Prediction: Italy vs Belgium

Two European giants who will get their respective Nations League campaigns underway on Friday night, Italy will welcome Belgium to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

With the first round of Nations League fixtures getting underway in midweek, there are plenty of attractive betting promotions available.

Starting with the hosts, remarkably missing out on a third consecutive World Cup finals over the summer, Italy have once again found themselves at the heart of a public backlash. Watching their North American dreams go up in smoke back on March 31st as they were hit with an infamous penalty shootout defeat against Bosnia & Herzegovina, the Azzurri are getting a new era underway on Friday night. Welcoming back Roberto Mancini following a major saga, Italy have a huge amount of pressure on their shoulders here. However, despite their infamous World Cup qualifying collapse back in March, that is the only defeat that Italy have suffered within 90 minutes from all of their previous 11 appearances across all competitions – a run that stems back to June 2025.

Despite initially being included in Mancini’s squad, defender Federico Dimarco has been forced to withdrawn due to fitness concerns. Likewise, Roma star Bryan Cristante has also removed himself for selection due to a muscle issue.

Now in his second campaign with Premier League giants Manchester City, skipper Gianluigi Donnarumma will lead Italy out on Friday night and earn an 84th-cap in Rome. Despite enduring a tricky start to life at Tottenham, Sandro Tonali will start in the middle of the park.

As for the visitors, while Belgium might have watched their World Cup adventure come to a quarter-final end back in July, the Red Devils should take plenty of positives away from a largely successful summer in North America. Despite eventually falling to a 2-1 loss at the hands of newly-crowned champions Spain, that was the only defeat that they suffered from any of their six World Cup showdowns over the summer. Getting their own new era underway on Friday night following Mark van Bommel’s appointment, Belgium will have their sights set on mounting a genuine Nations League charge this year. In fact, that 2-1 loss against the reigning world champions is the only defeat that Friday’s guests have suffered from their last 19 appearances across all competitions.

Completing a late summer switch to Turkish heavyweights Fenerbahce, Romelu Lukaku has been included in van Bommel’s maiden squad. Likewise, now in his second campaign at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Kevin De Bruyne should earn a 124th international cap here.

Enjoying what has been a standout start to the new campaign with Premier League giants Chelsea, Romeo Lavia should start in the middle of the park. Despite still waiting to register a maiden domestic clean sheet, Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens will start between the sticks.

Italy vs Belgium Key Factors to Consider

• When Italy and Belgium last met for a Nations League showdown back in November 2024, Friday’s hosts clinched a 1-0 victory in Brussels.
• In fact, Italy are unbeaten in all of their previous five straight meetings against Belgium across all competitions (four wins, one draw).
• Despite their World Cup exit against Spain back in July, that is the only defeat that Belgium have suffered from their previous 19 appearances across all competitions.
• Italy have suffered within 90 minutes from all of their previous 11 appearances across all competitions – a run that stems back to June 2025.
• Five of Belgium’s World Cup appearances in North America finished with both teams finding the net.

Landing a 1-0 Nations League victory when they travelled to Brussels back in November 2024, Italy should be excited by a dominant recent record against Friday’s guests. Unbeaten in all of their last five straight meetings across all competitions, the Azzurri will be desperate to get their Group A adventure off to a flying start. However, despite their World Cup exit at the hands of Spain back in July, Belgium should take plenty of positives away from their North American adventure. With the Red Devils seeing five of their six World Cup showdowns finish with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome at the Stadio Olimpico.

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