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Everything began in Scotland and the momentum continues. That fateful evening at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's manager; many believed it could prove to be his final match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, while virtually everyone expected his spell would be brief, De la Fuente spoke about a pathway emerging - and interestingly, the manager once accused of being unrealistic turned out correct.

36 months and later, Spain advanced to within touching distance of World Cup qualification, and also achieving their twenty-ninth straight competitive game without defeat, matching the legendary record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

On a night when Pedri played and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to secure 12 points from twelve in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Gunners' playmaker and sometime striker scored the first two goals and could have earned his second consecutive hat-trick in three recent Spain matches but after brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

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

Record Equaled

Currently, readers may have observed the symbol, and correctly so. While FIFA may not classify it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain actually suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. However officially at least, this current team has equaled that historic squad against which all Spanish sides are compared.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. Along the way they captured 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, reminiscent of old times.

Complete Domination

This was "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after La Selección scored their first two goals – the third being an own goal – but ultimately their opponents had not been permitted a single shot on target.

The total count showed: 33-3, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's 18th attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

This performance was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and elusive at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he flitted through their defense. He executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the moments of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive too.

When the José Zorrilla chanted his name midway the first half, he had just drifted unnoticed into the area again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had already floated a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled an additional back from which Baena was denied.

Sustained Attack

An cleverly weighted delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a precise pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He got a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a clean connection, volleying wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he floated another 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 run out of marking paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and hitting the side-netting.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had multiple opportunities in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The delivery from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header downward and dash off to celebrate round the corner flag.

Closing Stages

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov sent through and putting 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 deflecting into his team's goal. Yet it was not completely finished, Merino fouled in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.