Chelsea
Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia has revealed why he left the field late in Belgium’s Nations League game against France. The midfielder played most of the match in Brussels before coming off in the closing stages, which initially raised fears that he had suffered another injury setback, as per latest injury news.
Romeo Lavia makes first Belgium start
Lavia was handed his first start for Belgium’s senior team on Monday night. It was an important moment for the 22-year-old, who has spent much of his club career trying to stay fit and build a regular run of games.
The midfielder had already made two senior appearances for his country, but he had never been selected from the beginning. He started against France and formed part of Belgium’s midfield alongside Youri Tielemans. Lavia remained on the pitch until the 85th minute before Nicolas Raskin replaced him. France then found a late winner through Michael Olise, who scored in the 88th minute to secure a 1-0 victory.
His withdrawal naturally caused some concern because fitness problems have interrupted his progress at Chelsea. He has struggled to put together long stretches of games since moving to London and is still working towards greater consistency. The situation, however, appears less worrying than it first seemed.
Lavia avoids fresh injury scare
As reported by The Standard, Lavia’s departure was linked to cramp rather than a new major muscle injury. That should come as welcome news for Chelsea, especially after the midfielder had worked hard to improve his fitness.
Lavia has played regularly under Xabi Alonso this season, which helped him earn a place in the Belgium national team**.** His injury history made his late withdrawal concerning, but he managed to play 85 minutes against France.
After the game, Lavia said he was proud of making his first Belgium start but disappointed by the result. Michael Olise’s late goal decided the match, although Lavia could still take positives from his lengthy appearance.
Chelsea Football Stadium - Stamford Bridge
Chelsea Football Stadium - Stamford Bridge
Lavia’s Chelsea stats for the 2025/26 season, as per FOTMOB;
Competition Appearances Duels Won % Defensive Contributions Tackles
Premier League 12 57.9% 37 8
FA Cup 3 29.4% 3 2
EFL Cup 1 83.3% 3 2
Champions League 4 50% 3 2
Club World Cup 4 66.7% 3 2
Chelsea will monitor Lavia closely
Lavia will now turn his attention back to Chelsea and the Premier League. Staying available could be important as he works on establishing himself as a dependable midfield option under Alonso.
As reported by Live Score, the France game marked Lavia’s first Belgium start after a lengthy wait for a bigger role with the national team. Getting through most of the match should give both the player and his club some encouragement.
Chelsea are still expected to keep an eye on his condition when he returns to club duty, but there is no current indication that the withdrawal will lead to another long absence. The timing is also helpful. Lavia managed to play until the 85th minute before cramp became an issue, rather than being forced off much earlier in the contest.
His continued availability could give Alonso more options in midfield as the season develops. Regular appearances would also help Lavia regain rhythm and confidence after the setbacks that have affected his career so far. For now, the result was a frustrating one for Belgium, but Lavia can take some positives from his landmark night. He will hope to build on the performance and carry that progress back into club football.
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