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It all began in Scotland and this impressive streak continues. That memorable night 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 assignment. Despite two Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, while almost all spectators anticipated his tenure would be short-lived, the coach spoke about a pathway emerging - and remarkably, the manager once accused of being unrealistic turned out correct.

36 months and four days, Spain moved extremely close of global football qualification, and also achieving their twenty-ninth straight official game without defeat, matching the historic 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 4-0 to secure a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Gunners' playmaker and sometime forward netted the opening two goals and might have earned his second consecutive hat-trick in three Spain matches but when brought down in the final minute, he generously handed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

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

Record Equaled

Now, you might have observed the asterisk, and correctly so. While FIFA might not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has matched that legendary team against which all Spanish sides are compared.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be theirs alone. En route they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 sitting No. 1, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of old times.

Complete Domination

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, admittedly, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, combined 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 allowed a single shot on target.

The total count showed: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly playing as 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 thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's 18th attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and elusive at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, unable to track him as he flitted through their lines. He completed one hundred and one passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on 66 minutes, and his were the instances of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive too.

When the José Zorrilla sang his name midway the opening period, he had just drifted unmarked into the area once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not just that. He had already lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled an additional pass 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 neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He received a chance of his own only to fail to find a proper contact, striking wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had 88% of the possession, now had the advantage. The positioning chart appeared like they had run out of marking paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football great. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly sprinting 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 did it again. The delivery from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header downward and sprint to do laps around the corner flag.

Closing Stages

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov played through and putting his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Yet it was not completely done, Merino kicked in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.