Mikel Merino scored twice as Spain thrashed Bulgaria 4-0 in Valladolid to move within touching distance of 2026 World Cup qualification. The Arsenal midfielder continued his stunning form for club and country, while Mikel Oyarzabal and an own goal from Atanas Chernev completed the rout as La Roja equalled their record 29-match unbeaten run in competitive fixtures.
Merino the hero as Spain crush Bulgaria
Spain extended their flawless run in World Cup qualifying with another emphatic display — and once again, Mikel Merino was the difference-maker. The Arsenal star scored two towering headers to lead La Roja to a commanding 4-0 victory over Bulgaria at the Estadio Municipal José Zorrilla.
The hosts dominated from the opening whistle, dictating play with fluid possession and constant movement. Pedri, pulling the strings from midfield, was in inspired form — slicing through Bulgaria’s defence with precision passes. He came close to scoring himself, clipping the bar after a delightful one-two, before setting up the move that led to the opener.
After a flurry of missed chances, Spain finally broke through in the 35th minute. Pedri’s clever pass found Robin Le Normand, who nodded the ball across for Merino to power home with trademark authority. The goal settled Spain’s nerves, and they could easily have doubled their lead before the break had Samu Aghehowa or Alex Baena shown more composure in front of goal.
Arsenal man strikes again as Spain’s dominance continues
Spain came out just as relentless after half-time, and Merino was once again the man to make the difference. On the hour mark, he met Alex Grimaldo’s perfect cross from the left, guiding a powerful header beyond Bulgaria keeper Svetoslav Vutsov to make it 2-0. The effort marked his sixth goal in four qualifiers — remarkable numbers for a midfielder — and underlined his growing importance for both club and country.
The third goal came in unfortunate fashion for the visitors, as Atanas Chernev turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Borja Iglesias. Spain added a final flourish in stoppage time when Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted a penalty to seal the 4-0 win.
Merino’s unstoppable rise for club and country
Merino’s form has been sensational since joining Arsenal, and he’s carried that momentum onto the international stage. His brace against Bulgaria took him to 10 goals in 39 caps — a remarkable tally for a central midfielder — and further strengthened his case to be a guaranteed starter for Luis de la Fuente at next summer’s World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Mikel is becoming one of our most complete players,” De la Fuente said post-match. “He has intelligence, power, and that rare ability to turn small chances into goals.
The result also saw Spain equal the 29-match unbeaten record set by their golden generation between 2007 and 2009 — a run that culminated in Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 glory. With qualification now all but secured, the reigning European champions are showing once again why they remain among the world’s elite.
Strikers misfire as Merino steals the show
While Merino’s clinical finishing sealed the victory, Spain’s out-and-out forwards endured a frustrating night. Youngster Aghehowa missed two gilt-edged chances before being replaced by Borja Iglesias, who also squandered opportunities. At the other end, Kiril Despodov failed to convert Bulgaria’s few openings, wasting their best chance late on with a weak shot wide of Unai Simón’s goal.
In the end, it didn’t matter. Spain’s midfield dominance — led by Pedri, Baena, and the unstoppable Merino — ensured another commanding performance that keeps their perfect record intact and their eyes firmly set on North America 2026.
