He made his first start at EURO2020 and scored the winner for Italy against Wales: Sunday 20 June is a day to remember for Matteo Pessina.

He was included in the line-up against Wales by coach Mancini (Rafael Toloi also started). The crowd got loud on 39 minutes: Italy took the lead thanks to Matteo, who perfectly got in front of the defenders and scored the winner. Italy won and now top Group A with maximum points. For the record, Pessina stayed on the pitch for 87 minutes.

Thanks to this goal – his third for the Azzurri – Matteo has become the player in the history of Atalanta with the most international goals scored, overtaking Longoni who scored two goals in 1956.

That’s not it: Pessina is the first Atalanta player to score a goal for Italy in the European Championships or World Cup final stages.

This is the third goal scored by an Atalanta player at EURO2020: first Miranchuk for Russia, then Gosens for Germany, and now Pessina!

Well done, Matteo!

Photo © UEFA
Italy-Wales, Matteo Pessina match-winner

Statistical source: Football Data