Roberto Mancini lost on his return as Italy boss after a 2-0 defeat against Belgium in the Nations League.

2026/2027 UEFA Nations League

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Match Report 

Mika Godts struck in the 20th minute before substitute Dodi Lukebakio secured all three points in the second half as Mark van Bommel made a winning start to his reign as Belgium boss at Stadio Olimpico.

After Gianluigi Donnarumma and Senne Lammens made early saves at either end, with Charles De Ketelaere and Moise Kean denied respectively, Godts opened the scoring after sending Gianluca Mancini and Diego Coppola to the ground before slotting into the bottom-right corner.

Belgium dominated the first half after taking the lead, but could not add to their advantage as Donnarumma pulled off a brilliant double save to keep out De Ketelaere and Nicolas Raskin, while the Italy captain also saved a powerful header from Godts moments after Diego Moreira miscued a simple finish.

Maxim De Cuyper flashed a shot wide of the right post before the break, but Italy were the bigger threat in the second half as Kean forced Lammens into a clever save with his right leg just two minutes after the restart.

Francesco Pio Esposito then went close twice, first seeing his header go straight at Lammens before the Belgium shot-stopper pulled off a strong save to deny the Inter striker's first-time effort from Nicolo Cambiaghi's cut-back.

However, Italy were made to pay for their wastefulness in the 69th minute as Lukebakio drove forward from the halfway line, cut inside past Sandro Tonali and Daniel Maldini and curled into the bottom-left corner from distance.

The hosts had late chances to force a nervy ending, but Riccardo Calafiori saw his shot with the outside of his boot go wide of the right post, while Giorgio Scalvini inexplicably missed the target from inside the six-yard box.

FT.#ITABEL #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/vauuRDEwNh

— Italy  (@Azzurri_En) September 25, 2026

Contrasting emotions for Mancini and Van Bommel

A better second-half display from Italy offered some hope for Mancini, with 1.22 of their 1.52 expected goals coming after the break, but the Azzurri were unable to turn things around against Van Bommel's Belgium.

Both Donnarumma and Lammens made six saves in what almost proved to be a tale of two halves in Rome, but Lukebakio's timely second for the Red Devils was enough to clinch a winning start to their Nations League campaign.

There was plenty for Van Bommel to be pleased with, as Kevin De Bruyne led the match in chances created (five), while Godts led the way in dribbles attempted (five) and, among Belgium players, possessions won (four) to go along with his goal.

The new Belgium boss will know Lammens' saves early in the second half played a huge role in the victory, especially after Belgium's missed opportunities before the break, though he will certainly be the happier of the two managers.

Up next for Belgium in the Nations League is a home match against France, while Mancini will be looking for the first win of his second stint when Italy travel to Turkiye next.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' Pre-match ceremony, both teams observe silence for Mazza

4' Camera to touchline: Mancini back with Italy for Azzurri debut

7' De Ketelaere low shot, Donnarumma saves

8' Pio hits post, but flag goes up for offside

14' De Bruyne long shot hits defender, out for goal kick

18' Keane fires from range, Lammens gathers

21' GOAL! De Bruyne through ball, Hotz beats two, cool low finish. Italy 0-1 Belgium



23' De Ketelaere long shot saved, Raskin rebound denied by Donnarumma

28' Almost a brace, Hotz header saved by Donnarumma

32' De Bruyne pass, Doku shot just wide

36' Cambiaghi cross, Keane shot just wide

43' Cambiaghi pass, Romano skies it

47' Keane pounces, Lammens with a wonder save

52' De Bruyne header on target, Donnarumma holds

54' Cambiaghi pass, Pio shot saved by Lammens

58' Blgium change, De Bruyne off

66' Italy change: Frattesi, Maldini, Scalvini on

69' GOAL! Lukébakio curls into the corner. Italy 0-2 Belgium



80' Italy change, Barella off

83' Calafiori with an outside-foot shot, just wide

88' Match Event for Italy vs Belgium

Line-ups

Italy XI: Di Lorenzo, Barella, G. Mancini, Donnarumma, Kean, Tonali, Calafiori, Nicolò Cambiaghi, Pio Esposito, Diego Coppola, Alessandro Romano

Subs: Mandragora, Vicario, Scamacca, Frattesi, Marco Carnesecchi, Giacomo Raspadori, Maldini, Giorgio Scalvini, Michael Kayode, Issa Doumbia, Mohamed Alì Zoma, Honest Ahanor

Belgium XI: De Bruyne, Mechele, Tielemans, Castagne, Nicolas Raskin, Senne Lammens, Maxim De Cuyper, De Ketelaere, Nathan Ngoy, Diego Moreira, Mika Godts

Subs: Lukaku, Vanaken, Dodi Lukébakio, Openda, Jari De Busser, Maarten Vandevoordt, Zeno Debast, Arthur Theate, Lavia, Mandela Keita, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Joaquin Seys