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It all started in Scotland and the momentum remains unbroken. That fateful evening at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's manager; many believed it might turn out to be his final assignment. Although two Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, while virtually everyone expected his spell would be brief, the coach spoke about a pathway opening - and interestingly, the manager once accused of living in Disneyland turned out correct.

Three years and later, Spain moved extremely close of global football qualification, while simultaneously racking up their twenty-ninth consecutive official game unbeaten, matching the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to secure a perfect dozen from twelve in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Arsenal midfielder and occasional forward netted the first two goals and might have secured his second hat-trick in three Spain matches but after brought down in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, scorer of the decisive goal in the European Championship final, who maintained the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Now, readers may have observed the asterisk, and correctly so. While FIFA may not classify it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has equaled that legendary team against which all Spanish sides are compared.

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 approach 2026 ranked No. 1, among the frontrunners once more, just like old times.

Complete Domination

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 instances immediately after La Selección scored their opening goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but eventually their opponents had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

The total count read: 33-3, Spain demonstrably playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to hold out as long as possible. As it turned out, that resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

This performance was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and elusive simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he flitted through their defense. He executed 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 sharpest as well.

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

Sustained Attack

A disguised pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a precise pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, striking wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he floated another 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 advantage. The positioning chart appeared like they had run out of spray paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the unfairness, that makes football great. 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 multiple chances in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The delivery from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to direct the header downward and dash off to celebrate round the flagpost.

Closing Stages

Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov played through and sending 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 team's goal. Still it was not quite done, Merino fouled in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.