Spain 3-0 Bulgaria: World Cup qualifying opens with statement win in Sofia

A statement start in Sofia

Five minutes into their World Cup qualifying opener, Spain were already in front, and from there they never looked back. A calm finish from Mikel Oyarzabal set the tone for a commanding 3-0 win over Bulgaria at Vasil Levski National Stadium, a result that puts Luis de la Fuente’s side on top of Group E on goal difference.

The move for the opener summed up Spain’s night: sharp, quick, and clean. Lamine Yamal burst down the right, drew defenders, and reset the play at the edge of the box. Martín Zubimendi picked the pass, Oyarzabal took one touch to open his body, and slotted low into the corner. Bulgaria were chasing from the start in a game that tilted Spain’s way in almost every metric.

Spain doubled the lead on the half hour through Marc Cucurella, who stepped forward from defense and finished a flowing attack. Eight minutes later, Mikel Merino made it three, timing his run to meet a cut-back and sweep the ball home. By halftime, the contest was all but settled.

Possession told the story: Spain held 67% of the ball, Bulgaria just 33%. The visitors fired 24 shots, 10 on target, and earned six corners. Bulgaria managed four efforts with two on target, their best looks falling to Ivaylo Chochev and Marin Petkov. Spain’s goalkeeper had little to do beyond routine work, while Bulgarian keeper Svetoslav Vutsov kept the scoreline respectable with a string of saves.

Spain’s right side was a recurring problem for Bulgaria. Yamal’s acceleration and close control kept the hosts pinned, and his decision-making in tight spots created lanes for Pedri and Zubimendi to pass through. The first goal grew from that pattern. The third came from the same pressure: constant rotations on the flanks pulled Bulgaria to the wings, leaving gaps for late runners like Merino.

Even at 3-0, Spain kept pushing. Dean Huijsen, stepping into advanced positions on set pieces, had a chance. Pedri tested Vutsov from range. Yamal flashed a cross-shot that skimmed past the far post. If not for the Bulgarian keeper, the margin would have been larger.

Spain’s edge showed up in their aggressiveness too. They committed 18 fouls to Bulgaria’s six and picked up the game’s only yellow card under the watch of referee Srdjan Jovanovic. That tally wasn’t about sloppiness; it was the price of pressing high and counter-pressing early. When Bulgaria tried to break, Spain’s first reaction was to swarm the ball.

Here are the key numbers at a glance:

• Score: Bulgaria 0-3 Spain (Oyarzabal 5’, Cucurella 30’, Merino 38’)
• Possession: Bulgaria 33% – 67% Spain
• Shots (on target): Bulgaria 4 (2) – 24 (10) Spain
• Corners: Bulgaria 1 – 6 Spain
• Fouls: Bulgaria 6 – 18 Spain; Yellow cards: Bulgaria 0 – 1 Spain
• Referee: Srdjan Jovanovic; Venue: Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia

There was also control without the ball. Spain’s back line stayed compact, full-backs stepping tight without leaving gaps behind. Cucurella’s goal highlighted his freedom to push on, but he balanced that with smart recovery runs. On the other flank, Spain funneled play wide, then closed passing lanes into the box. Bulgaria’s clearest looks came from quick switches or second balls after set pieces, and even those were smothered fast.

Midfield was where Spain really pulled away. Zubimendi dictated tempo, keeping the ball moving with simple touches that wore Bulgaria out. Pedri found pockets between the lines, threading passes into the channels. Merino offered the vertical threat, arriving late into the box to finish one attack and threaten another soon after. That triangle—control, creativity, and timing—was the foundation of Spain’s dominance.

Bulgaria still had moments. Chochev pounced on a loose ball and forced a save. Petkov found space on the counter and let fly. But Spain’s structure funneled those chances into low-percentage zones. And when the shots did come, they were often under pressure or from distance. The Spanish goalkeeper’s calm night said plenty about the visitors’ defensive organization.

Up front, Oyarzabal’s early strike did more than open the scoring; it changed the game’s tone. Bulgaria had to step out, and that’s when Spain are at their slickest—drawing a line of four or five to one side, then flipping the ball into the weak space. Yamal thrived there, especially in the first half, when he committed defenders and opened lanes for cut-backs. It’s why so many of Spain’s final balls were flat and driven, inviting those late runs that Bulgaria struggled to track.

By the final whistle, it felt like a complete away performance: early goal, control through midfield, chances built from the flanks, and a defense that rarely wobbled. It was practical and precise rather than flashy, but that’s what gets you through qualifying.

Group E picture and what comes next

Spain start Group E with three points and a +3 goal difference, level with Turkey, who also won their opener. That puts extra weight on Sunday’s meeting between the two leaders. It’s an early test of Spain’s ceiling in this campaign: can they carry the same control against a rival likely to press higher and counter faster than Bulgaria?

There’s still room for sharper finishing—24 shots for three goals is a strong output, but the chances were there for more. De la Fuente will like the balance he saw: a steady base, creative width, and midfield runners adding goals. He’ll also note the discipline of the press, even with the higher foul count. Those details matter against better opposition.

For Bulgaria, the short turnaround to face Georgia is a chance to reset. Vutsov’s saves were a positive, and the few looks Chochev and Petkov manufactured show there’s something to build on if they can connect midfield to attack quicker. The bigger fix is the space they conceded between lines. Against Georgia, tightening that gap and reducing cheap turnovers has to be the first step.

The stakes are clear this early: in a short group stage, slips cost you. Spain got the start they wanted, kept a clean sheet, and banked the kind of away win that sets a baseline. The performance matched the scoreline, and the message to the rest of the group was simple: catch us if you can.

One last note for context: this was a classic away-day template from Spain—front-foot football, relentless pressure, and just enough ruthlessness in both boxes. If they bring the same energy into the clash with Turkey, Sunday could feel like a swing game in the race for the top spot.

For all the big names involved, the difference on the night came down to basics executed well. That’s often what separates favorites from the pack in qualifiers. And in Sofia, in Spain vs Bulgaria, the favorites looked the part.