Italy Secures a Draw Against Belgium in Nations League Clash

On the evening of October 10, 2024, Italy faced Belgium at Stadio Olimpico in Rome for their Nations League encounter. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Italy overcoming the adversity of playing with ten men for most of the game. The Italian team, led by coach Luciano Spalletti, started strong, but the game took a challenging turn following a first-half red card.

The Italian side took the lead early in the match with a goal from Andrea Cambiaso in the second minute, putting pressure on the Belgian team from the outset. Italy doubled their lead in the 24th minute through a rebound goal ensuring their dominance in the first half.

Belgium, under coach Domenico Tedesco, struggled to find their rhythm early on but managed to pull one back before half-time. A tactical free-kick in the 42nd minute led to a goal from Maxim De Cuyper, reducing the deficit to 2-1 at the halftime break.

The dynamics shifted drastically when Italian captain Lorenzo Pellegrini received a red card in the 41st minute after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review highlighted a late challenge. Despite being a man down, Italy tried to maintain ball possession and structure after the break.

In the 62nd minute, Belgium equalized with Wout Faes setting up a chance from a corner. A header back into the box allowed Leandro Trossard to score, leveling the score at 2-2. Italy continued to defend resiliently, fending off repeated Belgian attacks amid their numerical disadvantage.

The game remained intense, with significant defensive efforts from both teams preventing further goals. Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made pivotal saves to keep Italy in the match, while Belgium’s defensive errors allowed the Italians to threaten on counters.

Despite the draw, Italy retained their lead in Group 2 of the Nations League, with two wins and this draw solidifying their top position. Belgium, following their earlier victory against Israel, sits with four points after two matches.