Kevin De Bruyne shines while Lukaku trips in Nations League duel

In a Nations League match between Belgium and Turkey, Kevin De Bruyne displayed his class twice, while Romelu Lukaku made an unexpected fall. The Red Devils took the lead 1‑0 thanks to De Bruyne after ten minutes, and extended the lead to 2‑0 in the 59th minute. The duel, played on 2 October 2026, ended without further goals.

De Bruyne’s two strikes

Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring at ten minutes, then scored again in the 59th minute. Both goals came from the right wing, after which he placed the ball into the top corner. The second goal was described by the commentators as a “little masterpiece” by the best Belgian on the pitch.

Lukaku’s fall and the yellow cards

Romelu Lukaku fell shortly after the second goal, causing him to miss the ball briefly. Dodi Lukebakio received a yellow card in the 27th minute, followed by Youri Tielemans (30') and Abdülkerim Bardakci (56'). These cards underscored the physical intensity of the match.

The Turkish players also received cards: Kerem Aktürkoglu (56') and other substitutions followed, including Oguz Aydin and Ilhan Fakili. The Turkish supporters called for the dismissal of head coach Montella, but the Belgian fans cheered for De Bruyne’s two goals.

Match context and other details

The match was part of the UEFA Nations League, matchday 3, and was broadcast live on various platforms, including Facebook. The programme listed “Jupiler Pro League”, “Challenger Pro League”, “Champions League”, “Europa League” and “Conference League” as related competitions.

In addition to football, other sports were mentioned in the overview: cycling, tennis, Formula 1, basketball and cyclo‑cross. The event was presented as “LIVE – Nations League” with a focus on “More football”.

After the match the atmosphere remained tense; Turkey tried to come back with two corner kicks, but the Devils kept the ball well under control. The Belgian supporters celebrated the victory, while the Turkish fans expressed their frustration.