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Everything started in Scotland and the momentum persists. That fateful night at Hampden represented merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; numerous observers thought it might turn out to be his last assignment. Although two Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, while virtually everyone anticipated his spell would be brief, the coach talked about a route opening - and remarkably, the man previously criticized of being unrealistic proved correct.

36 months and later, Spain advanced extremely close of World Cup qualification, and also racking up their 29th consecutive competitive game without defeat, equaling the historic 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 a perfect dozen from twelve in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Arsenal midfielder and sometime striker scored the first two goals and could have earned his second consecutive three-goal haul in three Spain appearances but when fouled in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, scorer of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 final, who maintained the impressive sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Currently, readers may have observed the asterisk, and rightly so. While FIFA might not count it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has matched that historic squad against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Victory 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 reached a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 ranked number one, among the frontrunners once more, reminiscent of old times.

Total Control

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four outings, aggregate score fifteen-zero. Occurred two instances immediately after the Spanish team scored their first two goals – the third being an own goal – but eventually their opponents had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

Overall statistics showed: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. As it turned out, that resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

This performance was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and elusive simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he darted through their lines. He executed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on 66 minutes, and his were the moments of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the first half, he had just drifted unnoticed into the area again, dinking 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 pulled an additional pass from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his attempt. He got a chance of his own only to be unable to find a proper contact, volleying 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 eighty-eight percent of the ball, now had the lead. The heat map looked like they had run out of marking paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they might have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly 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 once more. The cross from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header downward and dash off to do laps around the flagpost.

Final Moments

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov played through and sending his and their second shot wide and yet the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Yet it was not quite finished, Merino fouled in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.