Match report
Belgium stepped their preparations for the fast-approaching Qatar World Cup up a gear on Thursday, courtesy of a hard-fought win over Wales.
Roberto Martinez’s men returned to action a short time ago.
Sitting adrift of table-topping Netherlands in the Nations League League A Group 4 table, the Red Devils played host to Rob Page’s Wales, aware that a three-point haul would all but secure their status as, at the very least, group runners-up.
And, when all was said and done, emerge triumphant is precisely what the evening’s hosts managed.
Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, unsurprisingly, proved the star of the show, opening the game’s scoring inside ten minutes before laying on Michy Batshuayi’s result-clinching strike shortly before the interval.
Wales, to their credit, did manage to pull one back early in the 2nd-half of action, sparking hope of a potential comeback on the part of Page’s troops.
Belgium, though, ultimately held on, leaving their opponents dead bottom of the League A Group 4 table, with just a solitary point to their names.
Player ratings
Belgium
Thibaut Courtois - 6
Zeno Debast - 5.5
Toby Alderweireld - 6
Jan Vertonghen - 5.5
Thomas Meunier - 5.5
Youri Tielemans - 6
Axel Witsel - 7
Yannick Carrasco - 6.5
Kevin De Bruyne - 9
Eden Hazard - 6
Michy Batshuayi - 7.5
Scotland
Wayne Hennessey - 5
Chris Mepham - 6.5
Joe Rodon - 5.5
Rhys Norrington-Davies - 6
Connor Roberts - 6
Ethan Ampadu - 6
Matt Smith - 5.5
Neco Williams - 7
Brennan Johnson - 6.5
Daniel James - 6
Kieffer Moore - 7
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