🔗 Share this article

Everything commenced in Scotland and this impressive streak remains unbroken. That memorable night at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it could turn out to be his final assignment. Despite two Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, whereas almost all spectators anticipated his spell would be short-lived, De la Fuente 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 World Cup qualification, and also achieving their 29th straight competitive game without defeat, equaling the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure a perfect dozen from twelve in qualifying, edging closer. The Arsenal midfielder and sometime forward scored the first two goals and could have earned his second consecutive hat-trick in three Spain matches but after brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real striker, scorer of the decisive goal in the European Championship final, who maintained the remarkable sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, you might have observed the symbol, and correctly so. While FIFA might not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has matched that historic team against which all Spanish sides are compared.

Victory 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 head toward 2026 ranked number one, among the favorites once more, just like previous eras.

Complete Domination

The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, combined score fifteen-zero. There were two instances immediately after the Spanish team scored their first two goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target.

The total statistics read: thirty-three to three, Spain demonstrably being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the only objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. Ultimately, that defensive effort lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already.

Pedri's Masterclass

The display was about the entire team, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he flitted through their lines. He completed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation on 66 minutes, and his were the moments of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest as well.

When the Valladolid stadium chanted his name during the first half, he had just slipped unnoticed into the penalty box again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had already floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled another pass from which Baena was denied.

Continued Pressure

A disguised pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his attempt. He got a chance of his own only to be unable to find a clean contact, striking wide.

But then, shortly 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 heat map looked like they had exhausted supply of spray paint half way through and a moment later Aghehowa could have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the initial occasion Bulgaria advanced into Spain's territory they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking away and striking the outside of the net.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino scored once more. The cross from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header down and dash off to celebrate around the corner flag.

Final Moments

Similar to their reaction after the first goal, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov sent through and putting his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the initial instance 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 quite finished, Merino kicked in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.