwork.
Italy finally made the breakthrough in the 69th minute when substitute Antonio Candreva's cross was turned in by Graziano Pelle.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good evening everyone! Vital points are at stake as qualifying resumes for next year's European Championship. As always, Italy will be heavily fancied if they reach the tournament, and they can close to within touching distance of a place in France with a win over struggling Malta in Florence.
Italy are currently second in the group as they prepare for this week's double header with Malta and Bulgaria. They are two points ahead of Norway in the final automatic qualifying spot for the tournament and you sense that only a major collapse would stop them from reaching the championships.
It is a different story for Malta, who have lost five of their six games and are bottom of Group H with just a single point. They have been involved in some tight matches, and only suffered a 1-0 defeat to Italy in their previous meeting last October, but a lack of threat in the final third means that a major tournament will elude them once again.
ITALY XI: Buffon; Darmian, Bonucci, Chiellini, Pasqual; Verratti, Pirlo, Bertolacci; Gabbiadini, Eder, Pelle
MALTA XI: Hogg; A Muscat, Borg, Z. Muscat, Agius, Failla; R. Muscat, Fenech, Briffa; Effiong; Schembri
ITALY SUBS: Sirigu, Padelli, De Sciglio, Barzagli, De Rossi, Florenzi, Soriano, Parolo, Vazquez, Candreva, Insigne, Zaza
MALTA SUBS: Bonello, Haber, Camilleri, Baldacchino, Zerafa, Sciberras, Kristensen, Mifsud, Cohen, Triganza, Vella, Pisani
So, that's how the teams will be lining up this evening. Italy will start with a 4-3-3 formation, with Graziano Pelle leading the line. Eder and Manolo Gabbiadini will provide him with support in the attack, while New York City FC midfielder Andrea Pirlo also starts.
I mentioned earlier that Italy claimed a 1-0 win when these teams played each other last year. Graziano Pelle scored the only goal on his debut for the Azzurri, while Michael Mifsud and Leonardo Bonucci were both shown straight red cards, as each team finished with 10 men.
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Italy may have won the World Cup four times in their history, but they have only ever claimed the European Championship on one occasion. That victory came in 1968, when they beat Yugoslavia 2-0 in a replayed final.
The deciding match had to be replayed after the teams played out a 1-1 draw. It is also interesting to note that Italy made it into the final after winning a coin toss against the Soviet Union, when their semi-final had finished goalless after extra-time. I know people complain about penalties, but I think that is a much harsher way to be dumped out of a major tournament.
Just a quick reminder that Italy will top the group if they win this evening, as leaders Croatia were held to a goalless draw by Azerbaijan earlier today. There is also another match taking place between Bulgaria and Norway, which is likely to decide who finishes in third place.
The start of the match will be slightly delayed, as we have only just heard the national anthems. There will also be a minute of silence taking place to observe migrants, after the troubles that we have seen in recent weeks.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadio Artemio Franchi!
SHOT! Italy have an early chance to test the keeper inside the opening minutes, when Pelle is fouled just outside the box. Pirlo steps up to take the resulting free kick, but his shot clips the top of the wall and deflects behind for a corer.
As you would expect, Italy are dominating the possession, but Malta are getting plenty of men behind the ball and are going in with some heavy tackles. The visitors are also playing five at the back, with neither full-back venturing too far forward.
Almost a chance for Italy, as a long ball over the top looks as if it will drift harmlessly out of play. Agius tries to just watch it behind, but Pelle works hard and gets to the ball before him. He then looks to dig a cross into the middle, but the keeper is alert and pushes his attempt away from danger.
Malta are coming under intense pressure and every time they clear the ball it is quickly coming back at them. Italy are working it around well between their midfielders and are showing good movement, but so far the visitors have dealt with their threat.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a few cards handed out this evening, as Malta have certainly not shied away from any tackles. They can't afford to give away too many fouls, as the likes of Pirlo can punish them from free kicks.
SHOT! The visitors advance on a rare foray into the Italy half, with Muscat picking up the ball in space. He is not closed down, so decides to fire in a low strike from all of 30 yards, but Buffon saw it all the way and comfortably makes the save.
Pirlo hasn't quite found his range yet, and from the Azzurri's latest free kick, he whips a cross into the box that is far too close to the keeper. He will certainly be hoping that it is third time lucky with his next effort.
SHOT! Malta lose the ball cheaply deep inside their own half and it is fed to Verratti just outside the box. The midfielder then crashes in a strike, but it takes a slight deflection and heads over for a corner.
CHANCE! From the resulting corner Italy almost take the lead. Pirlo whips in a teasing delivery that Pelle arrives to meet at the front post, but puts his header inches over the top.
For the first time this evening, Malta enjoy a good spell of possession and they manage to work it to Briffa down the right. He then whips in a low cross that is missed at the near post, but Chiellini gets back to turn it behind before Effiong can take advantage.
CHANCE! We've almost seen the first goal of the evening, but surprisingly it is Malta who are inches away from scoring. A great break down the left sees Effiong pick up possession and drives towards the box. He then works some room and looks to bend a low strike past Buffon and into the far corner, but his effort drifts inches wide of the target.
I mentioned earlier that Pirlo's free kicks weren't quite finding the mark, but he is looking like his old self now. This time the midfielder whips a great ball in from the right, that Pelle meets inside the six-yard box, but he can only head over the bar, after good pressure from the defence.
If the score remains goalless at the end of the half, I just wonder what sort of reception Italy will get from their supporters. They have struggled to break down their opponents and create clear chances, and they could even be a goal down at this point.
YELLOW CARD! Fenech is shown the first card of the night for a poor tackle from behind on Verratti.
CHANCE! Italy need someone to take control and show some inspiration and Bertolacci drives towards the box, before working some room to shoot. He then drills in a low strike that takes a big deflection on its way through, but Hogg dives across his goal to push the ball behind for a corner.
CLOSE! The hosts are creating better chances now and Eder provides the fans with something to cheer as he bursts forward from just inside the opposition half. Malta are slow to close him down and he is able to come a long way before drilling in a low strike that beats the keeper, but goes just beyond the post.
This is a lot better from Italy, as Pelle takes down a long ball from Pirlo, before chesting it down for the arriving Pele. The striker tries to take it under his spell, but Borg gets across well to put him off and the chance goes to waste.
There are going to be two minutes added on before the break.
CLOSE! Italy almost break the deadlock on the stroke of half time as Bonucci floats a long pass into the box that Pelle stretches to meet. He is only able to get the slightest touch on the ball, and ends up directing it inches wide of the post.
HALF-TIME: Italy 0-0 Malta
It's half time in Florence and we are still waiting for the first goal of match. Italy have dominated for large spells and have seen plenty of the ball, but they have struggled to break down a stubborn Malta defence, who must be given credit for their display this evening.
Here are some pictures from the first half. #Italy 0-0 #Malta
#VivoAzzurro #EuropeanQualifiers #ITAMAL pic.twitter.com/uJPVd0AD6S
— Italy (@azzurri) September 3, 2015
Malta probably had the best chance of the first half, when Alfred Effiong's curling strike flashed narrowly wide of the far post, with Gianluigi Buffon beaten. Meanwhile, Eder and Graziano Pelle put efforts wide for the Italy. The hosts also managed just one attempt on target, which was Andrea Bertolacci's deflected strike that forced a good save from Andrew Hogg.
In tonight's other group match it is goalless between Bulgaria and Norway. That will suit Norway, who are two points ahead of Bulgaria in the battle to finish in third place. However, a win for the Norwegians would really crank up the pressure on Italy.
RESTART! Italy take the kick off for the second half and get the action back underway.
Italy look a lot busier at the start of the half and they are getting the ball forward much quicker. Their final ball is still letting them down and this time a cross from Pasqual ends up missing his teammates and drifting harmlessly out of play.
Pirlo is going to have another chance to try his luck from a free kick, as he is brought down by Fenech around 20 yards out from goal. Fenech is also lucky not to pick up a booking for that foul, as he was shown a yellow card in the first half.
Instead of going for goal, Pirlo slides the ball down the line to Darmian, who then drills a low cross into the box. The ball then drops kindly to Eder, but his shot is well blocked by the Malta defence, who are having to work hard for their clean sheet now.
SUB! Italy are going to make the first change of the match, with Parolo coming on for Bertolacci.
The pressure is mounting from Italy and Darmian gets in down the right once again. He then delivers a great low ball across the six-yard box that is missed by everyone in the middle, before Malta eventually clear the danger at the back post.
OFF THE BAR! Italy are inches away from taking the lead as Gabbiadini curls a superb strike from outside the box against the angle of post and bar. It was a fine strike from the Napoli man, and it left the keeper hopelessly rooted to the spot.
CHANCE! It's surely only a matter of time until Italy make the breakthrough and they create another chance as Verratti threads a ball through to Pelle. The striker is at a tight angle and fires in a low shot towards the near post, but it fails to test the keeper and crashes into the side netting.
SUB! It's another change for Italy, as Gabbiadini heads off to be replaced by Candreva.
Many of Italy's best moves are coming down the right and this time Candreva skips to the byline before whipping in a dangerous cross. Malta manage to scramble the ball clear before Pelle or Eder can pounce, but it is looking very desperate for them now.
GOAL! Italy 1-0 Malta (Graziano Pelle)
It's taken them nearly 70 minutes, but Italy have finally broken the deadlock. Once again the attack comes down the right, with Candreva delivering a great ball into the middle that is missed by the keeper, and turned in from close range by Pelle.
As things stand, Italy are set to go top of Group H on 15 points. That would leave them one point above Croatia, and a further two points above Norway, who are currently 1-0 up against Bulgaria.
SUB! Malta respond to falling behind by bringing on Kristensen for Schembri.
CHANCE! Candreva has made a great impact since coming on and he exchanges passes with Pelle before getting to the byline. He then drills in a low cross to the near post that is met by Eder, but the striker can only flick an effort wide of the target.
SUB! Italy make their final change of the night, with Soriano coming on to replace Verratti.
SAVE! Parolo comes close to doubling Italy's tally as he latches onto a cross from Darmian before firing in a low drive. His strike then takes a deflection and looks headed for the corner, but Hogg is there to push the ball behind.
CHANCE! Chiellini has a couple of chances to get on the scoresheet, when he miscues a header from a corner, before following up and seeing the rebound blocked. The ball then drops kindly to Eder, but the striker fires his effort just wide of the post.
Effiong had a really bright first half, but he hasn't seen much of the ball since the break. He almost has a chance to equalise for Malta late on when he is slipped in behind and is faced with Buffon, but the flag was raised for offside. It was a tight call, but the Italian defence had just stepped up in time.
YELLOW CARD! Candreva has been influential for Italy in this second half, but he is shown a card for diving inside the box under a non-existent challenge from Muscat.
There are going to be at least three minutes of stoppage time.
SUB! It's a late change for Malta, with Sciberras coming on for Briffa.
SUB! Malta are making another change, as captain Mifsud is brought on to replace Effiong.
FULL-TIME: Italy 1-0 Malta
The referee blows the final whistle and Italy have managed to claim a narrow win over Malta this evening. Antonio Conte's side were far from their best, but Graziano Pelle's goal means that they are top of their qualifying group and well on their way to another major tournament.
© Getty Images
That's all we've got time for this evening. Make sure you stick with us throughout the night for the latest breaking news and reaction to today's games. We'll have more live international football for you over the next week, as the race to qualify for Euro 2016 continues. Until then, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
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