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Everything commenced in Scottish soil and this impressive streak persists. That fateful evening at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it might prove to be his final match in charge. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, while virtually everyone expected his spell would be short-lived, De la Fuente talked about a pathway opening - and interestingly, the manager previously criticized of living in Disneyland proved correct.

Three years and later, Spain moved extremely close of global football participation, while simultaneously achieving their 29th straight official game unbeaten, equaling the legendary record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino created the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Gunners' midfielder and sometime forward netted the opening two goals and might have earned his second hat-trick in three Spain matches but after brought down in the final 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 Euro 2024 final, who continued the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Now, readers may have noticed the symbol, and rightly so. Although FIFA may not count it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain actually lose once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. However officially at least, this present team has equaled that historic squad against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the record will be theirs alone. Along the way they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 sitting No. 1, among the frontrunners once more, reminiscent of previous eras.

Total Control

The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, admittedly, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, combined score fifteen-zero. There were two instances immediately after La Selección obtained their opening goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their opponents 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 only objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. As it turned out, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

This performance was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: present for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to track him as he darted through their defense. He executed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the moments of utmost subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the opening period, he had just slipped unnoticed into the area once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not just that. He had already floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and delivered another pass from which Baena was denied.

Sustained Attack

A disguised delivery had set 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 connection, striking 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, then had the lead. The heat map looked like they had run out of spray paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly sprinting away and hitting the side-netting.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had multiple opportunities in as many minutes before Merino did it again. The delivery from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to power the header downward and dash off to do laps round the flagpost.

Final Moments

Similar to their reaction after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov played through and putting his and their second shot wide and yet the initial instance the away team had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his team's goal. Still it was not quite done, Merino fouled in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing reign.