Spain thrash Turkey as midfielder nets hat-trick, perfect in qualifiers | OneFootball

Spain is going full steam ahead in the European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. This Sunday, the national team defeated Turkey 6-0 at the Torku Arena in Konya, Turkey. Pedri scored twice, Merino three times, and Ferrán Torres also found the net.

Standings

Spain – 1st place in Group E, with 6 points (two wins in two games) Turkey – 3rd place in Group E, with 3 points (one win and one loss)

The match

Spain opened the scoring just five minutes into the first half. Pedri was played in on the left, cut inside, and shot into the corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

At the 21st minute, it was Merino’s turn to find the net. The midfielder took advantage of a great Spanish team play and struck first-time to score a beautiful goal. The number 6 scored again at the 45th minute, after a precise cross from Pedri.

2nd half

Spain turned the win into a rout seven minutes into the second half. On a quick counterattack, Yamal received from Pedri and set up Ferrán Torres perfectly, who finished firmly to score the fourth.

But the night truly belonged to Merino. The Arsenal player completed his hat-trick in the 12th minute with another stunning goal. The midfielder surged through the middle and, from outside the box, fired into the top corner.

Even with the lopsided score, the visitors didn’t take their foot off the gas. With the clock at 17 minutes, Oyarzabal made a beautiful solo run through the middle and put Pedri one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The Barcelona midfielder then simply slotted it into the corner to seal the score.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.