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Everything started in Scotland and this impressive streak persists. That fateful night at Hampden represented merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's manager; many believed it might turn out to be his final match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, while virtually everyone anticipated his tenure would be brief, the coach talked about a route emerging - and interestingly, the man once accused of living in Disneyland proved right.

36 months and four days, Spain moved extremely close of global football participation, and also racking up their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game unbeaten, matching the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Gunners' midfielder and sometime forward scored the first two goals and could have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three recent Spain matches but after fouled in the final minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was the Real Sociedad striker, scorer of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 final, who continued the remarkable sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Now, you might have noticed the asterisk, and correctly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament decider back in June. However officially at least, this present team has matched that legendary team against which all Spanish sides are compared.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be theirs alone. En route 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, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, combined score 15-0. Occurred two moments immediately after the Spanish team obtained their first two goals – the third being an own goal – but ultimately their rivals had not been allowed a single shot on target.

Overall count read: 33-3, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the sole objective his team could have was to hold out as long as possible. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he darted through their lines. He completed 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 finest touches and the sharpest too.

When the Valladolid stadium chanted his name midway the opening period, he had just drifted unmarked into the area once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had previously floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and delivered another pass from which Baena was denied.

Sustained Attack

A disguised pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a precise lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He received 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 headed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, then had the lead. The positioning chart looked like they had run out of spray paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's half they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking away and striking the outside of the net.

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

Closing Stages

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov played 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 team's goal. Yet it was not completely done, Merino kicked in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.