Alessandro Bastoni spoiled Zinedine Zidane's homecoming as France head coach as Italy earned a 1-1 draw in their Nations League clash in Paris.

The Inter Milan center back was the surprise scorer as the Stade de France's welcome for their former star player ended in somewhat muted fashion with defender Dayot Upamecano sent off five minutes from the end.

Zidane was attempting to become just the third France coach to win his first three matches in charge and first since Henri Michel in 1984 to keep three successive clean sheets.

It was all going to plan after Michael Olise's stunning 55th-minute free-kick only for Bastoni to seize on a lapse in concentration from Lucas da Cunha as he pressed the Como midfielder midway inside his own half as France played out from a goal kick.

Having gained possession, Bastoni charged into the penalty area and guided a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

It put a dampener on the return of Zidane for his first international match on home soil since his retirement as a player following his ignominious exit from the 2006 World Cup final after headbutting Italy's Marco Materazzi.

Two 1-0 wins over Belgium and Türkiye had ramped up expectations in the Stade de France, with fans unveiling a "Zizou" mosaic before kickoff, but the first half was a struggle as the visitors created the best chances.

Moise Kean scuffed an early close-range shot which Maignan scrambled across his goalline to keep out, Davide Frattesi had a snapshot deflected wide and from the resulting corner Kean's goal from a shot on the turn was ruled out for offside.

With Kylian Mbappé out with an ankle injury France looked for inspiration from their array of other big-name forwards.

Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé were denied by a superb double save from Gianluigi Donnarumma just after the interval but it was the other member of the front three who duly delivered.

Olise rifled in a 25-yard free kick off the underside of the crossbar for his seventh goalscoring match in nine games for club and country.

But Roberto Mancini's side, who bounced back from an opening defeat to Belgium with a 4-1 rout of Türkiye, responded positively.

When Adrian clipped a risky pass into Da Cunha, Bastoni pounced to score with apparent ease.

In a frantic finale Donnarumma tipped Rabiot's shot around a post and pulled off a diving save to deny Eduardo Camavinga from distance either side of Kean looping a header against the crossbar before Upamecano was shown a second yellow card for pulling back Kean.