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Everything started in Scottish soil and this impressive streak persists. That fateful night at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it could prove to be his final match in charge. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, whereas virtually everyone anticipated his tenure would be brief, the coach spoke about a route emerging - and remarkably, the man once accused of being unrealistic proved right.

36 months and four days, Spain advanced to within touching distance of global football participation, while simultaneously achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive official game without defeat, equaling the historic record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to accumulate a perfect dozen from twelve in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Gunners' midfielder and occasional forward netted the opening two goals and might have earned his second consecutive hat-trick in three Spain matches but when brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

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

Record Equaled

Currently, readers may have observed the asterisk, and rightly so. While FIFA may not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. However officially at least, this present team has equaled that historic team against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. 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 ranked number one, among the favorites once more, just like previous eras.

Complete Domination

This was "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four outings, combined score 15-0. Occurred two moments immediately after the Spanish team scored their first two goals – the third strike being an self-inflicted – but eventually their rivals had not been allowed a single shot on target.

The total count read: 33-3, Spain demonstrably playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed 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 by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: present for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he flitted through their lines. He completed 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 too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name midway the first half, he had just slipped unnoticed into the area once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not just that. He had already lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and delivered another back from which Baena was denied.

Sustained Attack

A disguised delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He received a chance of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, striking wide.

But then, shortly 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 advantage. The heat map looked like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a moment 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 initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly 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 cross from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to power the header down and sprint to celebrate around the corner flag.

Final Moments

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov played through and putting his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his team's goal. Still it was not quite done, Merino fouled in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.