🔗 Share this article Merino's Double Fuels La Roja's Scoring Run in Dominant Victory Over Bulgaria It all started in Scotland and the momentum remains unbroken. That memorable evening at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; numerous observers thought it might turn out to be his last match in charge. Despite two Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, while almost all spectators expected his spell would be short-lived, the coach talked about a route opening - and interestingly, the man previously criticized of living in Disneyland proved correct. 36 months and four days, Spain advanced to within touching distance of World Cup participation, and also achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game unbeaten, matching the historic record. Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain defeated Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from 12 in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Arsenal midfielder and sometime forward netted the opening two goals and might have earned his second hat-trick in three recent Spain matches but after brought down in the final minute, he generously handed the spot-kick 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, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished 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 suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However officially at least, this current team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish national teams are measured. Win 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 advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 ranked No. 1, among the frontrunners once more, just like old times. Total Control The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, combined score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after the Spanish team scored their first two goals – the third being an own goal – but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target. The total statistics showed: 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 resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target already. Midfield Brilliance This performance was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: present for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he flitted through their defense. He executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the moments of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the sharpest as well. When the José Zorrilla sang his name during the first half, he had just slipped unmarked into the area once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had previously lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and delivered another pass from which Baena was blocked. Sustained Attack An cleverly weighted delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a precise lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a proper connection, volleying wide. But then, almost immediately after, he floated another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the possession, now had the lead. The heat map appeared like they had exhausted supply 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 great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they might have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and striking the side-netting. Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three opportunities in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The delivery from the left flank was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to power the header down and dash off to do laps round the corner flag. Closing Stages As they had after the opener, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov played through and putting 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 deflecting into his own net. Yet it was not quite finished, Merino fouled in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.