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It all began in Scotland and the momentum persists. That memorable evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it could turn out to be his last match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, while almost all spectators anticipated his spell would be short-lived, the coach talked about a route emerging - and interestingly, the manager previously criticized of being unrealistic turned out right.

36 months and later, Spain moved extremely close of global football participation, and also achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive official game unbeaten, equaling the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from twelve in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Arsenal midfielder and sometime forward scored the first two goals and might have secured his second three-goal haul in three Spain appearances but after fouled in the closing minute, he generously handed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real striker, goal-getter of the decisive goal in the European Championship showpiece, who continued the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

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

Victory in Georgia in a month and the record will be exclusively theirs. En route they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 sitting No. 1, among the frontrunners once more, reminiscent of previous eras.

Complete Domination

The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, aggregate score 15-0. There were two moments immediately after the Spanish team obtained their first two goals – the third strike being an own goal – but ultimately their rivals had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

Overall count showed: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the only objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. 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 all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to track him as he flitted through their defense. He completed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest as well.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the opening period, 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 previously lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and delivered another pass from which Baena was denied.

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 received a chance of his own only to be unable to find a clean contact, volleying wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he floated another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the possession, now had the lead. The heat map looked like they had exhausted supply of marking paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two.

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 territory they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and hitting the side-netting.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino scored once more. The delivery from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header downward and dash off to do laps around the flagpost.

Closing Stages

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov sent through and putting his and their following shot wide and yet the initial instance the visitors had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Yet it was not completely done, Merino fouled in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's continuing reign.