Italy 0-2 Belgium: Mancini return begins with disaster

ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 25: Mika Godts of Belgium scores a opening goal during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and Belgium at Stadio Olimpico on September 25, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi/Getty Images)

Roberto Mancini’s second Italy era started with a disastrous 2-0 home defeat to Belgium, with Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio making the Nations League an uphill struggle.

The Azzurri were back under Mancini for the first time since he walked away in 2023, in a Nations League group along with France and Turkiye. Alessandro Bastoni was suspended, with Federico Dimarco, Marco Palestra, Bryan Cristante and Nicolò Zaniolo injured, so for the first time Riccardo Calafiori followed his Arsenal role as left-back for the Nazionale. Alessandro Romano made his debut, having switched allegiance from Switzerland.

Belgium debuted under new coach Mark van Bommel, but Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku and Andre Onana were injured, with Thibaut Courtois left out. Serie A players Kevin De Bruyne, Charles De Ketelaere and Diego Moreira started.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Gianluigi Donnarumma needed a one-handed save on the De Ketelaere angled drive after seven minutes, then Francesco Pio Esposito hit the base of the upright, although he was offside on the Nicolò Barella dinked pass.

Moise Kean tested the goalkeeper from distance, but Belgium opened the scoring when Romano’s misplaced pass was intercepted, De Bruyne’s through ball sent Mika Godts running, cutting inside Gianluca Mancini and finishing at the near post.

Moments later, Diego Coppola gave it away, forcing Donnarumma into a double save on Atalanta’s De Ketelaere and the Nicolas Raskin follow-up.

Donnarumma made an extraordinary reaction save on the Godts free header at the back post, and Maxim De Cuyper’s angled drive flashed across the face of goal.

Kean volleyed onto the side-netting at the back post from a fine Nicolò Cambiaghi cross from the left, and Donnarumma fingertipped another Godts curler round the upright before Nathan Ngoy pounced on a poor back-pass and fired wide.

Within seconds of the restart there was a great Italy chance, Kean volleying the Cambiaghi cross and forcing Senne Lammens into a difficult save from six yards.

Lammens was again decisive to deny Pio Esposito at the near post on the low Cambiaghi pull-back from the left, but just as the Azzurri were pouring forward, they conceded the second.

It was a classic counter-attack, Dodi Lukebakio starting the run from inside his own half, cutting inside and bending the precise left-foot finish into the far bottom corner from outside the area.

There was time for Italy debuts for Momo Zoma and Issa Doumbia, but any remaining hope had been knocked out by that second goal.

Davide Frattesi flicked on a Daniel Maldini corner to flash across the face of goal, eventually leading to Riccardo Calafiori blasting just wide.

In the final minutes, a corner came to Giorgio Scalvini at the back post, firing onto the underside of the crossbar from point-blank range.

There was tension after the final whistle between Donnarumma and Romelu Lukaku, with both players booked.

Godts 20 (B), Lukebakio 69 (B)

1st half

		20'		Mika Godts (Assist: Kevin De Bruyne)
		25'		Nicolas Raskin
		29'		Diego Moreira

2nd half

Gianluca Mancini		63'
		69'		Dodi Lukébakio (Assist: Charles De Ketelaere)
		80'		Roméo Lavia

ITA

BEL

Goalkeeper

Defender

65'

Defender

Defender

Defender

Midfielder

65'

Midfielder

80'

Midfielder

Attacker

65'

Attacker

Attacker

80'

12

Goalkeeper

4

Defender

5

Defender

25

Defender

21

Defender

7

Midfielder

58'

23

Midfielder

74'

8

Midfielder

17

Attacker

84'

19

Attacker

58'

26

Attacker

83'

Goalkeeper

Midfielder

Attacker

Attacker

Goalkeeper

Defender

Defender

Midfielder

65'

Defender

65'

Midfielder

65'

Midfielder

80'

Attacker

80'

3

Defender

Attacker

12

Goalkeeper

2

Defender

27

Midfielder

18

Defender

Goalkeeper