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It all started in Scotland and the momentum persists. That memorable evening at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; numerous observers thought it could turn out to be his final match in charge. Despite two Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, whereas almost all spectators expected his tenure would be short-lived, De la Fuente spoke about a pathway emerging - and interestingly, the manager once accused of being unrealistic turned out correct.

Three years and later, Spain moved extremely close of World Cup participation, and also achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive official game without defeat, equaling the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino created the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to secure 12 points from 12 in qualifying, edging closer. The Arsenal midfielder and occasional striker scored the first two goals and might have secured his second three-goal haul in three Spain matches but when brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was the Real Sociedad attacker, scorer of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who maintained the impressive sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, readers may have noticed the asterisk, and rightly so. While FIFA might not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. However officially at least, this current team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish sides are measured.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be theirs alone. Along the way they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 sitting number one, among the favorites once more, just like previous eras.

Total Control

This was "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, just as previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, combined score fifteen-zero. Occurred two moments immediately after La Selección obtained their opening goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target.

Overall count read: 33-3, Spain clearly 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 resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he darted through their lines. He completed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the moments of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive as well.

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 previously lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled another back from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He got a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a clean connection, striking 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 eighty-eight percent of the possession, now had the lead. The positioning chart appeared like they had run out of marking paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the injustice, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they might have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly sprinting away and hitting the side-netting.

Introduced 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 superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header down and dash off to do laps around the corner flag.

Final Moments

Similar to their reaction after the first goal, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov played through and putting his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the initial instance the away team had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Still it was not quite done, Merino kicked in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.