Sandro Tonali tapped in an early goal to give Italy a 1-0 away win over Belgium in the Nations League on Thursday, consolidating their top spot in Group A2.

Tonali scored his first goal for Italy and could have scored another in an impressive performance at the King Baudouin Stadium, although Belgium performed as well as they could in a fast-paced match.

Tonali took full advantage of Giovanni di Lorenzo’s pass after a slip by Belgian defender Maxim De Cuyper in the 11th minute to give Italy an early lead that they never relinquished despite a strong finish from the hosts.

The result lifted Italy to 13 points in the standings, three above France, who were simultaneously held at home by Israel in Paris.

Belgium’s slim hopes of a place in next March’s quarter-finals were ended by its inability to win.

The injury-hit home side kept Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma busy after enduring Italy’s dominance in the first half.

Tonali might have given the visitors a 2-0 lead on the stroke of half-time, but had a half-chance blocked after Andrea Cambiaso set him up.

Belgium looked much sharper from the start of the second half, although Italy had more opportunities to extend their lead.

Mateo Retegui got free on the counter-attack nine minutes after the break, but was denied by a one-handed stop from Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels.

Immediately afterwards there was a struggle in the Belgian penalty area, which eventually released defender Wout Faes.

“The boys did well as the pitch became very heavy in the second half, we lost some edge in possession and made a few too many misplaced passes,” Italy coach Luciano Spalletti told RAI Sport.

“As we said before the match, you have to hold the ball in places like this, that’s essential to take the pressure off and take control of the game. When Belgium pinned us back in our own half it was tough, but they fought like lions.”

The home side should have been level in the 78th minute, but captain Romelu Lukaku sent Timothy Castagne’s inviting header wide.

Lukaku, Belgium’s record scorer, played his first match for his country since the European Championship in mid-year and captained the team in the absence of Kevin de Bruyne.

Five minutes later, Faes headed against the post and set up another point throw from Castagne, but it was so close that Belgium avoided a second straight home defeat after beating France 2-1 in Brussels last month.

“We tried to put more pressure in the second half and we almost succeeded, but it was a shame that the ball just didn’t want to go in,” said Leandro Trossard, one of Belgium’s better players.

The defeat for Belgium will increase the pressure on coach Domenico Tedesco, whose team has now won one of its past seven matches.

Italy conclude their group campaign at home to France in Milan on Sunday, while Belgium and Israel battle to avoid bottom place in Budapest at the same time.