Belgium vs. Italy lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news and injuries: Lukaku captains Red Devils with De Bruyne absent

Belgium and Italy face off in Brussels in UEFA Nations League action on November 14.

The two sides are battling for a place in the quarterfinal phase of the competition with two games left to play each in League A Group 2.

The current international window is the third break from the domestic schedule this season. Clubs across Europe already feeling the strain of the packed schedule hope their key players return injury-free.

A spot in the quarterfinals also has the potential to disrupt 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying as it will mean participating sides starting their qualification cycle later in groups of four in September 2025.

Nations League quarterfinals and finals take place in March and June 2025, when countries in five-team qualifying groups will play their first four World Cup preliminaries.

MORE: UEFA Nations League fixtures, results, schedule and format for European international football competition

Belgium vs. Italy lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news

Belgium head coach Domenico Tedesco is still without captain Kevin De Bruyne as the star playmaker works his way back to full fitness at Manchester City.

However, there is some positive fitness news, with Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku back after missing the past four games for his national team.

Lukaku captains Belgium in De Bruyne's absence, with Leandro Trossard joining him in attack. Jeremy Doku (thigh) is absent as Tedesco aims to end a run of three successive losses in the Nations League.

Belgium (4-2-3-1, right to left): Casteels (GK) — Castagne, Zebast, Faes, Theate — Mangala, Engels, Onana — Trossard, Openda, De Cuyper — Lukaku

Belgium subs: Vermeeren, Vandevoordt, Sels, Lukebakio, Mbangula, Sardella, Mangala, Bakayoko, Al-Dakhil, Lokonga, Smets

Italy have picked up 10 points from their four Nations League games this season and Luciano Spalletti's team are in a strong position to reach the quarterfinals.

However, he makes a few changes from the the 4-1 win over Israel last time out. Nicolo Rovella starts in the centre of midfield, with Alessandro Buongiorno in for the injured Riccardo Calafiori in defence.

Inter Milan star Davide Frattesi is the man in form for Spalletti with three goals in his past four games for the Azzurri.

Italy (3-5-1-1, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni — — Cambiaso, Frattesi, Rovella, Tonali, Dimarco — Barella — Retegui

Italy subs: Savona, Locatelli, Gatti, Maldini, Raspadori, Kean, Meret, Vicario, Okoli, Comuzzo, Udogie, Pisilli

Belgium vs. Italy live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this UEFA Nations League match across selected areas of the world's major regions: