Gianluigi Donnarumma finished with 7 saves as Italy drew 1-1 with France in Paris, and the scoreline would have looked worse for the visitors without him. France carried more of the threat, Michael Olise supplied the sharpest moment with his 55th-minute free kick, and Italy still came away level because their goalkeeper kept bailing them out at the Stade de France.
Zinedine Zidane's return to the Stade de France after twenty years and four months added a bit of occasion, but the match itself quickly became about France's pressure against Italian resistance. France had made six changes from the side that started against Belgium, yet the reshuffle did not blunt their threat for long.
Donnarumma was the difference
The simplest reading of France vs Italy is that France created enough to win and Donnarumma stopped them. He ended the night with 7 saves and a 7.4 rating, while his wider Nations League rating sits at 7.39. Decimal ratings do not decide matches, but they fit what the game looked like.
France's best spell came after the break. Olise finally beat Donnarumma in the 55th minute, whipping a left-footed free kick against the crossbar and in. It was the kind of finish that leaves a goalkeeper with very little chance, and it was easily France's cleanest attacking moment.
After that, Donnarumma took over again. Foot Mercato's editorial desk, quoted in French by Foot Mercato, said: "He then could do absolutely nothing about Olise’s opening goal, whose two-man free kick ended its path under the bar. Called upon again afterwards, the Italian goalkeeper made save after save and finished with seven saves from the eight French shots on target."
That tally is the key number of the night. France put 8 shots on target and beat him only once.
Sky Sport Italia also leaned heavily in the same direction. Stefano De Grandis, quoted by Sky Sport Italia in comments translated from Italian, wrote: "DONNARUMMA: rating 8.5 (MVP) He knows he cannot switch off against these devils with the soft c. And in fact he always remains awake and alert. Helped by a defence that for one half does not force him into extraordinary saves. Then, however, Gigio arrives. The one who parries Doué's shot short, immediately after makes the prodigy to close the door in front of Dembelé. And he repeats it after flying on Olisé's left-footed shot. Which beats him only with a curled free kick. Then, once the draw has been restored, he saves the result again on Rabiot and then twice on Camavinga. IMMENSE"
That is strong language, but it does line up with the pattern of the game. France had long stretches where they looked the more likely winners. Italy had the best goalkeeper on the pitch.
Olise's impact and Bastoni's reply
Olise was still France's standout attacker even without the win. His goal contribution was 1, his match rating was 8.2, and he supplied the moment that should have pushed the home side towards victory.
Italy's response came through Alessandro Bastoni in the 68th minute. The equaliser followed Lucas Da Cunha losing the ball under pressure, and Bastoni made sure France's lead lasted only 13 minutes.
That swing captures why the draw will annoy the home side. France found the breakthrough and still did not control the game state that followed. Italy, who had spent much of the night absorbing pressure, got back in and then relied again on Donnarumma to protect the point.
The match report also leaves room for a secondary theme: France had the brighter attackers, but not enough calm in key moments. Italy were hardly dominant, yet they stayed in the game long enough for one turnover and one finish to reset everything.
France's late frustration
France's finish was summed up by Dayot Upamecano's dismissal in the 85th minute after a second yellow card. By then the home side were chasing a winner, and the red card only deepened the sense that the last part of the night got away from them.
Italy's defensive platform matters here too, even if Donnarumma takes most of the attention. He was backed by a unit featuring Giorgio Scalvini and Riccardo Calafiori, while players such as Davide Frattesi, Moise Kean, Sebastiano Esposito and Michael Kayode formed part of the wider Italian setup on the night. Still, the headline performance belonged to the goalkeeper.
France will look at Olise's goal, the volume of pressure and the late openings and feel they dropped points. Italy will look at the same 1-1 and know exactly who secured it. Donnarumma made 7 saves, Bastoni scored the equaliser in the 68th minute, and Upamecano was sent off in the 85th at the Stade de France.
FAQ
Why was Gianluigi Donnarumma the main reason Italy drew with France?
Donnarumma finished the match with 7 saves and repeatedly kept France out during the stronger home spell, especially after the break. Michael Olise beat him with a free kick in the 55th minute, but France managed only that one goal despite 8 shots on target. Italy still needed Alessandro Bastoni's equaliser in the 68th minute, yet the draw in Paris was built on their goalkeeper.
Was Michael Olise France's best player against Italy?
He has a strong case. Olise scored in the 55th minute with a left-footed effort that hit the crossbar before going in, and he posted an 8.2 rating, the best attacking return in the France side. France still did not win because Donnarumma kept stopping them, but Olise was the clearest attacking positive for the home team.
What happened with Dayot Upamecano in France vs Italy?
Upamecano was sent off in the 85th minute after a second yellow card. France had spent much of the second half pushing for a winner, so the late dismissal summed up a frustrating finish. The game still ended 1-1 at the Stade de France.
How did Alessandro Bastoni score Italy's equaliser against France?
Bastoni equalised in the 68th minute after Lucas Da Cunha lost the ball under pressure. That goal wiped out France's lead, which had come through Michael Olise 13 minutes earlier, and it ensured Italy left Paris with a 1-1 draw.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
