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It all started in Scottish soil and the momentum persists. That memorable evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it could prove to be his final match in charge. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, while almost all spectators anticipated his tenure would be brief, De la Fuente spoke about a route opening - and interestingly, the man once accused of being unrealistic turned out correct.

Three years and later, Spain advanced extremely close of global football participation, and also racking up their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game unbeaten, equaling the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain defeated Bulgaria 4-0 to accumulate 12 points from twelve in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Arsenal playmaker and occasional forward scored the first two goals and could have secured his second three-goal haul in three Spain appearances but after brought down in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was the Real Sociedad attacker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who maintained the impressive sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Currently, you might have noticed the asterisk, and correctly so. While FIFA may not classify it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However officially at least, this present team has matched that legendary team against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Win in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. Along the way they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 sitting No. 1, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of previous eras.

Total Control

The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, combined score 15-0. There were two moments immediately after La Selección scored their opening goals – the third strike being an own goal – but ultimately their opponents had not been allowed a single shot on target.

Overall count showed: 33-3, Spain demonstrably playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

The display was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he darted through their defense. He completed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on 66 minutes, and his were the instances of utmost subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive as well.

When the Valladolid stadium chanted his name during the first half, he had just slipped unnoticed into the area again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had already lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled another back from which Baena was denied.

Sustained Attack

A disguised pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He got a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a clean contact, striking wide.

But then, shortly after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the possession, then had the advantage. The heat map appeared like they had run out of marking paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's half they could have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and hitting the outside of the net.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had multiple chances in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The cross from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to power the header downward and dash off to celebrate round the flagpost.

Final Moments

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov played through and putting his and their following shot wide and yet the initial instance the away team had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Still it was not quite finished, Merino fouled in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.