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Everything began in Scottish soil and this impressive streak remains unbroken. That memorable evening at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's manager; many believed it could prove to be his last match in charge. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, whereas almost all spectators anticipated his tenure would be brief, the coach spoke about a pathway opening - and remarkably, the manager previously criticized of being unrealistic turned out right.

36 months and later, Spain moved extremely close of World Cup qualification, while simultaneously racking up their twenty-ninth straight competitive game unbeaten, matching the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate 12 points from twelve in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Arsenal midfielder and occasional striker netted 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 selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was La Real attacker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who maintained the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Currently, you might have observed the asterisk, and rightly so. Although FIFA may not classify it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet formally at least, this current team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish sides are measured.

Win 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 reached a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 ranked number one, among the frontrunners once more, just like previous eras.

Complete Domination

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. There were two instances 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 solitary shot on target.

Overall statistics read: thirty-three to three, Spain demonstrably playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the sole objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target already.

Pedri's Masterclass

This performance was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere simultaneously: present for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he darted through their lines. He executed one hundred and one 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 most incisive as well.

When the José Zorrilla sang his name midway the opening period, he had just slipped unnoticed into the area again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not just that. He had already lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled another back from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted 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 be unable to find a proper contact, striking wide.

But then, shortly after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had 88% of the ball, then had the lead. The heat map looked like they had run out of marking paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria advanced into Spain's territory 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 flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header down and dash off to do laps round the corner flag.

Closing Stages

Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov sent through and putting his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the initial instance the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Still it was not completely finished, Merino fouled in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.