25 Sept 2026

Belgium 2-0 Italy: Lammens shines in Rome

Belgium opened their UEFA Nations League, League A, Group 1 campaign with a 2-0 win over Italy at Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Mika Godts struck early and Dodi Lukebakio added a second after the break, while goalkeeper Senne Lammens put on a clinic to keep a clean sheet. Full match data and player metrics are available on the Sofascore match page and the UEFA Nations League hub.

How the numbers told the story

Italy saw more of the ball overall, carrying 56% possession and attempting 590 passes to Belgium’s 464. The Azzurri also out-shot Belgium 21-19, delivered more crosses 10/22 versus 4/17, and owned the air with 16/25 aerial duels won. Dig a little deeper though and the visitors were more efficient when it mattered. Belgium put more efforts on target (8-6) and produced the stronger shot quality, leading the expected goals count 2.70 to 1.52 and expected goals on target 2.33 to 0.94. They also forced twice as many corners (8-4), which helped tilt field position their way in the first half. Tackle success favored Belgium 55% to 36%, and they edged interceptions 9-7, a sign of a compact block and quick reads around their box.

The halves split neatly. Belgium dominated the first 45: 14-5 in shots, 2.48 to 0.30 in xG, and 8-1 in corners. After the break Italy surged with 62% possession, a 16-5 shot edge and 1.22 to 0.21 xG, but they still could not beat the keeper. Part of the story is Italy’s wastefulness in front of goal, and the other part is Belgium’s shot-stopping. On Sofascore, Belgium’s average team score finished at 7.75 versus Italy’s 7.20, underlining that clinical edge and defensive resilience.

Belgium’s plan: fast breaks and clean execution

Both Belgian goals came from fast-break situations. On 20 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne intercepted and fed a perfectly weighted pass into Mika Godts, who finished low across Gianluigi Donnarumma. In the 69th minute, substitute Dodi Lukebakio tucked home with his left after Charles De Ketelaere’s assist capped another quick transition. Those two moments defined the scoreboard and reflected a broader pattern: Belgium needed fewer touches in Italy’s box (25 to 32) but made them count. Their on-target attempts carried punch, and the shot map quality explains the xG gap.

There were notable individual contributions behind that approach. De Bruyne created five chances and logged an assist before going off on 58 minutes. De Ketelaere supplied four key passes and the setup for the second goal. Godts, who scored the opener, posted an 8.1 Sofascore Rating with strong ball carrying and two shots on target. Later, Lukebakio arrived with perfect impact: 12/12 passing, three tackles, and the clincher. At the back, Brandon Mechele’s 7.6 and Nathan Ngoy’s 7.4 reflected a stack of vital defensive actions, while Timothy Castagne chipped in two key passes and a crucial block. Belgium’s compact 4-2-3-1 stayed intact under pressure, and it showed in tackles won and interceptions.

Italy’s volume, Belgium’s resilience

Italy created more than enough to score. They racked up 65 final-third entries to Belgium’s 38 and produced four big chances. Still, none of those were converted. Pio Esposito missed two big chances and Moise Kean fired five shots for 0.47 xG, testing Lammens twice. Italy’s crossing game was present and useful at times, with 10 accurate crosses overall and a heavy aerial win rate, but the final contact and shot placement lagged behind the build-up. Expected goals on target landed at 0.94, which underscored how many attempts were either rushed or well‑telegraphed.

MVP: Senne Lammens saves the day

Belgium’s clean sheet belonged to Senne Lammens, who earned an outstanding 8.8 Sofascore Rating. He recorded six saves, with four from inside the box, and finished with a superb 0.94 goals prevented. The distribution was steady too: 27/38 passes completed, including 7/18 long balls, plus nine recoveries and 51 touches to help Belgium reset under pressure. It all added up to a calm, commanding outing in Rome and the platform for Belgium’s three points.

The second half underlined his value. Italy generated 16 shots after the break and improved their crossing and final-third volume, but Lammens’ handling and positioning were spotless. When Italy went direct, he dealt with the high balls. When they combined centrally, he got down quickly and held firm. Clinical forwards win games; elite keepers protect them. Belgium had both on the night.

Key moments and changes

20’ 0-1: Godts finishes from a De Bruyne assist on a fast break. The move starts with Belgium regaining the ball high and transitions cleanly through Youri Tielemans and De Bruyne into Godts’ stride. 58’: De Bruyne and Diego Moreira make way, with Hans Vanaken and Lukebakio introduced. That fresh energy on the right flank would soon matter. 65’: Italy react with a triple switch, bringing on Giorgio Scalvini, Davide Frattesi and Daniel Maldini to push the tempo and add legs in midfield and attack.

69’ 0-2: Lukebakio scores left-footed after De Ketelaere’s incisive final pass, another sharp transition that punished Italy’s high line. Late on, Italy keep pushing, adding Issa Doumbia and Mohamed Ali Zoma at 80’. Belgium close it out with Matías Fernández-Pardo and Romelu Lukaku off the bench. The card count tells the late-game tension too: Belgium collected five yellows to Italy’s three, with bookings for Raskin, Moreira, Lavia, Fernández-Pardo and Lukaku, and for Mancini, Maldini and Donnarumma on the home side. Look at the live momentum and full timeline on the Sofascore event page.

Player of the Match

By Sofascore Rating, the best player was Senne Lammens with an 8.8. Fans agreed: Lammens topped the vote with 1,250 of 3,277 total. In other words, both the model and supporters picked the same standout. A well-earned sweep for Belgium’s goalkeeper.

Player stats provided by Sofascore