Spain opened their World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable win after beating Bulgaria 3-0 at the Vasil Levski National Stadium.
The visitors cruised ahead to take the lead at half-time with Mikel Oyarzabal, Marc Cucurella and Mikel Merino all getting on the scoresheet.
Spain had multiple chances to extend their advantage further after the break, but were denied by some solid saves from Bulgaria goalkeeper Svetoslav Vutsov.
Victory means Luis de la Fuente’s side sit top of Group E after winning their first qualifier and their attention now turns to a meeting with Turkey on Sunday, while Bulgaria face Georgia.
Both Spain and Bulgaria enjoyed early chances as Cucurella and Kristian Dimitrov both had shots blocked, but Spain took a swift lead when Oyarzabal sent them ahead just five minutes in.
Lamine Yamal broke into space for the visitors down the right flank before playing the ball back into the edge of the box, where Arsenal midfielder MartÃn Zubimendi was able to thread a neat pass in for Oyarzabal to stab into the bottom corner.
Zubimendi then went close himself as his header was well-saved by Vutsov and Radoslav Kirilov had a shot blocked by Pedro Porro before the Tottenham defender played the ball through to Yamal, who forced Vutsov to make another stop.
Cucurella then doubled Spain’s advantage on the half-hour mark when Yamal’s cross was cleared towards the Chelsea player, who was lurking just inside the area and he blasted a low strike past Vutsov.
Spain continued to exert their dominance and in the 38th minute a corner from Yamal was nodded home by Merino from close range.
Merino almost had a second moments later, but Emil Tsenov made a great intervention just before half-time to deny the Arsenal midfielder.
Vutsov was called into action immediately after the break to stop Yamal and the goalkeeper made another important save to tip a powerful effort from Merino onto the crossbar.
Oyarzabal and Merino both had shots blocked as Spain looked to extend their lead and Rodri came close, but Vutsov was able to make the save before Nico Williams sliced wide.
Como winger Jesús Rodriguez came on to make his Spain debut in the 79th minute and Bulgaria looked to snatch a late goal as Dean Huijsen intervened to stop Marin Petkov‘s dangerous strike in the last 10 minutes, but the visitors were able to see out a comfortable victory.
