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It all began in Scottish soil and the momentum remains unbroken. That fateful night at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it might prove to be his final assignment. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, while almost all spectators anticipated his spell would be short-lived, the coach talked about a route emerging - and interestingly, the manager previously criticized of being unrealistic turned out correct.

Three years and later, Spain moved extremely close of World Cup qualification, while simultaneously racking up their 29th consecutive competitive game unbeaten, matching the historic record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino created the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate 12 points from twelve in qualifying, edging closer. The Arsenal midfielder and sometime forward scored the first two goals and could have earned his second three-goal haul in three recent Spain appearances but after brought down in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the European Championship showpiece, who maintained the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, readers may have noticed the asterisk, and rightly so. While FIFA may not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain did lose once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament final back in June. However formally at least, this present team has equaled that legendary team against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Win in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. Along the way they won 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 favorites once more, reminiscent of previous eras.

Total Control

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, combined score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after the Spanish team scored their first two goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their rivals had not been allowed a single shot on target.

The total statistics showed: 33-3, 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. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's 18th attempt on target already.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he flitted through their lines. He completed one hundred and one passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on 66 minutes, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the opening period, he had just drifted unnoticed into the penalty box again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had previously floated a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled another back from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

A disguised 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 fail to find a clean contact, striking wide.

But then, shortly after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had 88% of the possession, now had the advantage. The heat map looked like they had run out of marking paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they could have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and hitting the outside of the net.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino did it again. The delivery from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header downward and dash off to celebrate around the corner flag.

Final Moments

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped again, 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 own net. Still it was not quite finished, Merino kicked in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.