Belgium Beat Italy 2-0 in Roberto Mancini’s Return

Roberto Mancini’s first match back in charge of Italy ended in a 2-0 UEFA Nations League defeat to Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico, with Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio scoring in either half.

Italy had entered the occasion with a depleted group. Alessandro Bastoni was suspended, while Federico Dimarco, Nicolò Zaniolo and Bryan Cristante were absent through injury. Belgium were also missing Leandro Trossard, Jérémy Doku and André Onana as Mark van Bommel began his spell as head coach.

Quick facts

• Italy lost 2-0 to Belgium in Rome in Nations League Group A1.
• Mika Godts opened the scoring in the 20th minute after Kevin De Bruyne intercepted an Alessandro Romano error.
• Dodi Lukebakio doubled Belgium’s advantage with a long-range effort in the 69th minute.
• Momo Zoma and Issa Doumbia made their senior Italy debuts.
• Italy’s next match is away to Türkiye on Monday.

Belgium settled fastest, with Charles De Ketelaere forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma into a low one-handed save seven minutes in. Italy briefly threatened through Francesco Pio Esposito, whose effort against the post was ruled out for offside after Nicolò Barella’s lofted pass, while Moise Kean tested Senne Lammens from range.

The decisive first-half moment came when debutant Romano lost possession with a loose pass. De Bruyne immediately released Godts, who converted to put the visitors ahead after 20 minutes.

Donnarumma prevented the score from escalating before the interval. After Diego Coppola gave the ball away, the goalkeeper denied De Ketelaere and Nicolas Raskin in quick succession, then reacted sharply to keep out a Godts header.

Italy returned with greater intensity and almost levelled immediately. Lammens made an important close-range stop from Kean after Nicolò Cambiaghi supplied the cross, then blocked Esposito at his near post as the home side built pressure.

That spell did not bring an equaliser, and Belgium instead struck again on the break. Lukebakio collected the ball in his own half, carried it beyond the Italian midfield and moved inside before curling a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area into the far corner.

Mancini turned to his bench after the second goal, giving Zoma and Doumbia their international bows, but Belgium remained organised through the closing stages. Italy continued to create openings without finding a finish.

Davide Frattesi narrowly missed Daniel Maldini’s corner, while Riccardo Calafiori drove just wide. Giorgio Scalvini then came closest to reducing the deficit late on, hitting the underside of the crossbar from close range after another corner fell to him at the back post.

Italy now travel to face Türkiye on Monday. Türkiye begin that fixture after a 1-0 home loss to France, decided by a Kylian Mbappé goal.