Italy vs Belgium Preview

Italy’s recent momentum runs into a Belgium side who have barely put a foot wrong all summer when the two meet at the Olimpico on Friday. Italy’s most recent result was a 0-1 away win at Greece, following a 0-1 away win at Luxembourg the game before. Prior to those two wins, a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia & Herzegovina, drawn 1-1 after extra time before Italy lost the shootout, knocked them out of the World Cup, and before that a 2-0 home win over Northern Ireland was a routine win. Further back, a 1-4 home defeat to Norway completes the sample. Across these five matches Italy have taken three wins, no draws and two losses, with the Norway result their heaviest defeat in the run.

Belgium have lost only once in this sample. Most recently they lost 2-1 against Spain, following a 1-4 away win at USA the game before — their most emphatic scoreline of the run. Prior to those two, a 3-2 win over Senegal after extra time kept the momentum going, and before that a 1-5 away win at New Zealand had itself followed a goalless away draw at Iran. Across these five outings Belgium have taken three wins, a draw and a single loss, with the Spain defeat coming most recently after four unbeaten results.

Belgium hold a narrow edge across this head-to-head, with two wins to Italy’s two and a single draw completing the sample. The most recent meeting finished 0-1 to Italy away at Belgium in November 2024, following a 2-2 away draw for Italy at the Olimpico in October of that year — the same stadium hosting Friday’s game.

This is a Nations League group-stage fixture and neither side has played a match in Group A yet, with all four teams currently level on zero points.

Italy’s Nations League opener against Belgium will be broadcast at home on RAI 1 and RaiPlay, with Belgian viewers able to watch on VTM and VTM GO. In the United States coverage runs on Fox Sports 2, fuboTV, ViX and FOX One, while Republic of Ireland viewers can catch it on Virgin Media Two.

Possible Lineups

Italy — Form

Belgium — Form

Head-to-Head