Match ends, Italy 1, Bulgaria 0.
ItalyItaly1BulgariaBulgaria0
Italy moved two points clear at the top of Group H as Daniele De Rossi hit the winner before being sent off against Bulgaria in a Euro 2016 qualifier.
Roma midfielder De Rossi, 32, scored from the penalty spot after Veselin Minev tripped Antonio Candreva.
Both teams finished with 10 men, De Rossi sent off with Bulgaria's Iliyan Mitsanski after the pair clashed.
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, 37, won his 150th cap in the victory but he was rarely tested.
Norway are two points behind Italy in second place after a 2-0 win over Croatia in Oslo.
With two games remaining, two of Italy, Norway and Croatia - third in the table with 15 points - can still secure automatic qualification.
Italy entertain Norway in their last game in Rome on 13 October.
In the group's other game, Azerbaijan drew 2-2 at bottom club Malta.
Line-ups
Italy
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Buffon
- 4Darmian
- 19Bonucci
- 3Chiellini
- 2De Sciglio
- 10Verratti
- 16De RossiBooked at 55mins
- 18Parolo
- 6CandrevaSubstituted forÉderat 86'minutes
- 20PellèSubstituted forZazaat 71'minutes
- 14El ShaarawySubstituted forFlorenziat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Criscito
- 7Zaza
- 8Soriano
- 9Immobile
- 11Florenzi
- 12Sirigu
- 13Padelli
- 15Barzagli
- 17Éder
- 21Pirlo
- 22Gabbiadini
- 23Vázquez
Bulgaria
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 12Mitrev
- 6MinevBooked at 58minsSubstituted forBandalovskiat 64'minutes
- 3Aleksandrov
- 5Bodurov
- 14Minev
- 22NedelevSubstituted forAleksandrovat 67'minutes
- 21DyakovBooked at 85mins
- 15Chochev
- 17Milanov
- 10PopovSubstituted forRangelovat 71'minutesBooked at 80mins
- 19MicanskiBooked at 56mins
Substitutes
- 2Bandalovski
- 4Terziev
- 7Aleksandrov
- 8Rangelov
- 9Hristov
- 11Manolev
- 13Makendzhiev
- 16Ivanov
- 18Slavchev
- 20Tonev
- 23Zlatinski
- Referee:
- Sergey Karasev
Match Stats
Home TeamItalyAway TeamBulgaria
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home22
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away2
- Corners
- Home3
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away21
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Italy 1, Bulgaria 0.
Post update
Marco Parolo (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dimitar Rangelov (Bulgaria).
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Corner, Bulgaria. Conceded by Gianluigi Buffon.
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Attempt saved. Georgi Milanov (Bulgaria) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Mihail Aleksandrov.
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Attempt blocked. Éder (Italy) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Giorgio Chiellini.
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Attempt missed. Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Alessandro Florenzi with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Éder (Italy) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Ivan Bandalovski (Bulgaria).
Substitution
Substitution, Italy. Éder replaces Antonio Candreva.
Booking
Svetoslav Dyakov (Bulgaria) is shown the yellow card.
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Marco Verratti (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Svetoslav Dyakov (Bulgaria).
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Offside, Italy. Marco Verratti tries a through ball, but Simone Zaza is caught offside.
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Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dimitar Rangelov (Bulgaria).
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Marco Parolo (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Svetoslav Dyakov (Bulgaria).
Post update
Foul by Simone Zaza (Italy).
