The Matchday 5 clash in the Nations League between Belgium and Italy in Group 2 of League A will take place on November 14 at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. Belgium vs. Italy: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: Radu Petrescu (Romania)
Matches – 10 (International matches, 2023/24–2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 36;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.6;
Red cards shown – 0;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 10%.
Predicted lineups for Belgium vs. Italy
Belgium (4-2-3-1): Koen Casteels – Maxime De Cuyper, Wout Faes, Arthur Theate, Zeno Debast – Orel Mangala, Amadou Onana – Leandro Trossard, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Dodi Lukebakio – Lois Openda.
Italy (3-5-2): Gianluigi Donnarumma – Alessandro Buongiorno, Alessandro Bastoni, Giovanni Di Lorenzo – Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi, Sandro Tonali, Nicolo Barella, Andrea Cambiaso – Giacomo Raspadori, Mateo Retegui.
Belgium
In the last round, Domenico Tedesco's side suffered a 1-2 defeat at home to France. As a result, Belgium has not won in three consecutive Nations League matches (1 draw, 2 losses). Moreover, the team extended their streak of conceding goals in this tournament to six matches. With four points, Belgium is third in their group, and only two victories in the remaining games will keep their hopes alive for reaching the Nations League quarter-finals.
- The team has won in regular time in 8 of their last 10 home matches in the Nations League.
- At least three goals have been scored in 90 minutes in six of the team's previous home games in this tournament.
- The number "1" has appeared in the scoreline at the end of regular time in five of Belgium's last home matches in the Nations League.
Italy
Luciano Spalletti's side confidently defeated Israel 4-1 at home in the last round. Consequently, Italy extended their unbeaten run in the Nations League to five matches (4 wins, 1 draw). Furthermore, the team secured their first-ever big victory in this tournament. Italy leads the group with ten points, and a single point in the remaining two matches will be enough to secure a spot in the Nations League quarter-finals.
- The team has not lost in regular time in 9 of their last 10 away matches in the Nations League (7 wins, 2 draws).
- Both teams scored in 90 minutes in 4 of Italy's last 5 away matches in the Nations League.
- At least three goals have been scored in regular time in six of Italy's last matches in this tournament.
Belgium vs. Italy: Match Prediction
Belgium typically plays very actively at home, focusing on attacking football. Their home matches are high-scoring: they have not left the field without scoring in regular time in their last ten home Nations League games, and in eight of those matches, Belgium scored at least twice. However, defensively, the team has not been solid, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last six home matches in this tournament.
Italy operates in a similar style: they create many chances upfront but do not always pay enough attention to defense. In their last five away Nations League games, the team has scored at least two goals in regular time, conceding only once in that span, against weaker opposition like Hungary.
I expect a high-scoring affair between these attacking teams, so my prediction: Total over 2.5 goals