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Everything commenced in Scottish soil and this impressive streak remains unbroken. That memorable night at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it could turn out to be his last match in charge. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, while almost all spectators anticipated his spell would be short-lived, the coach spoke about a route emerging - and remarkably, the manager once accused of being unrealistic turned out correct.

Three years and four days, Spain advanced to within touching distance of global football qualification, and also achieving their 29th straight official game without defeat, equaling the legendary record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

On a night when Pedri played and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to accumulate 12 points from 12 in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Gunners' playmaker and sometime forward netted the opening two goals and could have earned his second consecutive three-goal haul in three Spain appearances but after brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was the Real Sociedad striker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the European Championship final, who maintained the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Now, readers may have noticed the asterisk, and rightly so. While FIFA might not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However formally at least, this present team has matched that historic team against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Win in Georgia in thirty days and the record will be exclusively theirs. En route they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 sitting No. 1, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of previous eras.

Complete Domination

This was "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. Occurred two moments immediately after La Selección obtained their first two goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a single shot on target.

Overall count showed: thirty-three to three, Spain demonstrably playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to hold out as long as possible. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 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, ubiquitous and nowhere at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he darted through their lines. He completed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the moments of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest as well.

When the José Zorrilla chanted his name midway the opening period, he had just drifted unnoticed into the area once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had already floated a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled an additional back from which Baena was denied.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He got a chance of his own only to fail to find a proper contact, volleying wide.

But then, shortly after, he delivered an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had 88% of the possession, then had the lead. The heat map looked like they had run out of spray paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two-nil.

Momentary Threat

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 leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and hitting the side-netting.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had multiple chances in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The cross from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header downward and sprint to celebrate around the flagpost.

Closing Stages

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov sent through and putting his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Still it was not quite done, Merino fouled in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.