Belgium vs Italy: Match Preview, Odds & Prediction

On Thursday night, Italy will visit Brussels to take on Belgium in a massive Nations League match. 

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

As for the hosts, Belgium may have begun their Nations League campaign with a straightforward 3-1 win over Israel on September 6th, but since then, the Red Devils have fallen to earth. Domenico Tedesco's squad has failed to win in their last three League A outings, most recently losing 2-1 at home to France to end October's international break.

Belgium is looking for stability badly after coming under intense scrutiny during the summer after their only EURO 24 triumph in Germany. On Thursday, the hosts have yet to win their last two matches in a row in competition for the previous thirteen months, dating back to their European debut on June 17th, when they suffered a notorious 1-0 loss to Slovakia.

Regarding the guests, Luciano Spalletti's squad has exhibited no hangover symptoms, even if Italy may have gone through their own EURO 24 crisis last summer, losing to Switzerland in the round of 16. Their Nations League season began with a historic 3-1 win against France on September 6th, and Thursday's visitors have only improved since then.

As of their most recent match, a 4-1 rout of Israel, the Blues have accumulated 10 points in their first four League A outings. The former Inter Milan manager may be seeing an opportunity for his team to take another heavyweight Nations League scalp tonight, as they are finding their finishing touch and are in a great position to punch a semi-final berth.

Belgium x Italy Team News

Romelu Lukaku, a former Chelsea striker, has been called up to Napoli despite Tedesco's surprising decision to leave him off the team last month. Kevin De Bruyne, the hero of Manchester City, will sit out the next two matches even though he may be getting closer to total health.

Former Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels will start in goal today despite the fact that he may have completed a big-money transfer to Saudi Arabia over the summer. Luis Openda, a striker for RB Leipzig, will aim to maintain his starting position after opening his Nations League account with a consolation goal against France last month.

Inter Milan star Nicolo Barella was recalled and is expected to start here despite not being included in Spalletti's Nations League team last month. But Riccardo Calafiori will sit out the next two weeks as he deals with an injury that has kept him out of Arsenal's last six games in all competitions.

With two goals in the Nations League this year and a good run in Serie A with Atalanta, Mateo Retegui may be a significant factor. Italian national team goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, appointed full-time captain earlier this year, will start in goal and get his 70th cap.

Our Predictions

Both Teams to score @ 1.73 on Sky247.ng.

Fans on the sidelines are hoping for a repeat performance of last month's exciting 2-2 draw between Belgium and Italy in this Nations League match. Opportunities may present themselves rapidly in Brussels in a game that generates excellent excitement. The midweek visitors, who have been on fire as of late for their pinpoint finishing, will be hoping to capitalize on a Belgium team that has let in at least one goal in each of their past five games. We predict a repeat performance in midweek since both sides have scored in five of the last six encounters between Thursday's opponents.

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