đ Share this article Merino's Brace Ignites La Roja's Scoring Run in Dominant Victory Over Bulgaria Everything began in Scottish soil and this impressive streak remains unbroken. That fateful evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; numerous observers thought it could prove to be his last assignment. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating La Furia Roja, whereas virtually everyone anticipated his tenure would be brief, the coach talked about a pathway emerging - and interestingly, the manager previously criticized of being unrealistic proved right. 36 months and later, Spain moved extremely close of global football qualification, while simultaneously achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game without defeat, matching the historic record. Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to secure a perfect dozen from 12 in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Arsenal playmaker and occasional forward netted the opening two goals and could have earned his second consecutive three-goal haul in three recent Spain appearances but after fouled in the final minute, he generously handed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead. Therefore it was La Real attacker, scorer of the decisive goal in the European Championship showpiece, who continued the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013. Record Equaled Now, readers may have observed the symbol, and correctly so. Although FIFA may not count it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once â seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. Yet formally at least, this present team has equaled that historic squad against which all Spanish sides are measured. Win in Georgia in thirty days and the record will be exclusively theirs. Along the way they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 ranked No. 1, among the favorites once more, just like previous eras. Complete Domination This was "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, aggregate score fifteen-zero. There were two instances immediately after the Spanish team obtained their opening goals â the third being an self-inflicted â but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target. Overall statistics showed: 33-3, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. Ultimately, that defensive effort lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target by that point. Pedri's Masterclass The display was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and elusive simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he flitted through their defense. He executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on 66 minutes, and his were the moments of greatest subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the sharpest too. When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the opening period, he had just slipped unmarked into the area once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had already lifted a magnificent pass into Ălex Baena to volley wide and pulled another back from which Baena was denied. Sustained Attack A disguised delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He received a chance of his own only to be unable to find a clean contact, volleying wide. But then, almost immediately after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, then had the advantage. The positioning chart appeared like they had run out of marking paint half way through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil. Momentary Threat But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the initial occasion Bulgaria advanced into Spain's territory they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly sprinting away and striking the outside of the net. Brought on for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The delivery from the left was superb from Ălex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header down and sprint to celebrate around the flagpost. Final Moments As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov sent through and sending his and their following shot wide and yet the initial instance the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Yet it was not quite done, Merino fouled in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.