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Everything commenced in Scottish soil and the momentum continues. That fateful evening 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. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating La Furia Roja, while almost all spectators anticipated his tenure would be brief, De la Fuente talked about a pathway emerging - and remarkably, the manager previously criticized of living in Disneyland turned out right.

36 months and later, Spain moved to within touching distance of global football qualification, and also racking up their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game unbeaten, equaling the historic record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

On a night when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from 12 in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Arsenal playmaker and sometime forward scored the opening two goals and could have secured his second hat-trick in three Spain appearances but after fouled in the final minute, he generously handed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, scorer of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 final, who continued the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, you might have noticed the asterisk, and correctly so. While FIFA might not classify it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain actually lose once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet officially at least, this current team has matched that historic squad against which all Spanish sides are measured.

Win in Georgia in thirty days and the record will be exclusively theirs. 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 No. 1, among the favorites once more, just like previous eras.

Total Control

The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, admittedly, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, aggregate score 15-0. There were two moments immediately after the Spanish team scored their first two goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but eventually their rivals had not been allowed 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 possible. Ultimately, that defensive effort 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 all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he flitted through their lines. He executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was substituted to a rapturous applause on 66 minutes, and his were the moments of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the sharpest too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name midway the opening period, he had just slipped 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 delivered an additional pass from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

An cleverly weighted pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He received a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a clean contact, striking wide.

But then, shortly after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had 88% of the ball, then had the lead. The positioning chart looked like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa could have made it two-nil.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the unfairness, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and striking the outside of the net.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had multiple opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored once more. The cross from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header down and sprint to do laps round the corner flag.

Closing Stages

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov played through and sending his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev turning into his own net. Yet it was not quite finished, Merino fouled in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.