Russia piled the misery on troubled Italy with a deserved 3-0 victory here Friday in the final Euro 2012 warm-up for both teams.
Having had their only other friendly against Luxembourg cancelled on Tuesday due to an earthquake in the Emilia Romagna region, this was Italy coach Cesare Prandelli's one chance to test his side before the European Championships begin next Friday in Poland and Ukraine.
He had hoped this game could give his team a chance to forget the fall-out from the ugly sports-betting Calcioscommesse match-fixing affair going on back home.
But goals from lively Zenit St Petersburg pair Alexander Kerzhakov and Roman Shirokov, with two, condemned the 2006 world champions to a third successive friendly defeat without finding the net and proved they have a lot of work to do if they are just to get out of a group containing Spain, Ireland and Croatia.
Russia came closest to scoring in the first period as their busy forward pairing of Shirokov and Kerzhakov combined, with the latter hitting the post with a low volley.
Kerzhakov had another great chance but Shirokov got in his way as he went to pull the trigger and his effort flew high and wide.
Italy were a whisker away from the lead as Daniele De Rossi got behind the Russian defence after another marvellous ball from Pirlo and crossed for Balotelli but the young forward failed to get a decisive touch under pressure from a defender.
Russia were enjoying the greater number of chances but Konstantin Zyryanov fired wide and Buffon unconvincingly batted away Yuri Zhirkov's effort at his near post.
Pirlo, whose vision had been a delight to behold, sent a free-kick just over the bar as the half came to a close.
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