Sandro Tonali Italy (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Italy start Sandro Tonali, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mateo Retegui in the Nations League showdown with Belgium, who look to Charles De Ketelaere, Lois Openda and Leandro Trossard.

It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

The Azzurri sit top of the group after winning 3-1 in France and 2-1 away to Israel, enjoying a three-point cushion from Les Bleus and the Red Devils.

Riccardo Calafiori returns from injury in the now consolidated 3-5-2 formation, with Pellegrini chosen to support current Serie A Capocannoniere Retegui.

Tonali, Davide Frattesi and Manchester City transfer target Samuele Ricci are in midfield, with Nicolò Barella, Marco Brescianini, Moise Kean, Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini among those unavailable.

Belgium also have some missing stars, as Kevin de Bruyne, Amadou Onana and Romelu Lukaku are out of action, the latter asking to be left out to regain full fitness at Napoli.

Trossard, Atalanta star Charles De Ketelaere and Jeremy Doku are in support of RB Leipzig striker Openda, as they appear to be going with a three-man defence.

It is a special game for coach Domenico Tedesco, who was born in Italy and moved to Germany as a baby.

Not only have Belgium lost their last three meetings with the Azzurri, but they haven’t won a competitive meeting since May 1972, managing one draw and four defeats.

Italy-Belgium line-ups

Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori; Cambiaso, Frattesi, Ricci, Tonali, Dimarco; Pellegrini; Retegui

Belgium: Casteels; Debast, Faes, Theate; De Cuyper, Mangala, Tielemans; De Ketelaere, Doku, Trossard; Openda

Ref: Eskas (NOR)

10-10-2024 19:45
MatchDay 3
ITA
ITA
BEL
BEL
Live
2 - 2

Player statistic

1st half
Andrea Cambiaso Goal 1'    
Mateo Retegui Goal 24'    
Lorenzo Pellegrini Red card 40'    
    41' Goal Maxim De Cuyper
(Assist: Leandro Trossard)
2nd half
    61' Goal Leandro Trossard
    65' Yellow card Leandro Trossard
ITA
BEL

Starting lineups

1
21
20
Defender
3
Defender
70'
22
5
16
Midfielder
10
Midfielder
6
Midfielder
71'
8
Midfielder
9
Attacker
1
Goalkeeper
3
Defender
69'
5
Defender
4
Defender
2
Defender
18
Midfielder
68'
8
Midfielder
17
68'
7
Attacker
10
Attacker
9
Attacker

Substitutes

14
Defender
11
Midfielder
13
Goalkeeper
2
Defender
18
12
Goalkeeper
17
Attacker
15
Defender
23
Midfielder
19
Defender
70'
7
Midfielder
71'
16
Defender
12
Goalkeeper
13
Goalkeeper
20
Attacker
19
Attacker
22
Attacker
14
Attacker
15
23
Midfielder
21
Defender
68'
11
Attacker
68'
6
Midfielder
69'
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