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It all commenced in Scottish soil and this impressive streak remains unbroken. That memorable night at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it might prove to be his final assignment. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, while almost all spectators anticipated his tenure would be short-lived, the coach talked about a route opening - and interestingly, the manager once accused of being unrealistic turned out correct.

Three years and later, Spain moved to within touching distance of global football qualification, while simultaneously racking up their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game without defeat, equaling the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to secure a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Arsenal playmaker and occasional striker scored the first two goals and could have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three recent Spain matches but after brought down in the closing minute, he generously handed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was the Real Sociedad striker, goal-getter of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 final, who continued the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, you might have noticed the asterisk, and correctly 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 continental tournament final back in June. Yet formally at least, this current team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the record will be exclusively theirs. 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 approach 2026 ranked number one, among the favorites once more, just like previous eras.

Total Control

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four outings, combined score 15-0. There were two instances immediately after the Spanish team obtained their first two goals – the third strike being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their opponents had not been permitted a single shot on target.

The total statistics showed: 33-3, Spain demonstrably being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. Ultimately, that defensive effort lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he flitted through their lines. He executed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on 66 minutes, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive as well.

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

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a precise pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his attempt. He got a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a proper connection, striking wide.

But then, almost immediately 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 possession, then had the lead. The heat map appeared like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and striking the outside of the net.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, 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 sprint to do laps around the flagpost.

Closing Stages

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov sent through and sending his and their second shot wide and yet 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 completely finished, Merino fouled in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.