đ Share this article Mikel Merino's Brace Sparks Spain's Scoring Run in Dominant Victory Over Bulgaria It all commenced in Scottish soil and the momentum remains unbroken. That memorable night at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; many believed it could turn out to be his final assignment. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, whereas almost all spectators expected his spell would be short-lived, De la Fuente spoke about a route opening - and interestingly, the manager once accused of living in Disneyland proved correct. 36 months and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of World Cup qualification, while simultaneously racking up their 29th straight official game unbeaten, equaling the legendary record. Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact During an evening when Pedri played and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to secure a perfect dozen from 12 in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Gunners' playmaker and sometime striker netted the opening two goals and might have earned his second hat-trick in three recent Spain appearances but after brought down in the closing minute, he generously handed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead. Thus it was the Real Sociedad attacker, scorer of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who continued the impressive sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013. Record Equaled Currently, readers may have observed the symbol, and rightly so. Although FIFA may not classify it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once â 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However officially at least, this current team has equaled that historic team against which all Spanish national teams are measured. Win in Georgia in a month and the record 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 sitting No. 1, among the favorites once more, just like previous eras. Complete Domination The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, combined score 15-0. Occurred two instances immediately after the Spanish team scored their first two goals â the third being an own goal â but ultimately their rivals had not been allowed a solitary shot on target. Overall count showed: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's 18th attempt on target already. Midfield Brilliance The display was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and nowhere at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to track 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 moments of greatest subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive too. When the JosĂ© Zorrilla chanted his name during the opening period, he had just slipped unnoticed into the penalty box again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not just that. He had previously floated a magnificent pass into Ălex Baena to volley wide and delivered another back from which Baena was blocked. Sustained Attack An cleverly weighted pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the opener, and a precise lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He got a chance of his own only to be unable to find a clean contact, volleying wide. But then, almost immediately after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the possession, now had the lead. The heat map looked like they had run out of spray paint half way through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two. Brief Resistance But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's half they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and striking the outside of the net. Brought on for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The cross from the left was superb from Ălex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to power the header downward and sprint to celebrate round the flagpost. Closing Stages Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov played 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 own net. Yet it was not quite finished, Merino fouled in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.