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Everything began in Scottish soil and the momentum remains unbroken. That fateful evening at Hampden marked only 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 a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, whereas virtually everyone anticipated his spell would be short-lived, De la Fuente spoke about a route opening - and interestingly, the manager previously criticized of being unrealistic turned out right.

36 months and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of World Cup participation, while simultaneously racking up their twenty-ninth straight competitive game without defeat, matching the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

On a night when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from 12 in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Gunners' midfielder and sometime forward netted the first two goals and could have earned his second consecutive three-goal haul in three Spain appearances but after fouled in the final minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, scorer of the decisive goal in the European Championship showpiece, who continued the remarkable sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Now, you might have noticed the symbol, and rightly so. While FIFA might not classify it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament final back in June. Yet formally at least, this present team has equaled that historic team against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the record will be theirs alone. En route they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 sitting number one, among the frontrunners once more, just like previous eras.

Total Control

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous encounters 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 first two goals – the third being an own goal – but eventually their rivals had not been allowed a single shot on target.

Overall statistics showed: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted 33 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 core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere simultaneously: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he flitted through their defense. He completed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a rapturous applause on 66 minutes, and his were the moments of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive as well.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name midway the first half, he had just slipped unnoticed into the penalty box once more, dinking 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 strike wide and pulled an additional back from which Baena was denied.

Sustained Attack

An cleverly weighted delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He got a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a clean contact, striking 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 ball, now had the advantage. The heat map appeared like they had run out of spray paint half way 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 great. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they could have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly 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 delivery from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header downward and sprint to celebrate around the corner flag.

Closing Stages

Similar to their reaction after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov sent through and sending his and their following shot wide and yet the first time the away team had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his team's goal. Yet it was not completely done, Merino kicked in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.