Federico Chiesa scored two goals for Italy in the first half
Defending champions Italy strengthened their bid to qualify for Euro 2024 by beating North Macedonia.
Needing a victory to ensure a point against Ukraine on Monday will be enough to secure their place in Germany next year, the Italians took the lead through Matteo Darmian's header.
Arsenal's Jorginho missed a penalty but a Federico Chiesa double made it 3-0.
Jani Atanasov scored twice for North Macedonia but Giacomo Raspadori and Stephan El Shaarawy wrapped up the win.
The result means Italy move up to second in Group C, behind already-qualified England.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsItaly
Formation 4-3-3
1G Donnarumma13Darmian4Gatti15Acerbi3Dimarco18Barella8Jorginho7Bonaventura11Berardi10Raspadori14Chiesa
- 1G Donnarumma13Darmian4Gatti15AcerbiBooked at 89mins3Dimarco18Barella8JorginhoSubstituted forCristanteat 62'minutes7BonaventuraSubstituted forFrattesiat 62'minutes11BerardiSubstituted forEl Shaarawyat 76'minutes10RaspadoriSubstituted forScamaccaat 90'minutes14ChiesaSubstituted forZanioloat 62'minutesBooked at 72mins
Substitutes
- 2Lazzari5Mancini6Buongiorno9Scamacca12Provedel16Cristante17Frattesi19Politano20Zaniolo21Carnesecchi22El Shaarawy23Cambiaso
North Macedonia
Formation 3-4-3
1Dimitrievski15Manev4Serafimov6Musliu14Dimoski5Ademi17Elezi8Alioski9Miovski10Bardhi7Elmas
- 1Dimitrievski15ManevSubstituted forAshkovskiat 45'minutesBooked at 80mins4SerafimovBooked at 87mins6Musliu14Dimoski5AdemiSubstituted forAtanasovat 45'minutes17EleziSubstituted forAlimiat 64'minutes8Alioski9MiovskiSubstituted forRistovskiat 45'minutesBooked at 84mins10Bardhi7ElmasSubstituted forChurlinovat 72'minutesBooked at 79mins
Substitutes
- 2Iljazovski3Ashkovski11Churlinov12Aleksovski13Mitrovski16Babunski18Alimi19Ristovski20Daci21Atanasov22Shishkovski23Todoroski
Referee:Felix ZwayerMatch StatsHome TeamItalyAway TeamNorth MacedoniaPossessionHome64%Away36%ShotsHome20Away4Shots on TargetHome11Away2CornersHome7Away2FoulsHome13Away18Live Text Post update
Match ends, Italy 5, North Macedonia 2.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, Italy 5, North Macedonia 2.
90'+6'Post update
Gianluca Scamacca (Italy) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+6'Post update
Foul by Isnik Alimi (North Macedonia).
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Bryan Cristante (Italy).
90'+4'Post update
Enis Bardhi (North Macedonia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+3'goalGoal!
Goal! Italy 5, North Macedonia 2. Stephan El Shaarawy (Italy) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Federico Dimarco following a corner.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt blocked. Stephan El Shaarawy (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
90'+2'Post update
Corner, Italy. Conceded by Visar Musliu.
90'+1'Post update
Offside, Italy. Nicolò Barella tries a through ball, but Stephan El Shaarawy is caught offside.
90'Post update
Attempt missed. Gianluca Scamacca (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nicolò Barella with a through ball following a fast break.
90'Substitution
Substitution, Italy. Gianluca Scamacca replaces Giacomo Raspadori.
89'Booking
Francesco Acerbi (Italy) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
89'Post update
Foul by Francesco Acerbi (Italy).
89'Post update
Stefan Ashkovski (North Macedonia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
87'Booking
Nikola Serafimov (North Macedonia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
87'Post update
Giacomo Raspadori (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'Post update
Foul by Nikola Serafimov (North Macedonia).
86'Post update
Foul by Nicolò Zaniolo (Italy).
86'Post update
Stole Dimitrievski (North Macedonia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Source: bbc.com