🔗 Share this article Mikel Merino's Brace Ignites La Roja's Goal Run in Dominant Victory Over Bulgaria Everything began in Scottish soil and the momentum persists. That fateful night at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; many believed it might turn out to be his final match in charge. Despite two Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, whereas almost all spectators anticipated his tenure would be short-lived, De la Fuente talked about a pathway emerging - and interestingly, the manager previously criticized of living in Disneyland proved correct. Three years and four days, Spain moved extremely close of global football participation, and also racking up their 29th straight official game without defeat, equaling the legendary record. Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact During an evening when Pedri played and Mikel Merino created the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate a perfect dozen from twelve in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Gunners' playmaker and occasional striker scored the first two goals and might have secured his second three-goal haul in three Spain appearances but when brought down in the final minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead. Therefore it was La Real striker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the European Championship showpiece, who maintained the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad achieved between 2010 and 2013. Record Equaled Currently, you might have noticed the asterisk, and correctly so. While FIFA may not classify it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet formally at least, this present team has matched that historic squad against which all Spanish national teams are compared. 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 head toward 2026 sitting number one, among the frontrunners once more, just like old times. Total Control This was "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, aggregate score 15-0. There were two moments immediately after La Selección scored their first two goals – the third strike being an self-inflicted – but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target. Overall count read: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point. Pedri's Masterclass The display was about the entire team, but at the core of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and nowhere at once: everywhere for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he darted through their defense. He completed one hundred and one passes by the time he was substituted to a rapturous applause on 66 minutes, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest as well. When the José Zorrilla sang his name midway the first half, he had just slipped unmarked into the area once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not just that. He had previously floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled another back from which Baena was denied. Sustained Attack An cleverly weighted pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a precise lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He received a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a proper connection, volleying wide. But then, almost immediately after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had 88% of the ball, then had the advantage. The positioning chart appeared like they had exhausted supply of spray paint half way through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil. Momentary Threat But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football great. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's half they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking away and striking the side-netting. Brought on 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 superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to power the header downward and sprint to celebrate round the flagpost. Closing Stages Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov sent through and sending his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the initial instance the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his team's goal. Yet it was not completely finished, Merino fouled in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing reign.