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It all started in Scotland and the momentum remains unbroken. That memorable night at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; numerous observers thought it might prove to be his last match in charge. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, whereas almost all spectators anticipated his tenure would be short-lived, the coach talked about a route opening - and remarkably, the manager once accused of being unrealistic proved right.

36 months and four days, Spain moved to within touching distance of World Cup participation, while simultaneously racking up their 29th straight competitive game without defeat, equaling the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain defeated Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from twelve in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Gunners' playmaker and sometime striker netted the opening two goals and could have earned his second consecutive three-goal haul in three recent Spain appearances but when brought down in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

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

Record Equaled

Currently, readers may have noticed the asterisk, and correctly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain actually lose once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However formally at least, this present team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish sides are measured.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the record will be exclusively theirs. Along the way they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 sitting No. 1, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of previous eras.

Total Control

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

Overall count showed: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. As it turned out, that resistance lasted thirty-three 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 nowhere simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he darted through their lines. He executed 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 most exquisite touches and the most incisive too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name midway the first half, he had just drifted unmarked into the area once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had already lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled an additional back from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

A disguised pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a precise lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He got a chance of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, volleying wide.

But then, shortly after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, now had the lead. The positioning chart looked like they had exhausted supply of spray paint half way through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they might have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly sprinting away and hitting the outside of the net.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had multiple chances in as many minutes before Merino scored once more. The cross from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header down and sprint to celebrate around the corner flag.

Closing Stages

Similar to their reaction after the first goal, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov sent through and putting his and their following shot wide and yet the first time the away team had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his team's goal. Yet it was not completely done, Merino fouled in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.