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It all started in Scottish soil and the momentum remains unbroken. That memorable night at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; many believed it could turn out to be his final match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, whereas virtually everyone expected his tenure would be brief, De la Fuente spoke about a pathway emerging - and remarkably, the manager previously criticized of being unrealistic turned out right.

36 months and four days, Spain advanced to within touching distance of World Cup participation, while simultaneously achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive official game unbeaten, equaling the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Gunners' playmaker and occasional forward scored the opening two goals and could have earned his second consecutive three-goal haul in three Spain appearances but when brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was the Real Sociedad attacker, goal-getter of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who maintained the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, readers may have noticed the asterisk, and rightly so. While 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 equaled that legendary squad against which all Spanish sides are compared.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement 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 head toward 2026 ranked number one, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of old times.

Total Control

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, combined score fifteen-zero. There were two instances immediately after La Selección scored their opening goals – the third being an own goal – but eventually their opponents had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

Overall count read: 33-3, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. Ultimately, that resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and elusive at once: everywhere for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he flitted through their lines. He completed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the opening period, he had just slipped unmarked into the penalty box again, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had previously lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and delivered an additional pass from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He got a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a proper connection, striking wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the possession, then had the advantage. The heat map appeared like they had run out of spray paint half way 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 great. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and striking the side-netting.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored once more. The cross from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header down and sprint to celebrate round the corner flag.

Closing Stages

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov sent through and putting his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the first time the away team had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his team's goal. Still it was not completely finished, Merino kicked in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing reign.