🔗 Share this article

Everything began in Scotland and this impressive streak remains unbroken. That memorable evening at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it might prove to be his final match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals defeating La Furia Roja, whereas virtually everyone expected his spell would be brief, De la Fuente talked about a pathway emerging - and interestingly, the man once accused of being unrealistic turned out right.

36 months and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of global football participation, while simultaneously racking up their 29th consecutive official game without defeat, equaling the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

On a night when Pedri played and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Arsenal playmaker and sometime striker scored the first two goals and could have earned his second consecutive three-goal haul in three recent Spain appearances but when brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was La Real striker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 final, who continued the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, you might have noticed the asterisk, and rightly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has matched that legendary team against which all Spanish sides are measured.

Victory in Georgia in a month 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 approach 2026 ranked number one, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of old times.

Complete Domination

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

The total count read: 33-3, Spain demonstrably being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's 18th attempt on target already.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about the entire team, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere simultaneously: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he darted through their lines. He completed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the moments of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive as well.

When the José Zorrilla sang his name during the opening period, he had just slipped unnoticed into the penalty box once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not just that. He had previously lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled an additional back from which Baena was denied.

Continued Pressure

A disguised pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a proper contact, volleying wide.

But then, shortly after, he delivered an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had 88% of the possession, now had the lead. The heat map appeared like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's half they might have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and striking the side-netting.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino scored once more. The delivery from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header downward and dash off to do laps around the flagpost.

Final Moments

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov played through and sending his and their second 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 own net. Still it was not quite finished, Merino kicked in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.