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Everything started in Scotland and this impressive streak remains unbroken. That fateful evening at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; numerous observers thought it could prove to be his last match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, whereas virtually everyone expected his spell would be brief, the coach talked about a pathway opening - and remarkably, the man once accused of being unrealistic turned out correct.

Three years and four days, Spain moved to within touching distance of global football qualification, and also achieving their 29th straight competitive game unbeaten, equaling the historic record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

During an evening when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate 12 points from 12 in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Arsenal playmaker and occasional striker scored the opening two goals and might have earned his second consecutive three-goal haul in three Spain appearances but after brought down in the final minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was La Real striker, scorer of the winning goal in the European Championship final, who continued the impressive sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, readers may have observed the symbol, and rightly so. Although FIFA might not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet formally at least, this current team has equaled that historic team against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be theirs alone. En route they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 ranked number one, among the frontrunners once more, just like previous eras.

Complete Domination

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, combined score fifteen-zero. Occurred two instances immediately after the Spanish team scored their opening goals – the third strike being an self-inflicted – but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target.

The total statistics read: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. As it turned out, that resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and nowhere simultaneously: present for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he darted through their defense. He executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of utmost subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the opening period, he had just drifted unnoticed into the penalty box once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had previously lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled another pass from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

A disguised pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the opener, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal mishit 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 an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had 88% of the ball, now had the advantage. The positioning chart looked like they had run out of spray paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's half they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and hitting the outside of the net.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored once more. The cross from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to power the header downward and dash off to do laps round the corner flag.

Closing Stages

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov sent through and sending his and their following shot wide and yet the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Yet it was not quite finished, Merino fouled in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing reign.