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Everything commenced in Scottish soil and this impressive streak remains unbroken. That memorable evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's manager; many believed it could turn out to be his final match in charge. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, while virtually everyone anticipated his spell would be brief, De la Fuente talked about a pathway opening - and remarkably, the man once accused of being unrealistic proved correct.

Three years and four days, Spain moved extremely close of World Cup qualification, while simultaneously racking up their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game unbeaten, matching the legendary record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

On a night when Pedri played and Mikel Merino created the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate a perfect dozen from twelve in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Arsenal midfielder and sometime forward netted the opening two goals and might have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three recent Spain appearances but when brought down in the final minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was the Real Sociedad 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

Currently, readers may have observed the asterisk, and rightly so. Although FIFA might not count it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. Yet formally at least, this current team has equaled that legendary squad against which all Spanish sides are compared.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the record will be theirs alone. En route they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 ranked No. 1, among the frontrunners once more, just like previous eras.

Complete Domination

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. Occurred two instances immediately after the Spanish team obtained their opening goals – the third strike being an own goal – but eventually their opponents had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

Overall statistics showed: 33-3, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about the entire team, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and elusive simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he flitted through their lines. He executed 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 too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the first half, he had just slipped unnoticed into the penalty box again, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had already floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled another pass from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

An cleverly weighted pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the opener, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He got a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a proper connection, striking wide.

But then, shortly after, he floated 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 exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Momentary Threat

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

Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The cross from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header downward and dash off to celebrate around the flagpost.

Closing Stages

Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov played through and sending his and their following shot wide and nevertheless 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 legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.