Belgium opened their UEFA Nations League campaign with a 2-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico as Mika Godts and Dodi Lukébakio scored either side of half-time on Mark van Bommel's debut — and Roberto Mancini's return — in Rome.
Match facts
- Result: Italy 0-2 Belgium (HT 0-1)
- Competition: UEFA Nations League 2026/27 — League A Group 1
- Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome (attendance 47,155)
- Scorers: Godts 20' (assist De Bruyne); Lukébakio 69' (assist De Ketelaere)
- Red cards: None
- Next: Türkiye vs Italy; Belgium vs France (Mon 28 Sep 2026)
How the match unfolded
Mancini was back on the Italy bench and van Bommel began his Belgium tenure in a Group 1 opener watched by more than 47,000. Belgium struck first on 20 minutes. Kevin De Bruyne led a fast break and Mika Godts finished with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner. Nicolas Raskin and Diego Moreira were booked as Belgium protected the lead toward half-time.
Italy started the second half with greater urgency. Senne Lammens saved a Moise Kean effort and headed attempts from Gianluca Mancini and Francesco Pio Esposito. Kean and Nicolò Barella also missed the target as home frustration grew. Gianluca Mancini was booked just after the hour.
Belgium made the game safe in the 69th minute. Substitute Dodi Lukébakio, introduced for Moreira alongside Hans Vanaken for De Bruyne around the hour, finished a second fast break: Charles De Ketelaere supplied the assist and Lukébakio drove a left-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner.
Italy threw on Davide Frattesi, Daniel Maldini and Giorgio Scalvini. Late pressure brought further misses — Scalvini over the bar from close range after a corner, Calafiori off target — while Roméo Lavia and Romelu Lukaku helped Belgium manage the closing stages. There were no red cards. Yellow cards were shown late to Maldini, Donnarumma and Lukaku as tempers frayed in stoppage time.
Elsewhere in the same group on Friday, Mbappé's winner gave Zidane's France a 1-0 win in Kocaeli. France squad context is also in BetAlert's Konaté injury and Yoro call-up piece. Belgium sit top of Group 1 on goal difference.
What it means
Belgium lead League A Group 1 with three points and a +2 goal difference. Italy are bottom after matchday one with no points and −2. Both play again on Monday: Italy travel to Türkiye, Belgium host France.
Reaction and outlook
Van Bommel's first competitive night brought a clean sheet and two clinical breaks. Mancini's return ended in a home defeat despite Italy recording more shots overall (21 to 19 on BBC stats). The Monday double-header will quickly test whether Belgium can stay clear at the top and whether Italy can answer with points in Türkiye.