The Red Devils were beaten 4-1 by the Dutch in their opening Nations League group match, inviting criticism and question marks over their No.2 FIFA ranking in world football.
But Roberto Martinez’s men delivered the perfect riposte as they hammered Poland at the Stade Roi Baudouin in Brussels.
Belgium went behind to a Robert Lewandowski goal on 28 minutes before levelling before the break through Axel Witsel.
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De Bruyne then made it 2-1 with a goal created by Eden Hazard, and was withdrawn on 75 minutes as he won cap number 91 for his country.
The Poles crumpled in the final half-hour as Brighton’s Leandro Trossard scored on 73 and 80 minutes and Wolves’ Leander Dendoncker added a fifth on 83.
Loïs Openda completed the rout in added time.
Elsewhere Nathan Ake was an unused sub as the Netherlands beat Wales 2-1 in Cardiff with a Wout Wieghorst winner deep into added time.
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s Ukraine continued their impressive return to action with a 1-0 win over Republic of Ireland with Viktor Tsygankov’s goal on 47 minutes enough to secure victory.
Zinchenko enjoyed a rare evening off as an unused sub.
