Verdict: Total home goals over 3.5
Best odds: 4/9
Bookmaker: 888sport
Spain will aim to extend their flawless run in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers when they host Bulgaria at Estadio José Zorrilla in Valladolid on Tuesday.
La Roja currently top Group E with nine points from three matches, while Bulgaria sit at the foot of the table without a point at the halfway stage of the campaign.
Spain
Spain have reacted impressively since their penalty shootout loss to Portugal in June’s UEFA Nations League final.
Luis de la Fuente’s side opened their World Cup qualifying journey with a commanding 3-0 win over Bulgaria away from home, followed by a 6-0 thrashing of Turkey in their second September fixture.
That momentum continued on Saturday, when they defeated Georgia 2-0 at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero in Elche. Yeremy Pino and Mikel Oyarzabal both found the net, either side of Ferran Torres missing a penalty, as Spain scored at least twice in a match for the fourth time in a 10-game streak.
With three wins from three and nine points collected, Spain hold a three-point lead over Turkey and sit six clear of Georgia, putting themselves in an excellent position to secure qualification for a 13th consecutive World Cup.
Ranked as the world’s number-one team, La Roja will be confident of earning another victory, particularly as they have won five of their last six meetings with Bulgaria — including a 1-0 friendly triumph in their most recent home clash in Granada back in November 2002.
Team News
Spain remain without Dean Huijsen, Rodri, Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal, who all withdrew from the squad before the Georgia match due to injury.
Alex Baena and Pablo Barrios are available options if De la Fuente opts to make changes, though the coach may prefer to retain the same starting XI that featured in Saturday’s win.
Oyarzabal will look to continue his fine form for the national side, having scored six times in his last eight international appearances.
Bulgaria
Despite three qualifying games still to play, Bulgaria’s hopes of reaching their first World Cup since 1998 already look slim.
They began their campaign with back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Spain and Georgia, results that led to the dismissal of Ilian Iliev after almost two years in charge.
His successor, Aleksandar Dimitrov, endured a difficult debut in Saturday’s 6-1 home defeat to Turkey. The game was level at 1-1 by half time, but Bulgaria collapsed in the second half, conceding five goals to remain bottom of Group E, six points behind Turkey in second.
The Lions have now gone eight matches without a win since their 1-0 Nations League victory over Luxembourg last November, drawing two and losing six during that run.
Facing the reigning European champions will likely be another stern test, especially given Bulgaria have conceded at least twice in each of their past seven matches.
Team News
Bulgaria will once again be without defender Emil Tsenov, who withdrew prior to the Turkey game. Kristian Dimitrov could return to partner Rosen Bozhinov in central defence, while Ivan Turitsov pushes to start at right-back.
Captain Kiril Despodov is expected to lead the side again after making his first international appearance since March in Saturday’s loss.
Conclusion
Having scored 11 goals without reply in their opening three qualifiers, Spain are expected to assert their dominance once more. Bulgaria are struggling at both ends of the pitch, and it is difficult to see them withstanding the relentless pressure from the in-form group leaders.
Verdict: Total home goals over 3.5
Best odds: 4/9
Bookmaker: 888sport