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Everything began in Scottish soil and the momentum continues. That fateful night at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; many believed it could turn out to be his last assignment. Despite two Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, whereas virtually everyone expected his spell would be short-lived, De la Fuente spoke about a pathway emerging - and interestingly, the manager once accused of living in Disneyland proved correct.

Three years and later, Spain advanced to within touching distance of World Cup qualification, and also achieving their 29th consecutive competitive game unbeaten, equaling the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to accumulate 12 points from twelve in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Arsenal midfielder and occasional striker netted the opening two goals and could have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three Spain matches but after brought down in the closing minute, he generously handed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was the Real Sociedad striker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who maintained the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, you might have observed the asterisk, and rightly so. Although FIFA might not count it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain did lose once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament decider back in June. However formally at least, this present team has matched that historic squad against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be theirs alone. Along the way they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 ranked No. 1, among the frontrunners 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 outings, aggregate score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after La Selección obtained their opening goals – the third strike being an own goal – but ultimately their rivals had not been permitted a single shot on target.

The total statistics read: 33-3, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. Ultimately, that defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

The display was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable 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 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 slipped unnoticed into the penalty box again, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not just that. He had already lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and delivered another back from which Baena was denied.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a chance of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, volleying 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 eighty-eight percent of the ball, now had the lead. The heat map appeared like they had exhausted supply of marking paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's territory they could have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking 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 delivery from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header downward and dash off to celebrate around the flagpost.

Final Moments

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov played through and sending his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the first time the away team had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Yet it was not quite finished, Merino kicked in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.