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Everything started in Scottish soil and the momentum remains unbroken. That fateful night at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; many believed it might prove to be his final assignment. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, whereas virtually everyone anticipated his tenure would be brief, the coach spoke about a pathway opening - and interestingly, the man previously criticized of living in Disneyland turned out correct.

36 months and later, Spain advanced to within touching distance of global football participation, and also achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game unbeaten, matching 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 4-0 to accumulate 12 points from twelve in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Arsenal midfielder and occasional forward scored the first two goals and might have secured his second hat-trick in three recent Spain appearances but after fouled in the closing minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, scorer of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who maintained the impressive sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, you might have noticed the asterisk, and correctly so. While FIFA may not count it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain actually lose once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament decider back in June. Yet formally at least, this present team has equaled that legendary squad against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Win in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. En route they captured 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 favorites once more, just like previous eras.

Total Control

This was "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 fifteen-zero. Occurred two moments immediately after the Spanish team scored their opening goals – the third being an own goal – but eventually their rivals had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

The total statistics read: 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. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target already.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and nowhere at once: everywhere for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable 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 utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive as well.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the opening period, he had just drifted unnoticed into the area once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not just that. He had already lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and delivered an additional back from which Baena was denied.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He got a chance of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, striking 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 possession, now had the advantage. The heat map appeared like they had exhausted supply of marking paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two.

Momentary Threat

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

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had multiple chances in as many minutes before Merino did it again. The cross from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header downward and sprint to do laps round the flagpost.

Closing Stages

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov played through and putting his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the first time the away team 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 legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing reign.