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It all started in Scottish soil and this impressive streak continues. That fateful night at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's manager; many believed it might prove to be his last assignment. Although two Scott McTominay goals defeating La Furia Roja, whereas virtually everyone anticipated his spell would be brief, the coach talked about a pathway opening - and remarkably, the manager previously criticized of being unrealistic proved right.

Three years and four days, Spain moved extremely close of World Cup participation, and also achieving their 29th straight competitive game without defeat, matching the historic record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder featured 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 Arsenal playmaker and sometime forward scored the opening two goals and could have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three recent Spain matches but when fouled in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was the Real Sociedad attacker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the European Championship 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 symbol, and correctly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain did lose once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However officially at least, this current team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish sides are compared.

Win in Georgia in a month and the record will be exclusively theirs. Along the way they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 ranked number one, among the favorites once more, just like old times.

Total Control

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four outings, aggregate score fifteen-zero. Occurred two instances immediately after the Spanish team scored their opening goals – the third strike being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their opponents had not been allowed a single shot on target.

The total statistics read: thirty-three to three, Spain demonstrably playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. As it turned out, that resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and elusive at once: present for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he flitted through their lines. 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 once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not just that. He had previously lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled an additional back from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

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

But then, almost immediately after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the possession, now had the advantage. The positioning chart appeared like they had run out of spray paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's half they could have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly sprinting away and striking the outside of the net.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had multiple opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The delivery from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header down and sprint to do laps around the flagpost.

Final Moments

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov played through and putting 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 turning into his team's goal. Yet it was not completely done, Merino kicked in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.