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Everything commenced in Scottish soil and this impressive streak remains unbroken. That fateful evening at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it could prove to be his final match in charge. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, while virtually everyone anticipated his spell would be brief, De la Fuente talked about a route emerging - and interestingly, the man previously criticized of being unrealistic turned out correct.

36 months and later, Spain advanced to within touching distance of global football qualification, while simultaneously achieving their 29th straight official game unbeaten, equaling the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

On a night when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to secure 12 points from twelve in qualifying, edging closer. The Arsenal playmaker and occasional striker netted the first two goals and could have earned his second consecutive hat-trick in three Spain matches but when fouled in the final minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was the Real Sociedad attacker, scorer of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 final, who continued the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, you might have noticed the asterisk, and rightly so. Although FIFA might not count it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain did lose once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament decider back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has equaled that legendary team against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be theirs alone. 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 number one, among the favorites once more, just like old times.

Complete Domination

This was "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, just as previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four outings, combined score fifteen-zero. There were two instances immediately after the Spanish team scored their opening goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their opponents had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

Overall count showed: thirty-three to three, Spain demonstrably playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already.

Pedri's Masterclass

The display was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and elusive at once: everywhere for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he darted through their defense. He completed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive too.

When the José Zorrilla sang his name during the opening period, he had just drifted unnoticed into the area again, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had already floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled an additional pass from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

A disguised delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He got a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, striking 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 ball, now had the advantage. The positioning chart looked like they had run out of spray paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's half they could have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly sprinting away and hitting the outside of the net.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three opportunities in as many minutes before Merino did it again. The delivery from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above all defenders, was Merino to direct the header downward 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 away team had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Still it was not completely done, Merino kicked in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.