Belgium vs Italy: A High-Stakes Decisive Clash in Brussels

Raffy Faraz - November 15, 2026

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The UEFA Nations League stage heats up once again with one of the most anticipated classic showdowns in Europe. On the final matchday of Group A1, Belgium prepares to host Italy at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Monday at 02:45 WIB.

This match is more than just a battle of prestige between two traditional powerhouses of European football; it is a crucial decisive encounter for a ticket to the quarter-finals. The outcome of this match will determine which team advances to the next round.

For Belgium, home advantage must be maximized to turn the tables around. Coached by Mark van Bommel, the squad currently finds itself in a position demanding extra hard work after collecting nine points from five matches.

A narrow 2-1 victory over Turkey in their previous outing provided a valuable morale boost while keeping alive their hopes of climbing to the top of the Group A1 standings. They trail the two teams directly above them—Italy and France—by just a single point.

On the other side, the visitors arrive with surging confidence. The Gli Azzurri successfully defeated France with a convincing 3-1 scoreline, a brilliant result that propelled them to the summit of the group with 10 points.

Tactically speaking, the midfield will be the hottest battleground dictating the flow of the game tonight. The presence of midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne for Belgium is guaranteed to be the heartbeat of the hosts’ play as they attempt to break down the opponent’s tight defense.

The boundless creativity of the former Manchester City player will be tested by the disciplined defensive midfielders of Italy, marshaled by Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Barella, not to mention the challenge of unlocking the catenacio-style Italian defense.

Good news also reaches the Belgian camp with the return of explosive winger Jeremy Doku. The individual brilliance of the flank forward is expected to exploit gaps in Italy’s defense, which are frequently left vacant when their full-backs push forward.

Meanwhile, Gli Azzurri will undoubtedly be missing a few key pillars. Nevertheless, Italy’s squad depth remains remarkably robust thanks to talented attacking prospects like young forward Pio Esposito, who is ready to trouble the hosts’ backline.

Interestingly, in their last encounter back in September 2026, Belgium surprisingly secured a 2-0 away victory on Italian soil. That positive result certainly serves as an important psychological boost for Mark van Bommel’s squad.

This group stage finale is predicted to be played at a high tempo right from the opening whistle. Playing at home, Belgium is expected to take the initiative and attack immediately, whereas Italy is projected to adopt a more pragmatic approach.

Head-to-Head

Predicted Lineups

Belgium (4-3-3): Senne Lammens; Timothy Castagne, Brandon Mechele, Nathan Ngoy, Maxim De Cuyper; Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans, Nicolas Raskin; Dodi Lukebakio, Charles De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku.

Coach: Mark van Bommel

Italy (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Michael Kayode, Giorgio Scalvini, Alessandro Bastoni, Riccardo Calafiori; Nicolo Barella, Sandro Tonali, Issa Doumbia; Nicolo Cambiaghi, Pio Esposito, Luca Koleosho.

Coach: Roberto Mancini