Eden Hazard on song as Belgium rout Scotland at Hampden Park

Updated 07/09/2018 at 21:11 GMT

International Friendly, Hampden Park - Scotland 0 Belgium 4 (Lukaku 28', Hazard 46', Batshuayi 52', 60')

Michy Batshuayi of Belgium celebrates scoring a goal with team mates Eden Hazard and Mousa Dembele during the International Friendly match between Scotland and Belgium at Hampden Park on September 7, 2018 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

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Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Michy Batshuayi all found the net as Belgium flattened Scotland in a comprehensive 4-0 friendly win at Hampden.

The World Cup semi-finalists out-classed the hosts from start to finish, reflected in the final scoreline. Hazard was the standout performer, scoring one and assisting one before being subbed off on the hour mark, but a number impressed for the Belgians in Glasgow.

Lukaku opened the scoring after 28 minutes after some slack possession play by John McGinn, with the Manchester United striker finishing in the nearly empty net. Hazard then added a second after the interval, thumping a shot through Craig Gordon at the near post.

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Belgium's striker Michy Batshuayi celebrates with Belgium's midfielder Thorgan Hazard (R) after scoring during the International friendly football match between Scotland and Belgium at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland on September 7, 2018.

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Batshuayi came off the bench to bag a brace, with Belgium once again making the most of some loose play on the ball by Scotland inside their own half. The Valencia forward got his second after winning the ball from Ryan Jack as well as the Scots shot themselves in the foot for a third time.

Belgium took their foot off the pedal after that fourth, and what proved to be final, goal, but they had already flexed their muscle by that point. Scotland start their Nations League campaign against Albania on Monday and on this basis, Alex McLeish has some thinking to do.

TALKING POINT

Will Alex McLeish stick with a back three for the Albania game? McLeish quite clearly wants his Scotland team to play out from the back. In Souttar, they have a centre back who can do that. The problem is that he looked to be the only one capable of bringing the ball out, with Scotland cheaply giving up possession twice in the build up to two Belgium goals. So will McLeish stick with the three-at-the-back system for next week’s Nations League opener against Albania? On this showing, they’re not ready to play in this way.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Eden Hazard (Belgium) He was only on the pitch for an hour, but that’s all Hazard required to put Scotland to the sword. It’s true that the hosts didn’t exactly help themselves with a number of elementary mistakes in defence and in possession, but in this form Hazard likely would have made an impression anyway. This is a Belgium team full of stars, but they revolve around the Chelsea attacker.

Belgium's midfielder Eden Hazard runs with the ball during the International friendly football match between Scotland and Belgium at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland on September 7, 2018

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PLAYER RATINGS

Scotland - Gordon 5, Fraser 7, Robertson 6, Souttar 6, Mulgrew 4, Tierney 5, McGinn 4, McDonald 5, Griffiths, McGregor 5, Armstrong 5. Subs - Russell 5, O’Donnell 5, Naismith 6, Jack 4, Shinnie 5, Snodgrass 5.

Belgium - Courtois 6, Boyata 6, Kompany 6, Vertonghen 7, Castagne 6, Tielemens 6, Dembele 8, T Hazard 6, Mertens 7, E Hazard 9, Lukaku 7. Subs - Vermaelen 5, Meunier 6, Carrasco 5, Vanaken 5, Batshuayi 8, Verstraete 5.

KEY MOMENTS

28’ GOAL! Scotland 0-1 Belgium: What a dreadful goal for Scotland to give away. McGinn gave up possession 25 yards out, allowing Dembele to play through Hazard, who squared for Lukaku to finish into the empty net with Gordon scrambling.

Belgium's striker Romelu Lukaku (L) celebrates with Belgium's midfielder Eden Hazard (C) and Belgium's midfielder Thorgan Hazard after scoring the opening goal of the International friendly football match between Scotland and Belgium at Hampden Park in Gl

Image credit: Getty Images

40’ OFF THE BAR! Kompany comes within inches of adding a second goal for Belgium, getting high from a corner kick to head an effort off the top of the Scottish crossbar.

46’ GOAL! Scotland 0-2 Belgium: What a goal. Hazard shifts the ball on to his left foot, his weaker side, and fires a shot through Gordon and into the back of the Scotland net. Belgium have a commanding lead now.

53’ GOAL! Scotland 0-3 Belgium: And there's a third goal for Belgium and it came from another Scotland mistake. Mulgrew's pass is picked off by Hazard, who plays through Batshuayi for the simple finish past Gordon.

60’ GOAL! Scotland 0-4 Belgium: It's happened again! This time it's Jack who gives up the ball 25 yards out from goal and Batshuayi makes no mistake in whipping a right-footed finish past Gordon. How many mistakes are Scotland going to make?