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It all started in Scottish soil and this impressive streak continues. That fateful night at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; many believed it could prove to be his final assignment. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating La Furia Roja, while almost all spectators anticipated his spell would be short-lived, the coach spoke about a route emerging - and interestingly, the manager once accused of being unrealistic proved correct.

Three years and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of World Cup qualification, and also racking up their twenty-ninth straight official game without defeat, equaling the historic record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain defeated Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from 12 in qualifying, edging closer. The Arsenal playmaker and sometime striker scored the first two goals and might have earned his second three-goal haul in three Spain matches but when brought down in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was the Real Sociedad attacker, scorer of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 final, who maintained the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, readers may have noticed the symbol, and rightly so. While FIFA may not classify it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain actually lose once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. However formally at least, this present team has matched that legendary team against which all Spanish sides are compared.

Victory in Georgia in a month 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 head toward 2026 ranked number one, among the favorites once more, just like previous eras.

Total Control

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

Overall statistics read: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. Ultimately, that resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's 18th attempt on target already.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere simultaneously: present for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he flitted through their defense. He completed one hundred and one passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on 66 minutes, and his were the moments of greatest subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive as well.

When the José Zorrilla chanted his name during the opening period, 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 magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled another pass from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

A disguised delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a precise lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his attempt. He got a chance of his own only to be unable to find a clean contact, volleying wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the possession, now had the advantage. The positioning chart appeared like they had run out of spray paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Brief Resistance

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

Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored once more. The cross from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to power the header downward and sprint to do laps round the corner flag.

Final Moments

Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov played through and sending his and their second shot wide and yet the initial instance the visitors had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Still it was not quite done, Merino kicked in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.