Turkey Spain result – Mikel Merino scores first hat-trick for La Roja in six-goal romp in World Cup qualifier

Mikel Merino scored a hat-trick as Spain gained control of FIFA World Cup qualification Group E following a 6-0 win against challengers Turkey.

Turkey came into the game unbeaten at home in two-and-a-half years under boss Vincenzo Montella.

A hostile Konya Buyuksehir Belediye Stadium was silenced with just six minutes on the clock when Pedri put La Roja ahead.

The European champions then turned on the style with Merino finishing a scintillating team move before sliding home his side’s third goal on the stroke of half-time.

Any hope Turkey had of getting back into the game was over eight minutes into the second half when substitute Ferran Torres made it 4-0.

Merino completed his hat-trick with just 57 minutes on the clock and Pedri sealed the win with a sixth.

La Roja are unbeaten in their last 27 competitive games and will be favourites to extend that run with home qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria next month.

The Spanish midfielder celebrated his first hat-trick for the national team with an incredible display. He will be back in Premier League action this weekend as Arsenal host Nottingham Forest on Saturday - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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The European champions are now in control in Group E after coming away from their hardest test on paper with a 6-0 victory.

Spain top the group on six points with Georgia second on three. Spain host Georgia and Bulgaria next month.

Turkey will now be hoping that Spain make a mistake or they will be targeting second place and a play-off spot.

That’s full-time. The home fans are unhappy, boos and jeers greet their players. Spain have been outstanding and blown their opponents away and run out 6-0 winners

A rare moment of optimism for Turkey as Guler catches his effort well from outside the box. However, a Spanish boot deflects the ball over.

The Chelsea defender has been in the thick of the action tonight. He wins the ball back near the corner flag and launches a counter-attack. However, the tiring defender gets caught on the ball and tackled.

With a long unbeaten home record the home fans were buoyant ahead of Spain’s visit. However, Turkey have been given a lesson in football and finishing by the European champions.

Yuksek is taken off and Ozcan will play the final eight minutes. The midfielder marks his entrance by making a foul.

The Arsenal midfielder has been outstanding tonight for the European champions.

It’s a nice piece of defending by Kadioglu who denied De Frutos a close-range effort. The off-side flag was up, but it was good defending.

The Spanish teenager is taken off for Morata;  Zubimendi makes way for Rodri.

The Spain substitutes are keen to get in on the act. De Frutos with a nice run out wide before feeding Lopez whose effort is deflected over. From the resulting corner Merino glances his header over the crossbar.

Lopez is introduced for Spain and replaces Oyarzabal. Spain also take off Pedri for De Frutos. For Turkey, Kokcu is on for Calhanoglu

The home side have changed both full-backs in an attempt to stop this onslaught.

Muldur is replaced by Celik; Elmali is off for Kadioglu

Another devastating counter-attack. Oyarzabal evades two challenges in midfielder and then finds the run of Pedri who simply dispatches his effort past the goalkeeper.

Yamal is again the provider as he threads the ball through to Torres. However, the substitute is tracked by Demiral who makes an important challenge.

It’s a hat-trick for Merino who has been truly outstanding. Yamal finds the midfielder and as Turkey back off Merino picks out the top corner.

In the blink of an eye Spain launch a blistering counter-attack with Torres winning the ball with a head. Pedri and Yamal exchange the ball before playing through Torres who nets with a low effort.

Another lovely piece of play with Torres linking up with Oyarzabal whose effort is blocked. Moments later Porro gets to the byline and finds Torres inside the box. However, Cakir is equal to his effort to prevent a fourth goal.