Andre Silva gives Portugal win over Italy as Pepe honoured for 100 caps

Andre Silva netted the game's only goal as Portugal beat Italy 1-0 in their Nations League clash at the Estadio da Luz with Pepe earning his 101st international cap.

Silva popped up to score in the 48th minute and Roberto Mancini's men had no response as Portugal closed out a hard-fought win.

Portugal were the better team and could have won by more, with Gianluigi Donnarumma making a super save from Bernardo Silva after he had earlier seen a deflected cross hit his crossbar.

But the night belonged to Portugal's legendary defender Pepe as the captain was honoured for his century of international caps before the match - albeit on the occasion of his 101st.

It was perhaps fitting for the 35-year-old that his side did such a superb job protecting their slender advantage.

Mancini’s vision for Italy remains a mystery. The fact he made nine changes made it clear that Mancini is still trying to familiarise himself with the players at his disposal, but on this evidence the players are also still trying to familiarise themselves with his style of football. Italy kept possession well in patches, but there didn’t appear to be much of a plan when they had the ball and struggled to create anything, with Portugal dictating the game. So far, it’s hard to say Mancini has even started to lay the foundations for Italy’s re-build.

Ruben Neves (Portugal). The game was short on quality but Neves showed his on occasion, putting a couple of lovely crosses into the Italy area, and generally used possession well. He was an important part of Portugal winning the midfield battle.

27’ - OFF THE LINE! Bruma heads a deep cross back across goal, Donnarumma spills the cross and Bernardo Silva thinks he's going to score from close range but his effort is blocked on the line by Romagnoli.

31’- OFF THE BAR! Portugal come close again and this time it's the bar that saves Italy, with Rui's driven cross being deflected onto it by Cristante.

34’ – PENALTY APPEAL! Bruma volleys a cross well wide - so wide actually that the ball makes its way back to the crosser - and after the ball is recycled Pizzi gets blocked off in the box but the referee says no penalty. Italy and Criscito have got away with one there.

48’ - GOAL! Portugal 1-0 Italy (Andre Silva). It's scrappy, but the ball breaks for Bruma not long inside the Italian half and he bursts forward before squaring the ball behind Andre Silva, who collects, composes himself and fires beyond Donnarumma and a few scrambling defenders to give Portugal the lead.

53’ – SAVE! A corner is taken short to Bernardo Silva, with space to come inside. He unleashes a fierce shot that's arrowing towards the top corner until Donnarumma tips it wide. Great save!

78’ – CHANCE! Italy have another corner and this time they actually use it well, Bonaventura whipping a cross in with pace and Zaza wining a header six yards out, but he's unable to keep the ball down.

Portugal: Patricio 6, Cancelo 7, Pepe 6, Dias 6, Rui 6, Carvalho 7, Neves 7, Pizzi 6, Bernardo Silva 6, Bruma 6, Andre Silva 6. Subs: Sanches 5, Martins 6, Oliveira n/a.

Italy: Donnarumma 6, Lazzari 6, Caldara 6, Romagnoli 6, Criscito 5, Bonaventura 6, Jorginho 5, Cristante 5, Chiesa 5, Immobile 5, Zaza 5. Subs: Berardi 6, Emerson 6, Belotti n/a.

After a run of 10 consecutive defeats, Portugal have now beaten Italy twice in a row.

This is the first time in 20 years that Italy’s starting team for a competitive fixture didn’t feature a Juventus player.

Pepe is the sixth player to win 100 caps for Portugal.

Andre Silva, 22, has scored 13 international goals already.