{"id":1496430,"date":"2026-09-24T12:38:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T11:38:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=news&p=1496430"},"modified":"2026-09-24T12:38:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T11:38:43","slug":"italy-vs-belgium-predictions-betting-tips-25-09-26","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/italy-vs-belgium-predictions-betting-tips-25-09-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Italy vs Belgium predictions and betting tips: cagey opener between rebuilding rivals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Two heavyweights open the Nations League in Group A1 as Italy<\/a> host Belgium<\/a> at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday, both under new management and both smarting from a difficult year, Italy having missed the World Cup and Belgium bowing out at the quarter-finals.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Eadson’s Italy vs Belgium predictions, best bets and score prediction are below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n

Premium Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Eadson expects a tight, even opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premium Tip<\/th>Odds<\/th>Why we’re backing it<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Under 2.5 goals<\/strong><\/td>19\/20 (William Hill<\/a>)<\/td>Both sides start under new head coaches, with Roberto Mancini back in charge of Italy and Mark van Bommel taking his first game for Belgium, and first competitive games in a new era are often cautious. Belgium drew 0-0 with Iran and 1-1 with Egypt at the World Cup, while Italy have not played a competitive game since the March play-off. At 19\/20 with William Hill, an implied probability of 51%, a low-scoring opener appeals.<\/td><\/tr>
Draw<\/strong><\/td>12\/5 (William Hill<\/a>)<\/td>Two sides in transition meeting in their first competitive game under new bosses often cancel each other out, and this fixture has a habit of being tight, with a 2-2 and a 1-0 in the last two meetings. Italy have not played competitively since March and Belgium are still bedding in Mark van Bommel’s ideas. At 12\/5, an implied probability of 29%, a cagey contest that finishes level is a generous price.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n
Back under 2.5 goals with William Hill here<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware — gambleaware.org · Odds correct at time of publishing.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How Italy go into the game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Italy endured a chastening year, missing a third straight World Cup after losing a play-off shoot-out to Bosnia, and were beaten 4-1 at home by Norway in qualifying. Roberto Mancini returns for a second spell tasked with rebuilding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solid against weaker opponents but exposed by the better sides, Italy have not played a competitive game since March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Belgium go into the game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Belgium reached the World Cup quarter-finals in the summer, thrashing New Zealand 5-1 and beating the USA 4-1 before losing narrowly to eventual winners Spain. They scored freely but leaked goals along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now under Mark van Bommel, who replaced Rudi Garcia after the World Cup, Belgium face their first competitive test since that quarter-final defeat, and their defence remains the concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Italy vs Belgium head-to-head<\/h2>\n\n\n
Date<\/th>Home<\/th>Score<\/th>Away<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
14\/11\/24<\/td>Belgium<\/td>0-1<\/td>Italy<\/td><\/tr>
10\/10\/24<\/td>Italy<\/td>2-2<\/td>Belgium<\/td><\/tr>
10\/10\/21<\/td>Italy<\/td>2-1<\/td>Belgium<\/td><\/tr>
02\/07\/21<\/td>Belgium<\/td>1-2<\/td>Italy<\/td><\/tr>
13\/06\/16<\/td>Belgium<\/td>0-2<\/td>Italy<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n

Italy have the recent edge, unbeaten in the last five meetings with four wins and a draw, including a 2-1 win in the Euro 2020 quarter-final. They also won 1-0 in Brussels when the sides last met, in the Nations League in November 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Italy vs Belgium predictions & betting tips<\/h2>\n\n\n
Our Prediction<\/th>Odds & Bookmaker<\/th>Confidence<\/th>Why We’re Backing It<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Draw<\/strong><\/td>12\/5 (William Hill<\/a>)<\/td>⭐⭐⭐<\/td>Two rebuilding sides in their first game under new bosses.<\/td><\/tr>
Under 2.5 goals<\/strong><\/td>19\/20 (William Hill<\/a>)<\/td>⭐⭐<\/td>Cagey openers between cautious sides often stay tight.<\/td><\/tr>
Both teams to score<\/strong><\/td>4\/6 (William Hill<\/a>)<\/td>⭐⭐⭐⭐<\/td>Both attacks are capable and both defences look shaky.<\/td><\/tr>
Italy 1-1 Belgium<\/strong><\/td>11\/2 (William Hill<\/a>)<\/td>⭐⭐<\/td>Our call: honours even in Rome.<\/td><\/tr>
Draw at half-time<\/strong><\/td>5\/4 (William Hill<\/a>)<\/td>⭐⭐<\/td>Two cautious sides often go in level at the break.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n

Italy vs Belgium score prediction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Two rebuilding sides meeting in their first competitive game under new managers points to a cagey, evenly matched affair, and with Italy hard to beat at home a score draw looks the likeliest outcome. Score prediction: Italy 1-1 Belgium.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n