Spain 4-0 Bulgaria result - Mikel Merino at the double as La Roja remain perfect in World Cup qualifying Group E

Mikel Merino scored a brace of headers and Mikel Oyarzabal netted a late penalty as Spain thrashed Bulgaria 4-0 in Valladolid to make it four wins out of four in UEFA Group E of 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

There was simply no stopping Arsenal midfielder Merino, who scored either side of the break to make it six goals in four Group E outings and eight in his last eight Spain caps.

It was a night to forget for Bulgaria debutante Atanas Chernev, who put the ball in his own net after 80 minutes before Oyarzabal converted from the spot in second-half stoppage time.

Spain were utterly dominant throughout as they ended the encounter with a sumptuous 70% possession and registered 30 shots, including 11 on target.

Bulgaria, on the other hand, only managed three attempts and were completely unable to test Unai Simon. The only real positive for the visitors was the stunning display from goalkeeper Svetoslav Vutsov, who made seven saves to protect his side from embarrassment.

Luis de la Fuente's side proved they are formidable even without star players Lamine Yamal and Rodri, who were both pulled out of the squad injured at the start of the international break.

With tonight's win, Spain have now matched the national record of 29 successive matches without defeat, set between 2010 and 2013 under Vicente del Bosque.

Although yet to mathematically qualify for next summer's World Cup, Spain are now agonisingly close. Turkey's comfortable 4-1 win over Georgia tonight means first spot in Group E is yet to be secured.

The gap between the top spot after match four of six stands at three points. Spain can clinch qualification for the World Cup next month, when they take on Georgia and Turkey.

The hosts run riot at the Jose Zorrilla Stadium in Valladolid to win with ease.

Up steps Oyarzabal, who makes no mistake from the spot, lashing home into the bottom left corner to make it 4-0. Merino may feel hard done-by not to be given the opportunity to complete his hat-trick, but Oyarzabal was never going to give that up.

PENALTY FOR SPAIN!
Spain have a spot-kick as Merino is blatantly fouled in the area. Georgiev completely whipes out the midfielder.

Ilia Gruev, who hasn't played a single minute for Leeds United since August, is substituted for Andrian Kraev in what is Bulgaria's fifth and final change.

PINO NEARLY MAKES IT FOUR!
Crystal Palace star Yeremy Pino is next to test the goalkeeper but he's unable to find the net as his shot is saved at the near post.

Kristiyan Stoyanov is on for Stanislav Shopov to see out this clash.

Spain have a third as Aleix Garcia's low cross is diverted into his own net by defender Atanas Chernev. It's an unfortunate moment for the Bulgaria debutant. Game over.

Having already embarked on an astonishing 28-game unbeaten streak, Spain are now on track to match the national record of 29 successive matches without defeat, set between 2010 and 2013 under Vicente del Bosque. Two up with a quarter of an hour to go, surely Bulgaria can't deny Luis de la Fuente's men this historic feat.

Le Normand receives treatment for a knock to the face and is then replaced by Athletic Bilbao defender Daniel Vivian.

Spain are next to make a change as Pedri is taken off for Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios. Within seconds, Barrios shoots narrowly wide with his first involvement.

Bulgaria make a trio of attacking substitutions as Zdravko Dimitov, Vladimir Nikolov and Marin Petkov enter the field in place of Kirilov, Despodov and Minchev.

KIRILOV SHOOTS WIDE
Bulgaria are having a go here. Radoslav Kirilov forces a dive from Unai Simon but his shot, from no fewer than 25 yards, whistles wide of the right post.

Now two ahead, Luis de la Fuente brings on Aleix Garcia and Yeremy Pino for the final half an hour. Baena and Zubimendi make way.

Oh wow, that's a huge miss. Despodov so nearly gets Bulgaria back into the game but his shot bobbles wide of the left post. The striker had so much time to pick his spot. He looks devastated.

Merino scores yet again! What were we just saying? The Arsenal star puts Spain two ahead with another header, this time from an exquisite Alex Grimaldo cross. Merino now has eight goals in his last eight appearances for Spain, including six in the World Cup qualifiers.

Spain's second-half sub is certainly making his presence known! Iglesias has his second and third shots of the evening in quick succession, first forcing a save from 20 yards before heading just wide of the left post. Iglesias' wait for his first Spain goal could end tonight if he continues at this rate.

Spain go close to a second as Iglesias heads from close range but Vutsov is first to it. That's the Bulgaria goalkeeper's fifth save of the evening.

Mikel Merino simply cannot stop scoring for Spain! His first-half header was his fifth goal of this World Cup qualification campaign, putting him top of his nation's scoring charts in the competition.

Luis de la Fuente has hooked misfiring striker Samu Aghehowa, replacing him with Celta Vigo centre-forward Borja Iglesias, on for his fourth Spain cap.