Roberto Mancini’s second Italy era started with a disastrous 2-0 home defeat to Belgium, with Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio making the Nations League an uphill struggle.

The Azzurri were back under Mancini for the first time since he walked away in 2023, in a Nations League group along with France and Turkiye. Alessandro Bastoni was suspended , with Federico Dimarco, Marco Palestra, Bryan Cristante and Nicolò Zaniolo injured, so for the first time Riccardo Calafiori followed his Arsenal role as left-back for the Nazionale. Alessandro Romano made his debut, having switched allegiance from Switzerland.

Belgium debuted under new coach Mark van Bommel, but Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku and Andre Onana were injured, with Thibaut Courtois left out. Serie A players Kevin De Bruyne, Charles De Ketelaere and Diego Moreira started.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Gianluigi Donnarumma needed a one-handed save on the De Ketelaere angled drive after seven minutes, then Francesco Pio Esposito hit the base of the upright, although he was offside on the Nicolò Barella dinked pass.

Moise Kean tested the goalkeeper from distance, but Belgium opened the scoring when Romano’s misplaced pass was intercepted, De Bruyne’s through ball sent Mika Godts running, cutting inside Gianluca Mancini and finishing at the near post.

Moments later, Diego Coppola gave it away, forcing Donnarumma into a double save on Atalanta’s De Ketelaere and the Nicolas Raskin follow-up.

Donnarumma made an extraordinary reaction save on the Godts free header at the back post, and Maxim De Cuyper’s angled drive flashed across the face of goal.