Spain 4-0 Bulgaria Player Ratings: Merino Rated 10/10 as His Masterclass Sees La Roja Cruise to a 4-0 Victory

What a demolition. From our perspective, this was a footballing lesson delivered by Spain at the Estadio Municipal José Zorrilla. They completely dismantled a helpless Bulgaria side, clinching a dominant 4-0 victory in this WC Qualification Europe encounter. The match felt less like a contest and more like an exhibition of Spanish attacking prowess. Bulgaria had no answers from the first whistle.

The star of the show, without a shadow of a doubt, was Mikel Merino. He was simply unplayable, bagging two goals and running the midfield with absolute authority. The pressure was relentless. Spain peppered the Bulgarian goal, and if not for their keeper, the scoreline could have been far uglier. This match will be remembered for Spain's fluid movement and Bulgaria's desperate defending, which eventually crumbled under the weight of an own goal and a late penalty.

It was a stark reminder of the gulf in class between the two nations. Spain looked confident and cohesive, playing with a swagger that suggested they knew the result was never in doubt. For Bulgaria, it's back to the drawing board after a truly chastening experience.

Here are Spain Vs Bulgaria Player Ratings

Spain Player Ratings vs Bulgaria

Here are Spain Player Ratings vs Bulgaria

Goalkeeper

Unai Simón - 6.5: Had one of the quietest nights of his career. He was a spectator for large parts of the game. He completed his passes well but was never truly tested by the Bulgarian attack. A clean sheet was the minimum expectation and he delivered it with no fuss.

Defenders

Pedro Porro - 7.0: A constant outlet on the right flank. He was always looking to get forward and delivered a few dangerous crosses. Defensively, he was untroubled and spent most of the match in the opposition half. His energy was impressive, though his final ball could have been a bit more consistent.

Robin Le Normand - 7.5: A very solid performance before his unfortunate injury. He was calm on the ball, with a 99% pass accuracy. He even provided the headed assist for Merino's first goal. It was a real shame to see him forced off in the 71st minute.

Aymeric Laporte - 7.5: A Rolls-Royce of a defender. He had an incredible 132 touches and completed 127 passes. He strolled through the game, breaking lines with his distribution and never looking rushed. His positioning was perfect, cutting out any potential danger before it began.

Alejandro Grimaldo - 8.0: What an attacking threat from left-back. He was a creative force, racking up an assist and creating four chances for his teammates. He overlapped with purpose all evening and his link-up play was a joy to watch. He did his defensive duties when required, which wasn't often.

Midfielders

Martín Zubimendi - 7.5: The anchor that allowed everyone else to shine. He was incredibly tidy in possession, completing 99% of his passes. He kept the play ticking over beautifully and recycled possession with intelligence. He was substituted just after the hour mark having done his job perfectly.

Pedri - 8.5: The conductor of the orchestra. He was everywhere, demanding the ball and dictating the tempo with 123 touches. We were sure he'd scored when his shot cannoned off the woodwork in the first half. He created three chances and was a constant thorn in Bulgaria's side before being given a rest.

Mikel Merino - 10: A perfect performance. From our perspective, this was one of the best individual displays we've seen in a long time. He scored two well-taken goals, won the late penalty, and created five chances. He was physically dominant, technically superb, and the undisputed man of the match. A truly flawless game.

Forwards

Mikel Oyarzabal - 8.0: A very busy and effective performance. He was a constant nuisance, linking up play intelligently and taking five shots. He kept his cool to tuck away the penalty for Spain's fourth goal. A very good all-round display from the attacker.

Samu Aghehowa - 4.5: It just wasn't his night. He had several good opportunities, including two big chances, but his finishing let him down. He seemed to be struggling to find his rhythm and it was no surprise when he was substituted at half-time. A disappointing outing for the young striker.

Álex Baena - 7.0: Very lively and always looking to make something happen. He took five shots and was a persistent threat cutting in from the left. His decision-making wasn't always perfect, losing the ball a few too many times, but his intent was always positive. A good, energetic display.

Substitutes

Borja Iglesias - 6.5: Came on at half-time and offered a different kind of threat up front. Had a couple of headed chances but couldn't find the net.

Aleix García - 6.0: Slotted into midfield seamlessly and kept the ball moving.

Yéremy Pino - 6.5: Looked sharp and direct after coming on, testing the keeper late on.

Pablo Barrios - 6.0: Replaced Pedri and kept the tempo high in the middle of the park.

Dani Vivian - 6.0: Came on for the injured Le Normand and saw the game out with little to do.

Manager

L. De la Fuente Castillo - 8.0: His game plan worked to perfection. His team selection was spot on, and they played with a style and intensity that Bulgaria simply couldn't handle. He used his substitutions well to rest key players. An easy day at the office.

Bulgaria Player Ratings vs Spain

Here are Bulgaria Player Ratings vs Spain

Goalkeeper

Svetoslav Vutsov - 7.5: This might seem high for a keeper who conceded four, but he was Bulgaria's best player by a mile. He made a staggering eight saves, including several spectacular stops to deny Spain. Without him, this could have easily been a 7-0 or 8-0 drubbing. He was let down by his defence time and again.

Defenders

Petko Hristov - 5.5: You can't fault his work rate. He made an incredible 18 clearances which shows just how much pressure the defence was under. He fought for everything but was part of a backline that was completely overwhelmed by Spain's movement and quality.

Atanas Chernev - 4.5: A torrid evening for the centre-back. He battled hard but was ultimately undone by the relentless pressure. The unfortunate own goal for Spain's third summed up his night. A day he will want to forget quickly.

Martin Georgiev - 4.0: A complete nightmare of a match. He was run ragged all game, lost possession 13 times, and looked out of his depth. To cap it all off, he gave away the late penalty with a clumsy challenge. The worst performer on the pitch from our perspective.

Dimitar Velkovski - 5.0: Tried his best to contain Spain's right-sided attacks but struggled. He was caught out of position a few times and his distribution was erratic. He made a couple of important clearances but it was a long and difficult night for him.

Midfielders

Ilia Gruev - 5.0: Completely bypassed in midfield. He chased shadows for most of the match as Pedri and Mikel Merino ran the show. He worked hard off the ball but couldn't get a foothold in the game. He was eventually substituted after a thankless task.

Filip Krastev - 7.0: The one bright spark in a dark performance for Bulgaria. He was the only player who looked comfortable on the ball and tried to make things happen. He created two chances and had an impressive 92% pass accuracy. He looked a class above his teammates.

Radoslav Kirilov - 5.0: Anonymous for most of his time on the pitch. He only had 13 touches in 67 minutes which says it all. He had one shot off target but offered very little going forward or defensively before being hooked.

Martin Minchev - 5.5: He worked hard and won a decent number of his duels, showing some fight. However, he struggled to provide any quality in possession and was largely ineffective as an attacking force. The game passed him by.

Stanislav Shopov - 5.0: Chased the ball tirelessly but had little impact on proceedings. He was tidy enough when he had it but couldn't influence the game in any meaningful way. His evening was cut short by an injury.

Forwards

Kiril Despodov - 5.0: An incredibly frustrating night for the captain. He was completely isolated up front, feeding on scraps. He had one missed big chance but was otherwise a spectator. You have to feel for a striker in a team that is so comprehensively outplayed.

Substitutes

Zdravko Dimitrov - 5.5: Brought on to offer some fresh legs but the game was already lost.

Marin Petkov - 5.5: Ran around a lot but couldn't change the flow of the match.

Vladimir Nikolov - 5.0: Had little opportunity to make an impact.

Kristiyan Stoyanov - N/A: Came on late for the injured Shopov.

Andrian Kraev - N/A: A very late substitute with the game over.

Manager

A. Dimitrov - 4.0: His team was set up to be defensive, but they had no plan to deal with Spain's midfield dominance. They were passive, disorganized, and completely outclassed tactically. He was powerless to stop the Spanish onslaught from the dugout.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Mikel Merino