Belgium vs Italy: A Point Sends Italy Into Nations League Knockouts
Italy went to Brussels needing just one point to reach the UEFA Nations League knockout rounds. The Azzurri faced Belgium at King Baudouin Stadium on
Italy went to Brussels needing just one point to reach the UEFA Nations League knockout rounds. The Azzurri faced Belgium at King Baudouin Stadium on Sunday, kicking off at 2:45pm ET, on the sixth and final matchday of League A Group 1.
Italy arrived on the back of a stunning win over France on Thursday. That result put them top of the group on 10 points.
How the group stood
France are second, also on 10 points but with an inferior goal difference. Belgium are third on nine points from five games, one point off the top.
Turkiye are the fourth team in the group. The top two sides advance to the quarterfinals in March.
That left Belgium needing a win to take qualification into their own hands. Mark van Bommel's side have won three games and lost two.
Belgium's comeback in Turkiye
Belgium's latest outing was a 2-1 comeback victory away to Turkiye on Thursday. Real Madrid's Arda Güler put the hosts ahead in the 20th minute at Gursel Aksel Stadium.
Kevin De Bruyne and Charles De Ketelaere answered, and Belgium led by the half-hour mark. No more goals followed.
Italy's edge going forward
The numbers favored Italy's attack. Their 9.9 expected goals (xG), a measure of the quality of chances created, is the third-highest in League A. Only England, on 14.5, and Spain, on 11.6, have more.
Italy have also created 19 big chances in the group stage, against 12 for Belgium. Pio Esposito has four goals in this year's Nations League campaign.
Italy have scored first in six of their last 10 competitive games. They have also opened the scoring in seven of their last eight meetings with Belgium.
The winners of the quarterfinal ties will be decided in March.
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