It's crunch time in Group 2 of the UEFA Nations League! Belgium and Italy will face off in Brussels at Stade Roi Baudouin, with everything to play for as we head towards the conclusion of the group stage. For Italy, a single point will secure a spot in the quarter-finals, while Belgium faces a "win or go home" scenario. With their last victory over Italy dating back to 1972, the Red Devils need all the luck—and maybe a miracle—they can muster.
The Story So Far: ✍️✍️
Belgium's Group 2 campaign has been a bit of a rollercoaster, with just one win in their four matches. They came close but stumbled against France last month, losing 2-1 in a drama-filled match that saw Youri Tielemans miss a penalty and Lois Openda score right before the break. The loss leaves Belgium third in the group, needing nothing less than a victory to keep their hopes alive.
Italy, on the other hand, has bounced back from a disappointing Euro 2024 showing with an impressive Nations League run. Luciano Spalletti's revamped side has earned 10 points from 12, including a dominant 4-1 win over Israel in their last outing. They even managed to draw with Belgium despite going down to 10 men for over half the match. It's been a refreshing change for the Azzurri, who are just a point away from sealing their spot in the next round.
Team News: 📄📄
Belgium:🇧🇪
Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco has his work cut out, with several key players missing. Captain Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans, Jeremy Doku, and Thomas Meunier are all unavailable, adding to Belgium's woes. However, Romelu Lukaku returns, hoping to power the Red Devils' attack. A few fresh faces like Juventus youngster Samuel Mbangula have been called up to fill the gaps.
Italy:🇮🇹
Italy isn't without their own injury concerns, as Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori and Torino's Samuele Ricci are sidelined, along with long-term absentees Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini. But with Manuel Locatelli returning to bolster midfield options and in-form strikers Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean battling for a spot, Italy looks ready to handle the challenge.
Predicted Lineups: 👥👥
Belgium Starting XI🇧🇪:
Casteels; Castagne, Debast, Faes, Theate; Mangala, Onana; Lukebakio, Trossard, Bakayoko; Lukaku
Italy Starting XI🇮🇹:
Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Frattesi, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Barella; Retegui
Key Stats to Know: 📈📉
👉Both teams have scored in Belgium's last 7 home matches in the Nations League.
👉Italy's last 6 Nations League matches have seen goals from both sides.
👉Belgium has managed to avoid defeat in 97 of their last 115 games across all competitions—although recent form has dipped.
👉Italy remains unbeaten in 140 of their last 162 games overall.
👉Belgium's recent form is shaky, with only 1 win in their last 6 matches.
👉Italy has won 3 straight away games in the Nations League.
Insights and Predictions: 📊📊
Belgium’s injury list is long, and with key players missing, the pressure is on Romelu Lukaku to lead from the front. Italy, though, has been in strong form under Spalletti's guidance and only needs to avoid defeat to reach the quarter-finals. Given that both teams have a knack for finding the net—and conceding—it wouldn’t be surprising to see another score draw. A 1-1 result seems like a safe bet, with Italy doing just enough to get through.
Find the Link here🖥: https://www.msport.com/ng/web/sports/Soccer/International_UEFA_Nations_League/Belgium_vs_Italy/sr:match:47659#preview
_large.png)
