Merino's Brace Fuels La Roja's Goal Run in Dominant Win Over Bulgarian Side

It all commenced in Scotland and the momentum continues. That fateful night at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; numerous observers thought it could prove to be his final assignment. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, whereas almost all spectators anticipated his tenure would be brief, De la Fuente spoke about a route opening - and interestingly, the man once accused of living in Disneyland proved right.

36 months and four days, Spain moved extremely close of global football participation, and also achieving their 29th straight competitive game unbeaten, equaling the historic record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from 12 in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Gunners' playmaker and occasional forward scored the first two goals and might have earned his second hat-trick in three recent Spain appearances but after brought down in the closing minute, he selflessly passed 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, matching what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Currently, readers may have noticed the symbol, and correctly so. While FIFA may not classify it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. However formally at least, this current team has equaled that historic team against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be theirs alone. En route they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 sitting No. 1, among the favorites once more, just like old times.

Complete Domination

The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, admittedly, just as previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four outings, combined score 15-0. There were two moments immediately after La Selección obtained their first two goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their rivals had not been allowed a single shot on target.

Overall count showed: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. Ultimately, that resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

This performance 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 track him as he flitted through their defense. He completed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the moments of utmost subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive as well.

When the Valladolid stadium chanted his name during the first half, he had just drifted unnoticed into the penalty box once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not just that. He had already floated a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled an additional pass from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

An cleverly weighted pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his attempt. He got a chance of his own only to fail to find a proper connection, volleying wide.

But then, almost immediately 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 possession, now had the lead. The heat map appeared like they had exhausted supply of spray paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's half they could 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 delivery from the left flank was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to power the header down and sprint to celebrate around the flagpost.

Closing Stages

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov sent through and sending his and their second 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 team's goal. Still it was not completely done, Merino fouled in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.