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It all started in Scotland and the momentum persists. That fateful evening at Hampden represented merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it might prove to be his last match in charge. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, whereas almost all spectators anticipated his spell would be brief, the coach spoke about a pathway opening - and remarkably, the manager previously criticized of living in Disneyland proved correct.

36 months and four days, Spain advanced to within touching distance of World Cup qualification, and also racking up their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game without defeat, equaling the legendary record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from twelve in qualifying, edging closer. The Arsenal midfielder and occasional forward netted the first two goals and could have earned his second three-goal haul in three recent Spain appearances but after brought down in the closing minute, he generously handed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was the Real Sociedad striker, goal-getter of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 final, who continued the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, readers may have noticed the symbol, and rightly so. While FIFA might not classify it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament final back in June. Yet formally at least, this present team has equaled that historic team against which all Spanish sides are compared.

Win in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be theirs alone. En route they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 sitting No. 1, among the favorites once more, just like old times.

Complete Domination

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, just as previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, combined score fifteen-zero. Occurred two moments immediately after the Spanish team obtained their first two goals – the third being an own goal – but ultimately their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target.

The total count showed: 33-3, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. As it turned out, that resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already.

Pedri's Masterclass

The display was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: present for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he darted through their defense. He executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive as well.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name midway the first half, he had just drifted unmarked into the penalty box again, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not just that. He had previously floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and delivered another pass from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a precise pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a chance of his own only to be unable to find a proper contact, striking wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he delivered an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had 88% of the ball, now had the advantage. The positioning chart appeared like they had run out of spray paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's half they could have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and striking the outside of the net.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three opportunities in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The delivery from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to power the header downward and dash off to do laps round the corner flag.

Closing Stages

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov sent through and putting his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the initial instance the away team had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his own net. Still it was not quite done, Merino fouled in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.