Dhaka, Sept. 9 -- Mikel Merino's hat-trick helped Spain to thrash hosts Turkiye 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday as the European champions remained firmly in control of Group E.

The hosts had no answer to Spain's dominance, undone time and again by the visitors' speed and finesse, with a helpless Turkish defence torn apart on every counter-attack.

Spain lead the group with six points from two matches, while Turkiye and Georgia sit on three points from the same. Georgia beat Bulgaria 3-0 earlier on Sunday.

The visitors struck early as Pedri found the net in the sixth minute, slotting past goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.

Merino doubled Spain's tally in the 22nd minute, finishing off a slick passing move inside the box with a simple unma...