Kevin De Bruyne and Lukaku Score as Belgium Beats Turkey 3-0

Belgium defeated Turkey 3-0 on October 2, 2026, during the third matchday of the UEFA Nations League, securing their second victory under head coach Mark van Bommel. Kevin De Bruyne scored twice and Romelu Lukaku added a third goal at the Sclessin stadium in Liège, Sporza reported.

De Bruyne and Lukaku Lead Belgium to Victory

The match opened with Kevin De Bruyne scoring in the 10th minute after an individual effort that saw him combine with Dodi Lukebakio before placing the ball into the corner. De Bruyne doubled the lead in the 59th minute, striking a shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner following an assist from Youri Tielemans, according to Voetbalzone. Romelu Lukaku, who came on as a substitute in the 61st minute, finalized the scoring in the 75th minute by converting a cross from Charles De Ketelaere.

The build-up to the opening goal involved De Bruyne nutmegging defender Abdülkerim Bardakci before beating goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir. Throughout the first half, Belgium created significant pressure; Hans Vanaken saw a clever back-heel attempt saved by Cakir, and a strike from Lukebakio hit the post following a setup from Mika Godts. Turkey nearly leveled the score just before halftime, but Merih Demiral fired over the bar from close range after a corner kick. In the second half, Lukebakio struck the woodwork again before De Bruyne’s decisive second goal. Following the 3-0 lead, Lukaku nearly doubled his tally, embarking on a powerful solo run from his own half before curling a shot wide.

Mark Van Bommel Changes Starting Lineup

Bondscoach Mark van Bommel implemented several changes to his starting lineup for the encounter in Liège. According to GVA, the coach gave starting roles to Maxim De Cuyper, Dodi Lukebakio, and Hans Vanaken. Senne Lammens continued in goal, supported by a defensive line consisting of Brandon Mechele, Nathan Ngoy, and Timothy Castagne. The midfield featured Vanaken alongside Tielemans and De Bruyne. VoetbalFocus noted that Diego Moreira was unavailable for the match due to a suspension, while Jari De Busser, Kyriani Sabbe, Mandela Keita, and Matias Fernandez-Pardo were left out of the selection entirely.

Van Bommel’s bench included Leandro Trossard and goalkeeper Mike Penders, both of whom had been sidelined for the first two Nations League matches due to physical ailments; Trossard dealt with heel bone edema, while Penders recovered from a quadriceps injury. During the match, the coach utilized several substitutions, including Romeo Lavia replacing Lukebakio, and late introductions for Loïs Openda and Malick Fofana.

Discipline and Disciplinary Consequences

The victory came at a cost regarding team availability for the upcoming schedule. Both Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans received yellow cards during the match, which resulted in suspensions for the next fixture against France, Voetbalzone reported. Additionally, a late-match altercation involving Nathan Ngoy and Arda Güler resulted in both players receiving cautions. Despite the physical nature of the late stages, goalkeeper Senne Lammens maintained a clean sheet, notably saving a late free-kick attempt from Güler.

Other bookings in the match were issued to Dodi Lukebakio in the 27th minute, Abdülkerim Bardakci in the 56th minute, and Merih Demiral in the 71st minute.

Belgium Earns Second Nations League Victory

This win marks Belgium’s second victory in the Nations League group stage, following an earlier 2-0 win against Italy and a 1-0 loss to France, as documented by VoetbalFocus. For Turkey, the result leaves them searching for their first points of the campaign after previous losses to France (0-1) and Italy (1-4). The team currently holds two wins from three matches, representing a shift in momentum following their initial defeat in the tournament.