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It all began in Scottish soil and the momentum continues. That memorable evening at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it could prove to be his last assignment. Despite two Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, while virtually everyone expected his spell would be short-lived, the coach spoke about a pathway opening - and remarkably, the man previously criticized of living in Disneyland turned out correct.

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

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when Pedri played and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate a perfect dozen from 12 in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Arsenal playmaker and occasional forward scored the first two goals and might have earned his second consecutive three-goal haul in three Spain appearances but when brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was the Real Sociedad striker, scorer of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who maintained the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, readers may have observed the asterisk, and rightly so. While FIFA may not count it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain did 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 matched that historic team against which all Spanish sides are compared.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days 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 previous eras.

Total Control

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, combined score 15-0. There were two instances immediately after the Spanish team scored their first two goals – the third strike being an self-inflicted – but eventually their opponents had not been allowed a single shot on target.

The total count showed: thirty-three to three, Spain demonstrably being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the only objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. As it turned out, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about the entire team, but at the core of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to track him as he darted through their defense. He completed one hundred and one passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of utmost subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the opening period, he had just slipped unmarked into the area again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had previously lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled an additional back from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

A disguised delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He got a chance of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, volleying wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had 88% of the possession, now had the lead. The heat map looked like they had run out of marking paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the unfairness, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria advanced into Spain's half they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and hitting the side-netting.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, 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 downward and dash off to do laps around the flagpost.

Closing Stages

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov sent through and sending 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 deflecting into his own net. Still it was not completely finished, Merino fouled in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing reign.