Turkey vs. Belgium Live: De Bruyne and De Ketelaere Lead Belgium to 2-1 Lead

The Belgium national football team leads Turkey 2-1 at halftime in Izmir, keeping their hopes alive for a Nations League quarter-final berth.

Following a 20th-minute opening goal from Arda Güler, the Red Devils responded with quick strikes from Kevin De Bruyne and Charles De Ketelaere to turn the match around.

Heading into the 5th round of the UEFA Nations League, the stakes for Belgium were clear. According to RTL Info, the squad sits third in Group A1 with six points, trailing Italy and France, and requires a victory to remain in contention for the top-two finish necessary to advance to the quarter-finals. The match also carries long-term weight, as it has consequences for Euro 2028 qualification, as reported by RTL Info.

Mark Van Bommel Adjusts the Starting Eleven

Head coach Mark van Bommel made changes to his starting eleven for this away fixture. Maxim De Cuyper was preferred at left-back, a decision DHnet attributed to his offensive profile compared to Joaquin Seys. In the midfield, Nicolas Raskin stepped into the starting lineup to replace the suspended Roméo Lavia, while Jérémy Doku and Diego Moreira were also in the lineup, according to DHnet.

The Turkish side also saw a major tactical departure. As noted by DHnet, the Turkish coach opted to bench Hakan Çalhanoğlu, favoring Orkun Kökçü in the midfield. Ünal, who previously played for Genk, started as the striker for the hosts.

The Belgian squad arrived in Izmir without their all-time leading scorer, Romelu Lukaku. Van Bommel confirmed the striker was sidelined due to a hip injury, noting that the team chose not to risk his fitness.

“Romelu is still important to us, whether he starts or is on the bench,” van Bommel told Le Soir. “When he is on the bench, the opponent has to account for him if he comes on.”

First Half Momentum Shifts

The match began with a period of defensive instability for the visitors. At the 20th minute, Arda Güler broke the deadlock with a free-kick that found the top corner of the net, a moment RTL Info described as a “superb goal.”

Belgium’s response was immediate. In the 27th minute, Jérémy Doku created space on the left and delivered a pass to Kevin De Bruyne, who finished into the roof of the net to equalize.

Three minutes later, Charles De Ketelaere capitalized on Belgium’s momentum to put the visitors ahead. The two goals came on the team’s first two actions of the match, providing the Red Devils with a necessary boost in confidence.

The match continues in the second half, with the Belgian staff looking to maintain the defensive discipline they regained toward the end of the first period. With the score at 1-2, the result remains fluid as both teams adjust to the tactical shifts implemented by their respective coaching staffs.

The Belgian team is scheduled to conclude their Nations League group stage against Italy on Sunday at the King Baudouin Stadium for the 6th and final matchday of the group, as reported by Le Soir.

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