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Everything started in Scotland and the momentum persists. That fateful evening at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it might prove to be his last match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, while almost all spectators expected his tenure would be short-lived, the coach talked about a route emerging - and interestingly, the manager previously criticized of being unrealistic proved right.

Three years and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of global football participation, while simultaneously achieving their 29th consecutive official game unbeaten, equaling the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

On a night when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to secure 12 points from 12 in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Gunners' playmaker and occasional striker scored the first two goals and might have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three recent Spain appearances but when brought down in the final minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, scorer of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 final, who maintained the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, readers may have noticed the symbol, and correctly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. Yet formally at least, this present team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Victory in Georgia in a month 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 approach 2026 ranked number one, among the favorites once more, just like old times.

Total Control

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, 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 obtained their opening goals – the third strike being an self-inflicted – but eventually their rivals had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

Overall statistics showed: 33-3, Spain demonstrably being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he darted through their lines. He executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on 66 minutes, and his were the moments 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 slipped unnoticed into the area again, 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 volley wide and pulled an additional pass from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

A disguised delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He got a chance of his own only to be unable to find a clean connection, striking wide.

But then, shortly after, he floated another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had 88% of the possession, then had the lead. The positioning chart appeared like they had run out of marking paint midway through and a little 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 advanced into Spain's territory they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and hitting the outside of the net.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The cross from the left flank was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to power the header downward and dash off to do laps round the corner flag.

Final Moments

As they had after the opener, 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 incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Yet it was not quite done, Merino fouled in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.