Italy 0-2 Belgium: Godts and Lukebakio condemn Mancini to losing return

Roberto Mancini lost on his return as Italy boss after a 2-0 defeat against Belgium in the Nations League.

Mika Godts struck in the 20th minute before substitute Dodi Lukebakio secured all three points in the second half as Mark van Bommel made a winning start to his reign as Belgium boss at Stadio Olimpico.

After Gianluigi Donnarumma and Senne Lammens made early saves at either end, with Charles De Ketelaere and Moise Kean denied respectively, Godts opened the scoring after sending Gianluca Mancini and Diego Coppola to the ground before slotting into the bottom-right corner.

Belgium dominated the first half after taking the lead, but could not add to their advantage as Donnarumma pulled off a brilliant double save to keep out De Ketelaere and Nicolas Raskin, while the Italy captain also saved a powerful header from Godts moments after Diego Moreira miscued a simple finish.

Maxim De Cuyper flashed a shot wide of the right post before the break, but Italy were the bigger threat in the second half as Kean forced Lammens into a clever save with his right leg just two minutes after the restart.

Francesco Pio Esposito then went close twice, first seeing his header go straight at Lammens before the Belgium shot-stopper pulled off a strong save to deny the Inter striker's first-time effort from Nicolo Cambiaghi's cut-back.

However, Italy were made to pay for their wastefulness in the 69th minute as Lukebakio drove forward from the halfway line, cut inside past Sandro Tonali and Daniel Maldini and curled into the bottom-left corner from distance.

The hosts had late chances to force a nervy ending, but Riccardo Calafiori saw his shot with the outside of his boot go wide of the right post, while Giorgio Scalvini inexplicably missed the target from inside the six-yard box.

Contrasting emotions for Mancini and Van Bommel

A better second-half display from Italy offered some hope for Mancini, with 1.22 of their 1.52 expected goals coming after the break, but the Azzurri were unable to turn things around against Van Bommel's Belgium.

Both Donnarumma and Lammens made six saves in what almost proved to be a tale of two halves in Rome, but Lukebakio's timely second for the Red Devils was enough to clinch a winning start to their Nations League campaign.

There was plenty for Van Bommel to be pleased with, as Kevin De Bruyne led the match in chances created (five), while Godts led the way in dribbles attempted (five) and, among Belgium players, possessions won (four) to go along with his goal.

The new Belgium boss will know Lammens' saves early in the second half played a huge role in the victory, especially after Belgium's missed opportunities before the break, though he will certainly be the happier of the two managers.

Up next for Belgium in the Nations League is a home match against France, while Mancini will be looking for the first win of his second stint when Italy travel to Turkiye next.