FIFA World Cup Qualifying - UEFA

Bulgaria vs Spain, 2026 World Cup Qualifying - UEFA, Group Stage

· FIFA World Cup Qualifying - UEFA
Bulgaria
    FT
    0 - 3
    Spain
    • 5': Mikel Oyarzabal
    • 30': Marc Cucurella
    • 38': Mikel Merino

    Spain begin World Cup qualifying with win against Bulgaria

    Spain opened their World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable win after beating Bulgaria 3-0 at the Vasil Levski National Stadium.

    Match Timeline

    • 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
    • 0': First Half begins.
    • 1': Foul by Emil Tsenov (Bulgaria).
    • 1': Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 2': Attempt blocked. Marc Cucurella (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
    • 4': Aleksandar Kolev (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 4': Foul by Robin Le Normand (Spain).
    • 5': Goal! Bulgaria 0, Spain 1. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Martín Zubimendi with a through ball.
    • 11': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Kristian Dimitrov.
    • 12': Attempt saved. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Svetoslav Vutsov (Bulgaria). Assisted by Martín Zubimendi with a headed pass.
    • 13': Foul by Aleksandar Kolev (Bulgaria).
    • 13': Robin Le Normand (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 16': Attempt missed. Pedri (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
    • 19': Aleksandar Kolev (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 19': Foul by Robin Le Normand (Spain).
    • 20': Attempt blocked. Radoslav Kirilov (Bulgaria) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Emil Tsenov.
    • 20': Corner, Bulgaria. Conceded by Pedro Porro.
    • 21': Attempt missed. Ivaylo Chochev (Bulgaria) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kristian Dimitrov with a cross.
    • 22': Attempt saved. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner by Svetoslav Vutsov (Bulgaria). Assisted by Pedro Porro with a through ball.
    • 23': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Svetoslav Vutsov.
    • 23': Attempt missed. Dean Huijsen (Spain) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Pedri with a cross following a corner.
    • 24': Handball by Aleksandar Kolev (Bulgaria).
    • 26': Attempt missed. Dean Huijsen (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
    • 28': Foul by Aleksandar Kolev (Bulgaria).
    • 28': Robin Le Normand (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 29': Delay in match because of an injury Pedri (Spain).
    • 30': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 30': Goal! Bulgaria 0, Spain 2. Marc Cucurella (Spain) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner.
    • 33': Attempt blocked. Pedri (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marc Cucurella.
    • 33': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Ilia Gruev.
    • 34': Attempt missed. Pedro Porro (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
    • 35': Foul by Nico Williams (Spain).
    • 35': Ilia Gruev (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 37': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Fabian Nürnberger.
    • 37': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Svetoslav Vutsov.
    • 38': Goal! Bulgaria 0, Spain 3. Mikel Merino (Spain) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lamine Yamal with a cross following a corner.
    • 39': Aleksandar Kolev (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
    • 39': Foul by Robin Le Normand (Spain).
    • 39': Robin Le Normand (Spain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
    • 42': Attempt saved. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Svetoslav Vutsov (Bulgaria).
    • 42': Attempt blocked. Mikel Merino (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mikel Oyarzabal.
    • 42': Offside, Spain. Lamine Yamal is caught offside.
    • 45': Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
    • 45'+1': Attempt saved. Mikel Merino (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Svetoslav Vutsov (Bulgaria). Assisted by Marc Cucurella.
    • 45'+2': First Half ends, Bulgaria 0, Spain 3.
    • 45': Second Half begins Bulgaria 0, Spain 3.
    • 45': Substitution, Bulgaria. Marin Petkov replaces Vasil Panayotov.
    • 45': Substitution, Spain. Pau Cubarsí replaces Robin Le Normand.
    • 47': Emil Tsenov (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 47': Foul by Mikel Merino (Spain).
    • 48': Attempt saved. Lamine Yamal (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Svetoslav Vutsov (Bulgaria). Assisted by Nico Williams.
    • 49': Offside, Bulgaria. Radoslav Kirilov is caught offside.
    • 51': Foul by Dean Huijsen (Spain).
    • 51': Marin Petkov (Bulgaria) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 52': Attempt blocked. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
    • 52': Aleksandar Kolev (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 52': Foul by Lamine Yamal (Spain).
    • 53': Attempt saved. Mikel Merino (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner by Svetoslav Vutsov (Bulgaria). Assisted by Nico Williams.
    • 53': Foul by Martín Zubimendi (Spain).
    • 53': Ilia Gruev (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 54': Offside, Bulgaria. Radoslav Kirilov is caught offside.
    • 54': Foul by Dean Huijsen (Spain).
    • 54': Marin Petkov (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 55': Attempt blocked. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mikel Merino.
    • 56': Attempt saved. Nico Williams (Spain) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Svetoslav Vutsov (Bulgaria). Assisted by Mikel Oyarzabal.
    • 59': Attempt blocked. Mikel Merino (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pedri.
    • 60': Foul by Ivaylo Chochev (Bulgaria).
    • 60': Pedri (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
    • 62': Aleksandar Kolev (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 62': Foul by Pau Cubarsí (Spain).
    • 62': Substitution, Spain. Rodri replaces Martín Zubimendi.
    • 62': Substitution, Spain. Dani Carvajal replaces Pedro Porro.
    • 62': Substitution, Bulgaria. Rosen Bozhinov replaces Fabian Nürnberger.
    • 63': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Ivaylo Chochev.
    • 64': Attempt saved. Rodri (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner by Svetoslav Vutsov (Bulgaria). Assisted by Lamine Yamal with a cross.
    • 68': Attempt missed. Nico Williams (Spain) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dean Huijsen.
    • 70': Foul by Nico Williams (Spain).
    • 70': Marin Petkov (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 71': Substitution, Spain. Dani Olmo replaces Nico Williams.
    • 71': Substitution, Bulgaria. Vladimir Nikolov replaces Aleksandar Kolev.
    • 72': Substitution, Bulgaria. Martin Minchev replaces Radoslav Kirilov.
    • 72': Foul by Marc Cucurella (Spain).
    • 72': Marin Petkov (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 73': Attempt blocked. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dani Olmo.
    • 74': Foul by Marc Cucurella (Spain).
    • 74': Vladimir Nikolov (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 74': Offside, Bulgaria. Vladimir Nikolov is caught offside.
    • 75': Foul by Dani Olmo (Spain).
    • 75': Marin Petkov (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 76': Foul by Rodri (Spain).
    • 76': Marin Petkov (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
    • 77': Offside, Bulgaria. Vladimir Nikolov is caught offside.
    • 79': Substitution, Spain. Jesús Rodríguez replaces Lamine Yamal.
    • 81': Attempt blocked. Marin Petkov (Bulgaria) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Vladimir Nikolov.
    • 81': Attempt blocked. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
    • 81': Substitution, Bulgaria. Georgi Milanov replaces Ivaylo Chochev.
    • 87': Foul by Dani Olmo (Spain).
    • 87': Ilia Gruev (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 89': Dani Carvajal (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 89': Foul by Martin Minchev (Bulgaria).
    • 90': Foul by Rodri (Spain).
    • 90': Vladimir Nikolov (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 90': Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
    • 90'+3': Second Half ends, Bulgaria 0, Spain 3.
    • 0': Match ends, Bulgaria 0, Spain 3.

    Statistics

    https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/countries/500/esp.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=originESP BULhttps://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/countries/500/bul.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=origin
    17 Fouls 6
    1 Yellow Cards 0
    0 Red Cards 0
    1 Offsides 4
    6 Corner Kicks 1
    0 Saves 8
    77.8 Possession 22.2
    24 SHOTS 3
    12 ON GOAL 0
    0.5 On Target % 0.0
    0 Penalty Goals 0
    0 Penalty Kicks Taken 0
    753 Accurate Passes 159
    818 Passes 228
    0.9 Pass Completion % 0.7
    3 Accurate Crosses 1
    15 Crosses 5
    0.2 Cross % 0.2
    40 Long Balls 60
    32 Accurate Long Balls 22
    0.8 Long Balls % 0.4
    7 Blocked Shots 2
    3 Effective Tackles 9
    5 Tackles 17
    0.6 Tackle % 0.5
    3 Interceptions 4
    12 Effective Clearances 35
    12 Clearances 35

    Game Information

    Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifying - UEFA

    Venue: Vasil Levski National Stadium
    Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
    Attendance: 40,582

    WCQ - UEFA Table

    # TEAM GP GD PTS
    1 Spain 2 +9 6
    2 Georgia 2 +2 3
    3 Turkey 2 -5 3
    4 Bulgaria 2 -6 0
    Full Table

    Line-Ups

    BUL Bulgaria (4-3-3)

    No. Name
    21 Svetoslav Vutsov (GK)
    13 Emil Tsenov
    5 Kristian Dimitrov
    7 Fabian Nürnberger
    14 Anton Nedyalkov
    18 Ivaylo Chochev
    4 Ilia Gruev
    15 Vasil Panayotov
    9 Aleksandar Kolev
    10 Radoslav Kirilov
    12 Nikolay Minkov Minkov
    Bulgaria Substitutes:
    Rosen Bozhinov, Zhivko Atanasov, Ivan Dyulgerov, Hristiyan Petrov, Martin Minchev, Kiril Despodov, Marin Petkov, Andrian Kraev, Lukas Petkov, Vladimir Nikolaev Nikolov, Dimitar Mitov, Georgi Milanov.

    ESP Spain (4-3-3)

    No. Name
    23 Unai Simón (GK)
    5 Dean Huijsen
    3 Robin Le Normand Yellow Card
    22 Marc Cucurella
    12 Pedro Porro
    18 Martín Zubimendi
    20 Pedri
    6 Mikel Merino
    21 Mikel Oyarzabal
    17 Nico Williams
    19 Lamine Yamal
    Spain Substitutes:
    Dani Carvajal, Jesús Rodriguez, Álex Remiro, Álvaro Morata, David Raya, Aleix García, Alejandro Grimaldo, Rodri, Dani Olmo, Pau Cubarsí, Fermín López, Ferran Torres.

    WCQ - UEFA News

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