Belgium defeated Turkey 3–0 in Group 1 of League A at the UEFA Nations League on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Stade Maurice Dufrasne in Liège, Belgium. Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne scored twice alongside a Romelu Lukaku strike, lifting the Red Devils to six points in the standings behind group leader France.
Kevin De Bruyne Inspires Belgium Victory Over Turkey in Liège
Playing the third match of Group 1 in League A for the UEFA Nations League 2026/2027 season, the Red Devils controlled proceedings through veteran midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. De Bruyne opened the scoring in the 10th minute by exchanging a one-two with Dodi Lukebakio, sliding his shot through the legs of defender Abdulkerim Bardakci and past goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır.
The hosts maintained pressure throughout the first half. Lukebakio tested Çakır with an effort that the Turkish goalkeeper turned away, while Turkey’s Merih Demiral sent a close-range shot over the crossbar after collecting a cross from Zeki Çelik. On the other end, Turkey threatened through Arda Güler, whose two attempts were comfortably gathered and blocked by Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens, according to match records from kalteng.antaranews.com.
Second-Half Goals Secure Three Points at Stade Maurice Dufrasne
Belgium doubled their advantage on the hour mark when Youri Tielemans intercepted possession and fed De Bruyne near the edge of the penalty area. De Bruyne curled a precise strike into the top left corner of Çakır’s net in the 59th minute, leaving the visiting defense static and extending the lead to 2–0.
Romelu Lukaku put the result beyond doubt in the 76th minute. Charles De Ketelaere delivered a sharp low cross from the flank, allowing Lukaku to tap the ball home from close range. The 3–0 scoreline held until the final whistle, despite late efforts from Turkey Ferdi Kadıoğlu that missed the target. The win moved Belgium to six points from three matches, trailing group leaders France by a single point, while Turkey remained at the bottom of the group standings without a point.
De Bruyne Reaches 201 Career Goals
The two goals against Turkey marked a significant personal milestone for De Bruyne. According to statistics cited by Bleacher Report, the midfielder reached his 201st career goal in professional football, bringing his international tally for Belgium to 40 goals. The 35-year-old playmaker has accumulated goals across stints with Manchester City, Wolfsburg, Genk, Werder Bremen, and Napoli.
The result keeps Belgium in contention for the League A Group 1 knockout stages. Pontianak Post noted prior to kickoff that Belgium had won only one of their previous seven meetings against Turkey, adding historical weight to the comprehensive clean-sheet victory. Meanwhile, group rivals France played out a 1–1 draw against Italy at the Parc des Princes, leaving the French on seven points at the summit, as detailed by cnnindonesia.com.
Match Details and Starting Lineups
Both managers deployed strong sides for the high-stakes European fixture in Liège. Mark van Bommel’s Belgian setup relied on a balanced blend of experience and emerging talent, while the Turkish side featured rising stars in attacking midfield.
Belgium starting XI: Senne Lammens; Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper; Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken; Dodi Lukebakio, Kevin De Bruyne, Mika Godts; Charles De Ketelaere.
Turkey starting XI: Uğurcan Çakır; Zeki Çelik, Merih Demiral, Abdulkerim Bardakci; Oğuz Aydın, İsmail Yüksek, Bartuğ Elmaz, Ferdi Kadıoğlu; Arda Güler, Kerem Aktürkoğlu; Barış Alper Yılmaz.
Frequently Asked Questions About the UEFA Nations League Fixture
When and where was the match played? The fixture took place on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Stade Maurice Dufrasne in Liège, Belgium, kicking off locally in the evening.
Where do Belgium and Turkey stand in Group 1? Following the match, Belgium sits in second place in Group 1 of League A with six points from three games, one point behind group leader France. Turkey occupies the bottom position with zero points after three defeats.
What milestone did Kevin De Bruyne reach during the game? De Bruyne scored his 40th international goal for Belgium and his 201st career goal overall across his spells with club and country.
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