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It all commenced in Scottish soil and this impressive streak persists. That memorable evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it could prove to be his final assignment. Although two Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, while virtually everyone expected his spell would be brief, the coach spoke about a route opening - and remarkably, the manager once accused of being unrealistic proved right.

36 months and four days, Spain moved to within touching distance of World Cup qualification, while simultaneously achieving their 29th straight competitive game unbeaten, equaling the historic record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate 12 points 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 three-goal haul in three recent Spain appearances but when brought down in the closing minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, scorer of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 final, who continued the remarkable sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, readers may have observed the asterisk, and rightly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain did lose once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament final back in June. Yet formally at least, this present team has equaled that legendary squad against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Win in Georgia in thirty days and the record will be theirs alone. En route they captured 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 frontrunners once more, just like old times.

Total Control

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

Overall count read: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target already.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about the entire team, but at the core of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and nowhere at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he flitted through their defense. He executed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the sharpest too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name midway the opening period, he had just slipped unnoticed into the penalty box once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had previously floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and delivered another pass from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

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

But then, shortly 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 lead. The positioning chart looked like they had run out of spray paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

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

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had multiple chances in as many minutes before Merino did it again. The delivery 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 do laps round the flagpost.

Final Moments

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov sent through and putting his and their following 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 team's goal. Still it was not completely finished, Merino kicked in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.