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Everything commenced in Scotland and the momentum remains unbroken. That fateful night at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; many believed it might prove to be his final assignment. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, while almost all spectators expected his tenure would be brief, De la Fuente talked about a route emerging - and remarkably, the manager previously criticized of living in Disneyland proved correct.

Three years and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of World Cup qualification, and also achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive official game unbeaten, matching the legendary record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

During an evening when Pedri played and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to accumulate a perfect dozen from 12 in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Gunners' midfielder and sometime forward netted the first two goals and could have earned his second three-goal haul in three recent Spain appearances but after fouled in the closing minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was the Real Sociedad attacker, scorer of the decisive goal in the European Championship final, who continued the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, readers may have observed the asterisk, and rightly so. Although FIFA may not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain did lose once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However formally at least, this current team has matched that historic squad against which all Spanish sides are compared.

Win in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. Along the way they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 sitting No. 1, among the frontrunners once more, just like previous eras.

Total Control

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, aggregate score 15-0. There were two instances immediately after the Spanish team scored their first two goals – the third strike being an self-inflicted – but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a single shot on target.

The total count read: thirty-three to three, Spain demonstrably playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the only objective his team could have was to hold out as long as possible. Ultimately, that defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

This performance was about the entire team, but at the core of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and nowhere simultaneously: present for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he flitted through their lines. He executed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a rapturous applause on 66 minutes, and his were the moments of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest as well.

When the José Zorrilla chanted his name during the opening period, he had just drifted unnoticed into the penalty box again, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not just that. He had previously lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and delivered an additional pass from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

An cleverly weighted pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He received a chance of his own only to fail to find a proper contact, volleying wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, now had the advantage. The heat map appeared like they had run out of marking paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria advanced into Spain's territory they might 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 chances in as many minutes before Merino scored once more. The cross from the left flank was excellent 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.

Final Moments

Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria survived once more, 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 incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his team's goal. Yet it was not quite done, Merino kicked in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.