Meanwhile, Belgium head coach Domenico Tedesco acknowledged the difficulties his side faced. "We really struggled, and the red card helped us enormously," he said

After Luciano Spalletti's Italy won two games in a row in the UEFA Nations League against France and Israel in September, the Azzurri are back on the pitch and will face Belgium Thursday and Israel next Monday.

Italy and Belgium played out an entertaining Nations League draw at the Stadio Olimpico. The hosts went ahead after 59 seconds through Andrea Cambiaso and doubled their lead when Cambiaso had a shot saved and Mateo Retegui netted a rebound.