Italy are aiming to progress into next year’s UEFA Nations League finals when they face Belgium in Brussels on Thursday night.

After enduring a pretty miserable Euro 2024 campaign, Luciano Spalletti’s Azzurri have impressed over the autumn and they currently lead France at the top of Group A2 in the latest iteration of the Nations League.

Italy currently boast a point advantage over France and a point here would see Spalletti’s side qualify for the Nations League quarter-finals next March.

Belgium are the only team to take points off Italy in the group but looked set to fall to a convincing defeat in Rome last month before Lorenzo Pellegrini was sent off. The Red Devils, thanks to their player advantage, fought back from 2-0 down and earned a point. That was one of just four they’ve claimed in the group as they’ve lost twice to France and thus harbour only slim hopes of making the 2025 finals.

Here’s 90min’s preview of the Nations League clash in Brussels.

Belgium vs Italy H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

Romelu Lukaku withdrew from the Belgium squad last month but Domenico Tedesco will have the Napoli striker available for the Red Devils’ November fixtures and he’s likely to start on Thursday.

Thomas Meunier, Jeremy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere, Youri Tielemans and Malick Fofana are among the senior stars unavailable this month due to injury, while Kevin De Bruyne also won’t be featuring despite returning to action before the break.

Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia and Club Brugge’s Maxim De Cuyper are both said to be carrying knocks heading into the break, but the pair have reported for duty.

Belgium predicted lineup vs Italy (4-3-3): Casteels; Castagne, Debast, Faes, Theate; Mangala, Onana, Vermeeren; Bakayoko, Lukaku, Trossard.

Italy’s injury woes aren’t as drastic as their hosts’ but they won’t have Riccardo Calafiori, who’s established himself as a key figure in Luciano Spalletti’s defence, due to a knee injury.

Samuele Ricci is also unavailable but Spalletti has been able to call up a more than able deputy in Manuel Locatelli. Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca are long-term absentees.

For the first time in a very long time, Italy have multiple forwards heading into an international break in red-hot form. Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean are vying for minutes this month having enjoyed incredibly productive starts to the Serie A season.

Italy predicted lineup vs Belgium (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Raspadori; Retegui.

It’s been an excellent Nations League campaign for the Italians so far and they should get the business done away from home on Thursday given Belgium’s absences.

Spalletti’s side will be facing up against a young Red Devils team here and, while Tedesco has offered some encouragement during his managerial tenure, Belgium are yet to successfully transition out of their ‘golden generation’.

The reverse fixture manifested the gulf between these two teams before Pellegrini was sent off and, although Italy merely need a point to advance, they may go one better and secure a big away win.

Prediction: Belgium 1-2 Italy

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