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It all commenced in Scottish soil and this impressive streak continues. That fateful evening at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's manager; many believed it could turn out to be his final assignment. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, while almost all spectators expected his tenure would be brief, the coach spoke about a route opening - and remarkably, the man previously criticized of being unrealistic proved right.

Three years and four days, Spain advanced to within touching distance of World Cup qualification, and also achieving their 29th straight competitive game without defeat, equaling the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate a perfect dozen from 12 in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Arsenal playmaker and sometime forward netted the first two goals and might have earned his second three-goal haul in three Spain matches but when brought down in the final minute, he generously handed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

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

Historic Achievement

Now, you might have observed the symbol, and correctly so. Although FIFA may not classify it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain did suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament decider back in June. However officially at least, this current team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be theirs alone. En route 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 ranked number one, among the favorites once more, just like old times.

Complete Domination

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four outings, combined score fifteen-zero. Occurred two moments immediately after La Selección scored their opening goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their rivals had not been permitted a solitary shot on target.

Overall count read: 33-3, Spain demonstrably being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the only objective his team could have was to hold out as long as possible. As it turned out, 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 core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: everywhere for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he darted through their defense. He completed one hundred and one passes by the time he was substituted to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of utmost subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest as well.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the opening period, he had just drifted unnoticed into the penalty box again, chipping 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 delivered an additional pass from which Baena was denied.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He received a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a clean connection, striking wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, now had the lead. The positioning chart looked like they had exhausted supply of spray paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's half they might have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking away and striking the side-netting.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had multiple chances in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The delivery from the left flank was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to power the header downward and dash off to celebrate around the flagpost.

Final Moments

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov sent 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 incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Yet it was not quite done, Merino fouled in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.