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It all started in Scotland and the momentum persists. That fateful evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it might prove to be his last assignment. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating La Furia Roja, while virtually everyone expected his spell would be short-lived, De la Fuente talked about a pathway opening - and remarkably, the manager once accused of living in Disneyland proved right.

Three years and later, Spain advanced extremely close of global football qualification, while simultaneously racking up their twenty-ninth straight competitive game unbeaten, equaling the legendary record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to secure 12 points from 12 in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Arsenal playmaker and sometime striker netted the first two goals and might have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three Spain appearances but when brought down in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

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

Record Equaled

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

Win 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 head toward 2026 sitting number one, among the frontrunners once more, reminiscent of previous eras.

Total Control

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, aggregate score 15-0. There were two moments immediately after La Selección obtained their first two goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target.

The total count read: 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 possible. Ultimately, that defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and elusive simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he darted through their lines. He executed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on 66 minutes, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive as well.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the first half, he had just slipped unnoticed into the penalty box again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had previously floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and delivered another back from which Baena was denied.

Sustained Attack

A disguised delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the opener, and a precise pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his attempt. He got a chance of his own only to be unable to find a proper connection, striking 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 advantage. The heat map looked like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the initial occasion Bulgaria advanced into Spain's territory they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and hitting the side-netting.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The delivery from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to power the header downward and sprint to do laps round the flagpost.

Final Moments

Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov sent through and sending his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the initial instance the away team had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev turning into his own net. Still it was not completely done, Merino fouled in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.