Scotland defender Josh Doig ended his long wait for a Serie A goal with a important strike in Sassuolo's 2-2 derby draw against Bologna on Sunday. The 24-year-old left-back, hoping to catch the eye of new Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli, scored his first league goal in Italy since October 2022.
Doig found the net at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in a thrilling Derby dell'Emilia that saw both teams share the points. His goal came during a weekend where Scottish players made significant impacts across Serie A, with Che Adams scoring Torino's winner against Fiorentina and Nathan Patterson making his debut for the same club.
Josh Doig's goal represented a personal milestone after nearly four years without scoring in Italy's top division. His last Serie A strike came on October 3, 2022 while playing for Hellas Verona. Since joining Sassuolo, the former Hibs defender had scored twice in the Coppa Italia last season and once in Serie B in January 2025, but Sunday's effort marked his long-awaited return to scoring in the elite competition.
The goal came in a match featuring multiple Scottish connections. Doig started alongside teammate Kieron Bowie, who provided the assist for Sassuolo's second goal in the 56th minute. They faced Bologna's Lewis Ferguson, creating a unique Scottish triangle in the heart of an Italian derby. Bologna equalized twice, first through Roberto Piccoli's header and finally through Artem Dovbyk's stoppage-time effort that secured a point for the home side.
Sebastien Pocognoli will name his first Scotland squad the week after next for Nations League matches against Slovenia (twice), Switzerland and North Macedonia. Doig's timely goal and performance in a high-pressure derby environment could not have come at a better moment for the defender seeking international recognition. Pocognoli said he "names his maiden squad the week after next for the Nations League quadruple header against Slovenia (twice), Switzerland and North Macedonia."
Scotland's national team currently sits third in their World Cup qualifying group with three points from three games, having won one and lost two. They trail leaders Brazil by four points and recently suffered a 3-0 defeat to the South Americans on June 24. The team has scored just one goal while conceding four in their qualifying campaign so far, making attacking contributions from defenders particularly valuable. Fans can track the team's progress through our standings page.
Che Adams scored his second goal of the season for Torino, netting the 82nd-minute winner in their 2-1 victory over Fiorentina. The striker had previously opened his account against AC Milan last month. Nathan Patterson made his Torino debut as a 56th-minute substitute, while Gvidas Gineitis played 70 minutes for Ivan Juric's side after nearly joining Celtic during the summer transfer window.
Elsewhere in Serie A, Napoli lost 3-2 to Internazionale at San Siro with Lautaro Martinez scoring a stoppage-time winner. Young midfielder Lennon Miller will hope for more game-time when Udinese host Lazio on Monday night. These performances come as Scotland prepare for their next fixture against Slovenia on September 26, with several players competing for places in Pocognoli's squad.
While Doig's return to scoring form provides positive news, Scotland continue to manage several injury concerns. Scott McTominay is undergoing minor heart surgery and will be out for the next month, joining Lawrence Shankland on the sidelines. These absences create opportunities for other players to stake their claim ahead of the important Nations League matches in late September.
The team's recent form shows two wins and three losses from their last five matches, though they have lost their last three consecutive games. With important fixtures approaching, Pocognoli will be monitoring all his options closely, including those performing abroad. Supporters can check the latest availability updates on our injuries section and view the full schedule on our fixtures page.
Scotland face Slovenia away on September 26 in their next competitive match, with Pocognoli expected to announce his squad approximately one week before that fixture.
