S. El Shaarawy enters the game and replaces L. Insigne.
El Shaarawy replaces Insigne.
90' +2
SAVE & WIDE! Immobile breaks away down the left and only has Berish to beat, but the keeper denies the forward with his legs. Gabbiadini keeps the attack alive and finds Candreva on the edge, but he curls his left-footed effort wide of the post.
90' +1
V. Ahmedi enters the game and replaces O. Roshi.
Roshi makes way for Ahmedi.
BLOCK! Hysaj collects in a dangerous position and goes for the blast at goal from 25 yards, but Bonucci throws himself in the way of the shot to make the block.
90'
There will be three minutes of added time.
89'
M. Gabbiadini enters the game and replaces Éder.
Gabbiadini replaces Eder for the visitors.
88'
Insigne runs forward and tries to slip a pass through to Immobile in the left inside channel, but the ball just has too much pace for the forward to collect and Berisha gathers.
85'
An off-the-ball incident between Agolli and Eder requires the game to stop for a brief moment, but there was not a great deal in it from either player.
84'
The home side are lacking in energy now. They've played well enough, but have lacked the quality in the final third.
82'
From the resulting free-kick. Latifi sends his delivery high into the area, but the ball sails out for a goal-kick.
Minute
Description
81'
G. Chiellini gets yellow.
Chiellini goes into the book for his late challenge.
Grezda does well down the right as he ease past Chiellini, but then gets brought down by the defender.
80'
Candreva wins a free-kick under pressure from Latifi, easing the pressure on the Italy backline.
79'
BLOCK! A wall of blue shirts denies Roshi a path to goal as he collects the resulting corner and goes for the blast, but the ball is diverted behind for a corner.
78'
Latifi almost makes an immediate impact at the back as he sends a dangerous cross to the near post, but Chiellini reacts on the slide to turn the ball behind.
76'
L. Latifi enters the game and replaces L. Memushaj.
Latifi replaces Memushaj for the home side.
75'
A. Lila gets yellow.
Lila is booked for a late challenge.
73'
A. Candreva has scored a goal for Italy! Assist by L. Spinazzola.
Spinazzola raids down the left flank and cuts back on to his right foot to dig out a cross which is converted by Candreva at the back post.
GOALLLLLl!!!!!! CANDREVA BREAKS THE DEADLOCK! Italy take the lead and a mistake at the back from Agolli allows Candreva to control and blast his effort past Berisha from close range. Spinazzola's cross was accurate and Agolli missed his clearing header, allowing the winger to pounce and fire into the top corner.
72'
Sadiku races forward down the left flank and he beats the challenge of Bonucci with ease. He puts the ball across the face of goal, but there's no red shirt gambling with a late run into the box.
71'
WIDE! Boshi and Lila link up down the right and the latter sends a dangerous cross into the box, but Grezda scuffs his effort wide from a central position.
69'
Eder runs into the final third and turns to shoot at goal, but his effort lacks power and is straight at Berisha. The finishing from distance has not been there for either side this evening.
68'
A. Lila enters the game and replaces M. Basha.
Lila replaces Basha for the home side.
67'
It's an open contest now as Parolo is the latest man to try his luck from distance, but he scoops his left-footed strike over the bar.
65'
Grezda drives down the left and goes on the outside on this occasion firing a low cross into the box, but Chiellini steers the ball behind for a corner.
63'
SAVE! Albania threaten as Grezda cuts back on his right foot and rifles an effort at goal. The ball moves in the air and it forces Buffon into a diving stop before the visitors hack the ball behind for a corner.
62'
CHANCE! Gagliardini releases Insigne into the left inside channel and he fires at goal with his right foot, but it's a tame effort and Berisha gets down to make the stop.
61'
D. Zappacosta enters the game and replaces M. Darmian.
Zappacosta replaces Darmian for the visitors.
OVER! Eder breaks into space down the left and has options in support. He opens up for a strike on his right foot, only to blaze the ball over the bar.
59'
WIDE! The Azzurri are encamped in the Albania half and Candreva opens up space for a shot by cutting inside on his left foot, only to send his strike into the side-netting.
57'
OVER! Immobile latches on to a knockdown in the box and fires at goal from a tight angle. The ball takes a deflection of Mavraj and just sails over the bar, but the visitors keep the pressure on.
56'
Candreva collects in space on the right flank and sends a low cross towards the middle, but Mavraj reads the danger and clears with authority with his left boot.
54'
Insigne probes on the edge of the box, but a strong challenge from Basha stops his progress and puts the home side on the offensive.
52'
WIDE! Albania clear Candreva's corner as far as Eder on the edge of the box and he goes for the strike on the half-volley, only to smash his effort wide of the post.
51'
Italy break on the counter and Insigne drives his team forward. He has Candreva in space on the right flank, but Agolli slides to steer the ball behind for a corner. Great defending from the full-back.
49'
Immobile puts Berisha under pressure at the back, forcing the Albania keeper into a hurried clearance. The striker was an inch away from making the block there.
47'
Veseli has to make an important challenge at the back to stop Immobile's progress through the middle on a break for the Azzurri.
46'
We're back underway in Albania.
SAVE! Kace lets fly with a fine strike from the edge of the box and it forces Buffon into a reaction save to keep the ball out of the net. Darmian heads behind as the home side keep the pressure on.
45'
CHANCE! Chiellini releases the run of Immobile behind the Albania defence. He goes for the strike on the half-volley first time from a narrow angle, but he smashes his effort just wide of the post.
The referee ends the first half.
44'
Spinazzola and Sadiku collide in a 50/50 challenge, leaving the Albania forward worse for wear. He requires treatment before we can continue this evening.
43'
OVER! Insigne is afforded space and time on the edge of the box and on this occasion he does get his effort away, but Berisha watches the ball sail over the bar.
42'
Insigne goes on the surge through the middle of the Albania defence, but Mavraj makes a vital challenge just before he pulls the trigger.
41'
PENALTY SHOUT! Italy break on the counter and Eder tries to work the ball across to Immobile, but the ball is blocked by Veseli. The visitors appeal for a penalty, but the referee dismisses their claim. Replays show that the ball did strike the defender's hand.
40'
Albania break forward in numbers down the right as Sadiku and Boshi combine before spreading the ball out to Agolli, but his short pass back to the forward is intercepted by Darmian.
37'
Gagliardini makes a strong but fair challenge on Roshi and the Albania winger goes down by the corner flag. He appears to be ok to continue.
36'
The two sides are struggling for quality in the final third at the moment. The final ball has been the issue, but there's enough quality on the pitch to amend that quickly.
34'
Gagliardini and Kace clash for the second time in the contest, with this time the Italian catching his counterpart in the middle of the park. Once again there's no booking for the guilty party.
32'
CHANCE! Agolli floats a cross into the box from a free-kick from the left and Roshi rises to meet the ball unmarked, but he fails to make solid contact with his header.
31'
Italy break with pace in the final third and quick feet between Eder and Parolo almost opens up room for Immobile, but Mavraj shields the ball away from the striker and into the hands of Berisha.
30'
Insigne has space once again on the left flank and he curls a cross into the box, but it drifts between Immobile and Eder and is gathered by Berisha.
28'
WIDE! Insigne drives forward with menace on the edge of the Albania box before striking with power. However, Berisha watches his effort sail wide of the post.
27'
SAVE! Roshi collects on the right flank and he cuts inside to fire at goal with his left foot, but Buffon is there to make the save.
26'
Spinazzola sends a dangerous ball into the box and Mavraj has to backpeddle in his six-yard box, but is able to clear the danger away with a powerful header.
24'
A poor clearance from Agolli is seized on by Darmian on the edge of the box, but he goes for a strike and sends his effort harmlessly wide of the target.
23'
The Azzurri are starting to put pressure on the home side at the back. Candreva is starting to see a lot of the ball on the flank and does not need much of a second invitation to open up opposing defences.
21'
CHANCE! A simple ball over the top yields a mistake from Veseli and allows Immobile to strike on the volley. However, Berisha is alert and narrows the angle to make a vital stop with his body.
19'
Italy pressure down the right and win a corner. Candreva sends the ball into the box from the flank, and although Parolo wins the header at the near post, the home side are able to clear the danger.
17'
Kace takes down Gagliardini in the middle of the park and the referee awards a foul for the visitors. The Albania midfielder might be fortunate there to escape a booking.
15'
Albania keep pushing forward and Roshi applies pressure to Chiellini in the corner, but the defender wins a free-kick after a strong challenge from the winger.
14'
Agolli steals possession from Candreva and he feeds the ball into the feet to Sadiku in the box. He tries to turn past the challenge of Bonucci, but the defender holds his ground and clears into touch.
13'
Hysaj floats the ball over the top of the Italy defence for Roshi's run. However, Chiellini does well to track the ball and win a goal-kick for his side by playing the ball off the legs of the Albania winger.
11'
Candreva's delivery from the right flank is poor and allows Agolli to clear at his near post with ease.
10'
Candreva runs down the right flank, but gets brought down by Grezda before he can whip a cross into the box. The Azzurri have a free-kick in a decent position.
9'
SHOT! Sadiku catches Buffon out with a low strike towards the bottom corner. Buffon gets down the make the save, but cannot hold the ball. He almost concedes a corner in the process, but he just gathers in time.
7'
Veseli has to be alert at the back to steer Spinazzola's dangerous low cross away from the six-yard box. The left-back had done well for the Azzurri to break down the flank an beat his man, only to be denied by Veseli.
6'
Candreva turns in the final third and opens up space to lift a cross into the box, but his delivery is poor and allows the home side to clear the danger with ease.
3'
Bonucci has to cover ground on the right flank to stop Grezda's run, but he can only concede a throw-in in the process deep in Italy territory.
SAVE! Kace is afforded space to raid into the final third and he fires at goal from the edge of the box, but he drills his strike straight at Buffon.
1'
We're underway in Albania.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the World Cup qualifying clash between Albania and Italy.
It has been a strange campaign for the Azzurri, featuring decent results like their draw against Spain on home soil, but also baffling performances such as their home draw against Macedonia.
Albania will want to end their campaign on a high note. They were outplayed by Spain in their last outing, losing 3-0 in Alicante despite playing decent football on the night. On home soil they be aiming for a stronger performance in the final third against Ventura's side.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
Mergim Mavraj, Ansi Agolii, Migyen Basha, Odhise Roshi and Armando Sadiku all start for Albania this evening in five changes from their defeat to Spain, with Sadiku leading the line in place of Azdren Llullaku.
Ventura has made three changes from his side's draw against Macedonia last time out. Leonardo Spinazzola, Antonio Candreva and Eder Martins come into the fold for the Azzurri.
FLASHBACK! Italy beat Albania 2-0 in their clash in March, with strikes from Daniele De Rossi and Ciro Immobile secure the victory.
The players are out on the pitch, so we should be underway shortly.
HALF-TIME: ALBANIA 0-0 ITALY
It's goalless at the break between Albania and Italy, with neither side producing the quality needed to break the deadlock. Ciro Immobile had the best opening when he pounced upon a mistake in the box, but was denied by Etrit Berisha. The home side have had a couple of half-chances from distance, but nothing substantial to test Gianluigi Buffon.
FULL-TIME: ALBANIA 0-1 ITALY
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
Antonio Candreva's strike secures the win for Italy this evening in a hard-fought contest against Albania. As a result of their win, Giampiero Ventura's men are seeded for the play-offs, which will decide their World Cup fate. Albania put in a decent performance, but lacked the quality in the final third to find the net.
After mustering a draw in their last outing against Macedonia, Italy are in a battle to secure the best seeding they possibly can for the play-offs. Giampiero Ventura's men are currently in third position, but can rise to second behind Portugal wth a win this evening.
Commentary
More…