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It all began in Scottish soil and the momentum remains unbroken. That fateful night at Hampden represented merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it could prove to be his last assignment. Although two Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, while virtually everyone expected his spell would be short-lived, the coach spoke about a route emerging - and interestingly, the man once accused of living in Disneyland proved right.

36 months and later, Spain moved extremely close of global football qualification, while simultaneously achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game unbeaten, matching the legendary record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to secure 12 points from 12 in qualifying, edging closer. The Arsenal playmaker and sometime forward scored the opening two goals and might have secured his second consecutive three-goal haul in three Spain matches but when fouled in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was La Real striker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who continued the impressive sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, you might have noticed the symbol, and correctly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain actually lose once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However officially at least, this current team has equaled that historic team against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Win in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. En route they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 ranked No. 1, among the favorites once more, just like old times.

Total Control

The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, combined score 15-0. Occurred two moments immediately after the Spanish team scored their first two goals – the third strike being an own goal – but eventually their rivals had not been permitted a solitary shot on target.

The total statistics read: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the only objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. As it turned out, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he darted through their defense. He completed one hundred and one passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the moments of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest as well.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the first half, he had just drifted unmarked into the penalty box again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had previously floated a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled an additional back from which Baena was denied.

Sustained Attack

A disguised delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He got a chance of his own only to be unable to find a proper contact, volleying wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he delivered another 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 heat map looked like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two-nil.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and hitting the outside of the net.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had multiple opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The delivery from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header down and dash off to do laps around the flagpost.

Final Moments

Similar to their reaction after the first goal, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov sent through and putting his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the initial instance the away team had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev turning into his own net. Still it was not quite finished, Merino kicked in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.