Italy vs Belgium prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League A betting tips on match 2024-10-09 18:45.
[p]Three teams across League A of the UEFA Nations League (UNL) have a 100% winning record still intact, and Italy are one of those sides. Theyâve already navigated the toughest away trip the FIFA rankings would suggest UEFA can offer, winning 3-1 away to #2 ranked France, while they also won 2-1 on their travels against Israel soon after, meaning Italy should return home to face Belgium brimming with confidence. [/p]
[p]Theyâve made the UNL their own in recent times, winning five of their last six games in this competition (L1), which should boost belief they can secure a third successive finals appearance. Yet to win this competition, the Italians boast an identical record from their last six games against Belgium (W5, L1), but Luciano Spallettiâs men would be wise to approach with caution here as they havenât kept a clean sheet in their last six internationals. [/p]
[p]Belgium have kept just two clean sheets across their last six internationals, and a return of just two victories in that time (D1, L3) will dampen optimism ahead of this trip. One of those wins did at least come in this UNL campaign, beating Israel 3-1 in their opening game before they were dispatched 2-0 by France, after which boss Domenico Tedesco cited an âinability to convert chancesâ as a reason for his sideâs downfall. [/p]
[p]No Romelu Lukaku or Kevin De Bruyne in this squad certainly won’t help their quest to convert, or even create chances, nor will a game against a fellow highly-ranked opponent. Belgium havenât beaten a top-ten ranked nation since June 2021, while in this competition theyâve only ever beaten one such nation – a 2-0 win against England in November 2020. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Italyâs Davide Frattesi netted in both of their UNL games in September – all six of his international scoring appearances ended in victory. Belgium may lean on Leandro Trossard in the absence of two of their big-hitters and a goal from him would likely be a good omen, as six of his seven international scoring appearances ended in wins âto nilâ – all by 2+ goal margins. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Only two of Belgiumâs last 12 internationals saw both teams score. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]