đ Share this article Mikel Merino's Brace Sparks La Roja's Goal Run in Dominant Victory Over Bulgarian Side Everything commenced in Scotland and this impressive streak persists. That memorable evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's manager; numerous observers thought it could turn out to be his final match in charge. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating La Furia Roja, while almost all spectators expected his spell would be short-lived, the coach spoke about a route emerging - and interestingly, the man once accused of being unrealistic proved right. 36 months and later, Spain moved extremely close of global football participation, and also racking up their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game without defeat, matching the legendary record. Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact On a night when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino created the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to secure 12 points from twelve in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Gunners' midfielder and occasional striker scored the first two goals and might have secured his second three-goal haul in three recent Spain appearances but after fouled in the closing minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead. Thus it was the Real Sociedad striker, scorer of the winning goal in the European Championship showpiece, who maintained the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013. Record Equaled Currently, you might have observed the asterisk, and correctly so. While FIFA might not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain did suffer defeat once â 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish sides are compared. Victory in Georgia in a month and the record will be exclusively theirs. En route they captured 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, reminiscent of old times. Total Control This was "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. Occurred two instances immediately after the Spanish team obtained their first two goals â the third strike being an own goal â but eventually their opponents had not been allowed a single shot on target. Overall statistics read: 33-3, Spain demonstrably playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to hold out as long as possible. Ultimately, that resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target already. Pedri's Masterclass This performance was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: everywhere 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 withdrawn to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest as well. When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the first half, he had just drifted unnoticed into the area once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had previously lifted a gorgeous pass into Ălex Baena to volley wide and delivered another pass from which Baena was denied. Continued Pressure A disguised delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He got a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a proper contact, volleying wide. But then, almost immediately after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, then had the advantage. The positioning chart looked like they had exhausted supply of spray paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two-nil. Brief Resistance But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the unfairness, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's half they could have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and striking the outside of the net. Brought on for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The delivery from the left was excellent from Ălex Grimaldo and there, jumping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header down and dash off to celebrate around the flagpost. Final Moments Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov played 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 quite finished, Merino kicked in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.