UEFA U19 Championship· Season 2026
Italy U19 beat Serbia U19 2-0 in their UEFA U19 Championship Group B opener. Liberali scored an 11th-minute penalty and Iddrissou added a second on the counter in the 76th minute at The Oval, Caernarfon.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Italy seized control inside 11 minutes. Milan youth product Liberali, currently on loan at Serie B side Catanzaro, was hauled down inside the box and picked himself up to dispatch the resulting penalty low into the corner, sending Serbia goalkeeper Carapic the wrong way.
Serbia settled after the early setback. Vasilije Novicic began to pull strings in midfield, and the Azzurrini had to weather a spell of pressure before half-time, with a handful of set-piece deliveries causing unease in the Italian box. Alberto Bollini's side held firm, however, and took a 1-0 lead into the interval.
Italy pushed for a second after the restart. A sweeping move nearly produced it when Coletta met a cross on the volley, only to see his effort crash back off the crossbar.
Iddrissou made the points safe in the 76th minute. Substitute Javison Idele burst down the right and picked out the run of Iddrissou, who swept the ball first-time past Carapic to double the lead. Serbia almost responded immediately — Novicic's free kick rattled the woodwork — but Italy saw out the closing stages with composure.
The turning point
Liberali's 11th-minute penalty was the decisive moment. It gave Italy the early control they needed in a group where goal difference could prove critical, forced Serbia to chase the game, and opened the space for Italy's counter-attacking second goal. Serbia's best spell came immediately after going behind, but they could not find an equaliser before half-time.
Key performers
Mattia Liberali — The AC Milan academy graduate won the penalty and converted it with confidence. His movement between the lines caused Serbia persistent problems before he was substituted on 69 minutes.
Jamal Iddrissou — Took his 76th-minute finish with composure and drew a yellow card for his pressing work. A constant threat on the transition.
Javison Idele — Changed the game after coming off the bench on 61 minutes. His assist for Iddrissou's goal — a direct run and precise square pass — was the match's most incisive attacking moment.
Italy's defensive unit — Goalkeeper Pessina and the back four of Nardin, Natali, Verde and Cocchi kept a clean sheet despite several dangerous Serbia set pieces.
By the numbers
Italy's two goals came from an xG profile that reflected controlled efficiency: an early penalty (high-probability chance) and a fast-break finish. The six yellow cards — four of them to Italy — suggest a match that grew increasingly fractious as Serbia pushed for a way back. Italy's four second-half substitutions, including the introduction of Idele and Mantini, injected energy that Serbia's changes could not match.
What it means
Italy sit second in Group B behind Ukraine on goal difference (+2 each, Ukraine scoring three) after Matchday 1. The top two sides advance to the semi-finals. Serbia are bottom of the group, level on zero points with Croatia but with a superior goal difference (-2 vs -2 is identical; Serbia have 0 GF vs Croatia's 1).
Italy's next fixture: vs Croatia U19, 2 July 2026. Serbia's next fixture: vs Ukraine U19, 2 July 2026.
Verdict
A professional, controlled Group B opener from Italy — efficient from the spot and clinical on the counter. Serbia had moments but lacked the cutting edge to turn pressure into goals. The Azzurrini's ability to manage the game after taking the lead will serve them well in a group where every point and goal matters.
Match Events
Key match events between Italy U19 and Serbia U19 — 2 goals and 6 cards recorded during the match.
Penalty
assist: J. Idele
Rivalry since 2019
Italy U19 vs Serbia U19 Head to Head Results· 1
Italy U19 and Serbia U19 have met 1 times — Italy U19 won 1, Serbia U19 won 0, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2019. Italy U19 leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 1 meeting. A combined 2 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 2.00 per match (2 for the home side, 0 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 0 matches (0%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 0 games (0%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 0–2 in 2019.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 1 Jul 2026