Belgium Beats Turkey 3-0 in Nations League Group A1 Clash at Sclessin
Belgium defeated Turkey 3-0 on October 2, 2026, in a hard-fought Nations League Group A1 fixture at Stade Maurice Dufrane in Liège, as reported by nieuwsblad.be. Kevin De Bruyne scored twice and Romelu Lukaku added a late third goal to secure the three points for coach Mark van Bommel’s side.
The final scoreline masks a much more difficult match than the numbers suggest.
Kevin De Bruyne Nets Two Goals to Overcome Turkish Pressure
Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring in the tenth minute after playing a quick one-two with Dodi Lukebakio before slipping past his defender to finish past goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, voetbalzone.nl reported. It marked his 39th international goal according to sporza.be, though nieuwsblad.be later noted the milestone as his 40th for the national team.
Despite the early lead, the Belgian midfield struggled to control the pace against an energetic Turkish side. Merih Demiral missed a clear opportunity for Turkey before halftime, while Belgium hit the woodwork through Lukebakio. In the second half, De Bruyne doubled the lead in the 64th minute by curling a strike into the top corner from outside the penalty area, as detailed by voetbalkrant.com.
Romelu Lukaku Secures the Win After Starting on the Bench
Coach Mark van Bommel left Romelu Lukaku on the bench at kickoff, opting for Charles De Ketelaere as the central striker, according to gva.be. Lukaku entered the match as a substitute in the second half and sealed the victory in the 77th minute by turning in a cross from De Ketelaere following a quickly taken free kick, as reported by nieuwsblad.be.
The 94th-tier international goal served as an immediate response from Lukaku following a week of scrutiny regarding his club status with Fenerbahçe. Nieuwsblad.be noted that the striker embraced the opportunity to quiet doubters on the field.
- Final Score: Belgium 3, Turkey 0
- Goalscorers: Kevin De Bruyne (10′, 64′), Romelu Lukaku (77′)
- Venue: Maurice Dufrane Stadium (Sclessin), Liège
- Competition: UEFA Nations League, Group A1
- Group Points: Belgium holds six points after three matches, following earlier wins and losses against Italy and France.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Match
Why did Romelu Lukaku start on the bench against Turkey?
Coach Mark van Bommel chose to start Charles De Ketelaere in the central striker role to provide a more dynamic attacking presence, keeping Lukaku among the substitutes until the second half, according to gva.be and voetbalkrant.com.
Which players received suspensions for upcoming fixtures?
Both Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans picked up yellow cards during the match against Turkey, resulting in suspensions that rule them out for Belgium’s next fixture against France, as reported by voetbalzone.nl.
Who started in goal for Belgium during the Nations League match?
Senne Lammens retained his position as the starting goalkeeper in the continued absence of Thibaut Courtois, playing the full match against Turkey on October 2, 2026, according to gva.be.