🔗 Share this article

It all began in Scottish soil and the momentum remains unbroken. That memorable night at Hampden represented merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it could prove to be his last match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, whereas almost all spectators expected his tenure would be short-lived, De la Fuente spoke about a route opening - and interestingly, the man once accused of living in Disneyland proved correct.

36 months and later, Spain moved extremely close of global football participation, and also racking up their 29th straight competitive game unbeaten, equaling the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate a perfect dozen from twelve in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Arsenal midfielder and sometime forward scored the first two goals and could have earned his second hat-trick in three recent Spain matches but after fouled in the closing minute, he generously handed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was the Real Sociedad attacker, scorer 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.

Record Equaled

Now, you might have observed the symbol, and rightly so. Although FIFA might not count it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. Yet formally at least, this current team has equaled that historic squad against which all Spanish sides are measured.

Victory 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 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" versus Bulgaria, admittedly, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four outings, aggregate score 15-0. There were two instances immediately after the Spanish team scored their first two goals – the third being an own goal – but ultimately their opponents had not been allowed a single shot on target.

Overall statistics read: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. Ultimately, that defensive effort lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to track him as he darted through their defense. He executed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the sharpest too.

When the Valladolid stadium chanted his name midway the first half, he had just drifted unnoticed into the penalty box once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had previously lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled another back from which Baena was denied.

Sustained Attack

A disguised pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a precise lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He got a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a proper connection, volleying wide.

But then, shortly after, he delivered an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the possession, then had the advantage. The positioning chart appeared like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's territory they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and striking the outside of the net.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had multiple opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The cross from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header downward and dash off to do laps round the flagpost.

Closing Stages

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov sent through and sending his and their following shot wide and nevertheless 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 finished, Merino kicked in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.