Bernardeschi has a shot of his own on this occasion, drilling a left-footed attempt at the Bulgarian goal from 30 yards out and it gets deflected behind for another Italy corner.
90' +1
Bernardeschi whips in the corner and Di Lorenzo sees his headed effort deflected behind for another corner as the fourth official indicates there will be four minutes of added time.
90'
Spinazzola races down the left-hand channel, travelling half the pitch in possession before knocking it back off Antov to win a corner as Italy head towards back-to-back Group C victories.
89'
F. Bernardeschi gets yellow.
Bernardeschi goes in late on Tsvetanov near the left-hand touchline and he joins team-mate Locatelli in the referee's book.
88'
M. Pessina enters the game and replaces M. Verratti.
M. Raynov enters the game and replaces P. Vitanov.
Verratti, who has dictated the proceedings in this game, makes way for Pessina in the final moments of this game.
Raynov also comes on for Vitanov in the middle of the park.
86'
Locatelli's finish has took the wind out of the hosts' sails and they now cut disappointed figures out in the middle. They had started to build some pressure on the away side, despite rarely troubling Donnarumma, but the substitute's goal has finished this game off for Mancini's men.
83'
M. Locatelli gets yellow.
Moments after scoring, Locatelli becomes the first Italian name in the referee's book for an aerial challenge on Galabinov.
82'
M. Locatelli has scored a goal for Italy! Assist by L. Insigne.
GOOOALLLLL!!! 2-0 ITALY! Locatelli doubles the visitors’ lead with an excellent, curling right-footed finish into the bottom right corner from the left of goal. Initially, Insigne had played a simple pass back towards Locatelli before the midfielder did the rest with a perfect finish into the far corner.
Verratti shows great feet to make it into the area before finding Insigne, who offloads to Locatelli and the midfielder extends the Italian's lead with a superb, whipped strike into the bottom right corner.
81'
Tsvetanov's cross towards the back post finds Spinazzola instead of the intended target of Karagaren. The hosts then undo any pressure they had started to build as Galabinov needlessly fouls Di Lorenzo in an aerial duel to offer the visitors some well-deserved respite.
Minute
Description
78'
A. Iliev enters the game and replaces S. Delev.
Petrov uses the stoppage to make another change, bringing on Atanas Iliev for Delev.
76'
F. Bernardeschi enters the game and replaces F. Chiesa.
After making it six games without a goal or assist for his country, Chiesa makes way for Bernardeschi.
75'
C. Immobile enters the game and replaces A. Belotti.
Belotti, who scored the only goal of this game so far, comes off for Immobile.
74'
Karagaren drills a low pass towards the near post but Galabinov's first touch lets him down and Bonucci manages to poke clear. Meanwhile, on the touchline, it looks like Mancini is preparing some more changes to see out this game.
70'
Karagaren races down the right-hand channel, standing up a cross for Delev at the far post. Donnarumma, however, comes out with real authority to claim the loose ball high above Bonucci's head inside the area.
69'
After a spell of Bulgaria pressure, Italy have regained control of this game and are heading towards another three points in Group C as things stand. They continue to dominate possession but Mancini and his coaching staff will want another goal to be sure of the win here.
68'
G. Di Lorenzo enters the game and replaces A. Florenzi.
M. Locatelli enters the game and replaces S. Sensi.
Mancini makes a double change, the first of which sees Di Lorenzo come on for Florenzi at right-back.
At the same time as Di Lorenzo's introduction, Locatelli is also brough on for Sensi in midfield.
64'
Chiesa looks to play a pass back to Belotti and Antov lunges in with a sliding tackle. The visitors appeal for a penalty but the referee feels the centre-back has got enough of the ball and allows play to continue.
63'
Malinov replaces Kostadinov, who was booked for his second-half protests over the penalty, in the middle of the park.
62'
K. Malinov enters the game and replaces G. Kostadinov.
Chiesa cuts one way then the other on the edge of the home side's area, however, his left-footed strike is weak and trickles through easily to the hands of Iliev. This fixture is quickly opening up into a more end-to-end affair as the Bulgarians chase an equaliser.
61'
Bulgaria are continuing to grow into this game and they are enjoying significant success down the flanks. Tsvetanov looks to cross for Galabinov at the near post but the visitors just about manages to clear their lines.
59'
V. Bozhikov gets yellow.
Three bookings in a row come for the home side as Bozhikov joins Kostadinov and Vutov in Vincic's book. The centre-back was deemed to have handled the ball in the middle before needlessly throwing it away over the heads of the Italians.
58'
A. Vutov gets yellow.
57'
G. Kostadinov gets yellow.
Kostadinov becomes the first name in Vincic's book for his excessive protests with the referee about the penalty decision.
Vutov, who is on the bench, also receives a booking at the same time for dissent after the failure to award a penalty.
56'
Delev advances down the right flank, cutting back for Kostadinov in the area. The midfielder lets the ball run past him, allowing Galabinov to unleash a shot but Sensi is there to block away. The hosts feel the Italian midfielder has handled the ball when blocking but the referee disagrees and allows play to go on.
55'
Chiesa works some room to cross in the right-hand channel but Antov climbs the highest to head clear. Verratti is there, as always, to regain possession in the middle of the park as the Italian continues to dictate proceedings here.
52'
Galabinov closes in on Tsvetanov's deep cross but he is never beating Donnarumma in the air as the goalkeeper rushes off his line to command his area. While the home side have barely tested the Italian in net, they are slowly growing into this game in the second half.
51'
Acerbi slams into the back of Galabinov with a needless arm and the referee has no choice but to award a free-kick. Multiple Bulgaria defenders make their way up for the delivery but Bonucci leads the line to head clear.
48'
Spinazzola takes up his usual advanced position on the left-hand side but on this occasion he fails to beat Karagaren. Barella then has words with the referee as he complains about an earlier Karagaren tackle in the middle of the park.
47'
Acerbi nearly causes a problem for his side as he plays a weak pass backwards towards Donnarumma but the goalkeeper is quickly off his line to launch a clearance long.
46'
B. Karagaren enters the game and replaces Cicinho.
The players have returned after the half-time interval and the second half gets underway!
A change at the break for the home side sees Karagaren replace Cicinho.
45' +1
HALF-TIME: BULGARIA 0-1 ITALY
45'
Chiesa leads the visitors' counter-attacking charge but, perhaps aware of the half-time whistle coming soon, sensibly opts to play backwards and retain possession. The fourth official then indicates there will be just the one minute of added time.
43'
Penalty goal scored by A. Belotti for Italy!
GOOOALLLLLLL!!! 1-0 ITALY! Belotti runs up to the penalty, smashing his right-footed strike into the bottom left corner. Iliev dives the right way but he can’t get a hand to it and Mancini’s men head towards half-time a goal to the good. Dimoz and Bulgaria's complaints are still going on but Belotti will not mind as he wins the penalty and then converts it.
40'
Chiesa and Barella try to carve out an opening on the right, with the former's cross being headed away at the near post. Verratti then attempts to seek out Belotti at the far post and Bozhikov heads behind for a corner to the visitors.
39'
Verratti and Belotti are the next Italy men to be frustrated with referee Vincic. The pair feel they have won a corner in the left-hand channel but the referee once again opts to go with the home side's appeals instead. Mancini's tempers are also building on the touchline as his side become increasingly annoyed with the officials.
37'
Chiesa throws his arms in the air, gesturing to the referee that he feels Bozhikov has handled a pass inside the area. Vincic, however, disagrees and allows play to go on as Iliev sends a kick out of his hands long towards Delev.
35'
Florenzi has two attempts at finding Belotti but on both occasions Tsvetanov intervenes. The left-back then invites Barella to foul him and the Italian duly obliges. Petrov will be happy with his side's defensive efforts so far and the visitors are starting to appear a little frustrated.
33'
Spinazzola races around Insigne before beating Cicinho with ease. The left-back manages to drill a cross back from the byline towards the penalty spot, where Insigne sees his right-footed effort blocked by Chochev before it can trouble Iliev.
32'
Kostadinov feels the pressure of Verratti breathing down his neck and plays a careless pass out of touch. Bonucci then goes long in search of Chiesa but he is deemed to have fouled Tsvetanov near Bulgaria's goal and the home side get a free-kick.
31'
Delev takes matters into his own hands, driving down the right and looking to stand up a cross towards the back post. Verratti sees the forward's intentions all the way, sheltering the ball out of play for a goal-kick to the hosts, which Donnarumma will play short as Italy look to build from the back.
27'
The hosts enjoy a spell of prolonged possession, with the centre-backs seeking out the wing-backs on either touchline with diagonal passes. The move, however, breaks down as Cicinho needlessly fouls Acerbi inside Italy's area.
26'
Insigne cuts a frustrated figure as he fails to connect with a long pass over the top. The margin of error on the pass over Bulgaria's defence is so small, given how deep Petrov's men are sitting in their own half. Italy have dominated the opening stages but, for now, have nothing to show for their hard work.
25'
Dimov and Belotti clash in the air and the Italian forward goes down holding his shoulder. After a brief pause, however, Belotti gets up and Verratti plays the resulting free-kick backwards.
23'
Chochev and Tsvetanoc enjoy a rare venture forward down the left-hand channel but their progress is stopped by Florenzi. Insigne then breaks down the other end, cutting in on his right foot before seeing his strike blocked by Antov in front of Iliev's goal.
21'
Spinazzola again causes problems on the left-hand side and on this occasion it is Dimov who turns behind for a corner. Insigne sends in the set-piece and Belotti carelessly fouls inside the six-yard area to relieve the pressure on the hosts.
20'
Barella finds a pocket of space in the right-hand channel and he crosses from deep towards the far post. The midfielder's ball in misses Belotti and Chiesa, instead finding Insigne, who fails to create a significant chance at the back post.
19'
Acerbi drags on the shirt of Galabinov and concedes a needless free-kick inside the hosts' half. Unsurprisingly, the home side attempt to go long and Florenzi easily recollects possession for Mancini's team.
18'
Petrov's men are camped deep inside their own half, happy to watch Italy dictate play in front of them. The problem is, when they do win the ball, they have nowhere to go with it. Chochev proves this, as he works hard to win possession in midfield, however, there is then no team-mate to pass to in front of him and the visitors regain possession.
15'
Verratti and Spinazzola once again combine with the former falling to the floor inside the area. As was the case with the Chiesa challenge, the referee insists play goes on and Cicinho runs away with it down the right-hand side.
14'
Galabinov clatters into Bonucci in the air but the centre-back shows all of his experience to nudge the forward out the way before playing back to Donnarumma. Mancini's side then earn a free-kick on the left, 40 yards from goal, which they will take short.
13'
All of the away side's attacking play has come down the left-hand channel so far. Spinazzola is repeatedly pushing high up and exploiting the space in behind Cicinho to cross into the area. As of yet, however, the scores remain level and by this point last game, Bulgaria were 3-0 down to Switzerland.
10'
Verratti comes deep in an attempt to act as a playmaker, arrowing a pass out to Chiesa on the right of Bulgaria's area. The Italian's pass, however, is far too ambitious and races out of play for a goal-kick to the hosts.
8'
Insigne stands over the set-piece with Sensi and it is the latter who will take it. When the midfielder does take the free-kick, he goes short to Verratti and the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder fails to find a team-mate inside the box.
7'
Italy appeal for a penalty after Chiesa is hacked down by a slide tackle in the area by Bozhikov, however, the referee disagrees and awards the visitors a corner instead. Insigne goes short from the corner and win a free-kick, just outside the area to the left-hand side.
6'
Another corner comes for the away side and Insigne swings it in. This time, however, Bulgaria stand firm to head clear before referee Vincic awards Petrov's side a cheap free-kick in the middle of the park.
5'
The first corner of the game comes as Spinazzola drives down the left-hand side, reaching the byline before seeing his attempts to pass blocked behind. The resulting corner falls to Acerbi but he can't poke a shot towards goal at the back post.
4'
Chochev goes roaming in the left-hand channel but his crossing attempts get blocked by the leg of Florenzi. The visitors then appear trapped in their own half, however, they manage to play out from the back confidently, despite significant pressure from the hosts.
2'
Donnarumma takes charge in the early stages as he races out to hook away Florenzi's weak pass backwards before the likes of Galabinov or Delev can pounce inside the area.
1'
Referee Slavko Vincic blows his whistle to get the game underway!
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the World Cup qualifying Group C fixture between Bulgaria and Italy.
These two teams got off to contrasting starts in Group C. The visitors cruised past Northern Ireland with a 2-0 win, courtesy of first-half goals from Domenico Berardi and Ciro Immobile. The hosts, however, conceded a three-goal deficit within 13 minutes and eventually ran out 3-1 losers to Switzerland.
BULGARIA (3-5-2): Plamen Iliev; Daniel Dimov, Vasil Bozhikov, Valentin Ivaylov Antov; Cicinho, Ivaylo Chochev, Georgi Kostadinov, Petar Vitanov, Momchil Tsvetanov; Andrej Galabinov, Spas Delev.
SUBS: Birsent Karagaren, Petko Hristov, Martin Raynov, Atanas Iliev, Kristiyan Malinov, Daniel Naumov, Antonio Vutov, Ivan Karadzhov, Ilian Ilianov Iliev, Dimitar Iliev, Petar Zanev, Georgi Yomov.
ITALY (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Alessandro Florenzi, Leonardo Bonucci, Leonardo Spinazzola, Francesco Acerbi; Nicolo Barella, Stefano Sensi, Marco Verratti; Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Chiesa, Andrea Belotti.
SUBS: Gianluca Mancini, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Emerson, Vincenzo Grifo, Salvatore Sirigu, Ciro Immobile, Alessandro Bastoni, Manuel Locatelli, Matteo Pessina, Lorenzo Pelligrini, Alex Meret, Federico Bernardeschi.
The players are wandering onto the Vasil Levski National Stadium pitch and shortly it will be time for kick-off.
Mancini will simply be asking for more of the same from his men, who have kept possession effectively, while looking a little impotent up top. He could look to the likes of Immobile or Bernardeschi off the bench for some extra attacking impetus in the second half. Petrov is likely to be happy with his team's defensive effort, however, they now face the thankless task of trying to breach the Italy defence twice in the next 45 minutes.
That is all from this game, until next time!
Mancini's men will be looking to make it three wins in three this international break as they travel to Lithuania on Wednesday. In contrast, Bulgaria will be desperate for a result away to Northern Ireland, given they have lost their first two fixtures of this qualifying campaign to Switzerland and Italy.
Commentary
More…