🔗 Share this article Merino's Double Fuels Spain's Goal Spree in Dominant Win Over Bulgarian Side It all commenced in Scottish soil and the momentum remains unbroken. That fateful night at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it might prove to be his final assignment. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, whereas almost all spectators anticipated his spell would be short-lived, the coach talked about a pathway emerging - and remarkably, the man once accused of living in Disneyland turned out right. 36 months and later, Spain moved extremely close of global football participation, while simultaneously racking up their twenty-ninth straight official game without defeat, equaling the legendary record. Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to secure 12 points from twelve in qualifying, edging closer. The Arsenal midfielder and occasional striker netted the first two goals and might have secured his second consecutive three-goal haul in three recent Spain matches but when brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead. Thus it was La Real striker, scorer of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 final, who maintained the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013. Historic Achievement Currently, readers may have noticed the asterisk, and rightly so. Although FIFA may not classify it as a defeat, during this remarkable 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 matched that legendary squad 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 won 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, just like old times. Complete Domination This was "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, combined score 15-0. There were two moments immediately after La Selección scored their first two goals – the third strike being an own goal – but eventually their opponents had not been allowed a single shot on target. Overall count showed: 33-3, Spain clearly 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 defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point. Pedri's Masterclass The display was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he flitted 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 moments of greatest subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the sharpest too. When the Valladolid stadium sang his name midway the opening period, 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 only that. He had already floated a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and delivered an additional back from which Baena was blocked. Sustained Attack An cleverly weighted delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the opener, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He got a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, volleying wide. But then, shortly after, he floated another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, then had the advantage. The positioning chart looked like they had run out of spray paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa could have made it two. Momentary Threat But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's half they could have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking 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 did it once more. The delivery from the left flank was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header downward and dash off to do laps round the corner flag. Closing Stages Similar to their reaction after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov sent through and putting his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the initial instance the away team had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Still it was not quite finished, Merino fouled in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.