Mikel Merino’s hat-trick helped Spain to thrash hosts Turkey 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday as the European champions remained firmly in control of Group E, Reuters reported.

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 Turkey and Georgia sit on three points from the same. Georgia beat Bulgaria 3-0 earlier on Sunday, according to Reuters.