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Everything began in Scottish soil and this impressive streak remains unbroken. That fateful evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it could turn out to be his final match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, while almost all spectators anticipated his tenure would be brief, De la Fuente talked about a pathway opening - and remarkably, the man once accused of being unrealistic proved right.

Three years and later, Spain advanced to within touching distance of global football participation, while simultaneously racking up their twenty-ninth straight official game without defeat, matching the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino created the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria 4-0 to secure a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Arsenal playmaker and sometime forward netted the opening two goals and could have earned his second hat-trick in three Spain appearances but after brought down in the closing minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was La Real attacker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 final, who continued the impressive sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, you might have observed the symbol, and correctly so. While FIFA might not count it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain actually suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. Yet formally at least, this present team has matched that historic team against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. Along the way 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 favorites once more, reminiscent of old times.

Complete Domination

The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, aggregate score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after La Selección scored their first two goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target.

Overall statistics showed: 33-3, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the only objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. As it turned out, that resistance lasted thirty-three 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 core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere simultaneously: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he darted through their lines. He executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the sharpest too.

When the José Zorrilla chanted his name during the first half, he had just slipped unmarked into the penalty box once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had already lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and delivered an additional back from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

A disguised pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a precise pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He received a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a clean connection, volleying wide.

But then, shortly after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, now had the lead. The positioning chart looked like they had exhausted supply of spray paint half way through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

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

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 flank was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to power the header down and sprint to celebrate round the corner flag.

Final Moments

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov sent through and putting his and their following shot wide and yet the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev turning into his own net. Yet it was not quite 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.