🔗 Share this article

Everything started in Scotland and the momentum remains unbroken. That fateful night at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; many believed it might turn out to be his last match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, whereas virtually everyone expected his spell would be brief, De la Fuente spoke about a route opening - and interestingly, the man once accused of living in Disneyland proved right.

Three years and later, Spain advanced extremely close of World Cup participation, and also racking up their twenty-ninth straight official game unbeaten, matching the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to secure a perfect dozen from twelve in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Arsenal midfielder and sometime forward scored the opening two goals and might have earned his second three-goal haul in three recent Spain matches but when brought down in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, goal-getter of the decisive goal in the European Championship final, who maintained the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, you might have observed the asterisk, and correctly so. Although FIFA may not count it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain did lose once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Win 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 reached a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 sitting No. 1, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of old times.

Complete Domination

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four outings, aggregate score 15-0. Occurred two moments immediately after La Selección scored their first two goals – the third strike being an own goal – but ultimately their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target.

The total 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 possible. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's 18th attempt on target already.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere simultaneously: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he darted through their lines. He executed 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 greatest subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the sharpest too.

When the Valladolid stadium chanted his name midway the opening period, he had just slipped unnoticed into the penalty box again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not just that. He had previously floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled another back from which Baena was denied.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a proper contact, striking wide.

But then, shortly after, he floated another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had 88% of the possession, now had the lead. The heat map looked like they had exhausted supply of spray paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Brief Resistance

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

Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. 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 escaped once more, Despodov played through and sending his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the initial instance the visitors 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 shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.