The road to the 2026 World Cup kicks off this week, and all eyes are on Sofia as Bulgaria hosts Spain. Our experts are predicting a dominant performance from La Roja. Can the European giants deliver a convincing victory against a struggling Bulgarian side?
Bulgaria's Woes
Bulgaria's glory days are long gone. Once a force to be reckoned with, they're now a shadow of their former selves. They enter this qualifier on a dismal run of form, winless in their last five matches. A Nations League play-off defeat against the Republic of Ireland and a recent 4-0 thrashing by Greece paint a bleak picture.
Spain's Dominance
In stark contrast, Spain is a team brimming with confidence. Unbeaten in 20 internationals in regulation time, they only stumbled in the Nations League final, losing to Portugal on penalties. Their squad is packed with talent, and they're expected to control the match from the outset.
Predicted Lineups
- Bulgaria (Expected): Mitov, Nedyalkov, Atanasov, A. Petkov, Nurnberger, M. Petkov, Kraev, Gruev, Milanov, Minchev, Despodov
- Spain (Expected): Simon, Carvajal, Cubarsi, Huijsen, Cucurella, Zubimendi, Ruiz, Yamal, Pedri, Williams, Torres
Betting Tips
Our betting expert is backing Spain to come out firing, predicting a high-scoring affair. Here are some top bets:
- Over 1.5 first-half goals at odds of 2.20 on Betway
- Over 2.5 goals for Spain at odds of 1.73 on Betway
- Spain to win & over 3.5 goals at odds of 2.40 on Betway
A 4-0 victory for Spain is the predicted scoreline. Will they live up to the hype? Stay tuned!