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It all commenced in Scottish soil and the momentum continues. That fateful night at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's manager; many believed it could turn out to be his final assignment. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, while virtually everyone anticipated his tenure would be brief, De la Fuente spoke about a route opening - and interestingly, the manager once accused of living in Disneyland proved right.

36 months and later, Spain advanced extremely close of global football participation, and also achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive official game without defeat, matching the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino created the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from twelve in qualifying, edging closer. The Gunners' playmaker and occasional striker scored the first two goals and could have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three recent Spain appearances but when brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, goal-getter of the decisive goal in the European Championship showpiece, who continued the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Currently, readers may have noticed the symbol, and correctly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain actually lose once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However officially at least, this present team has equaled that legendary 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 head toward 2026 sitting number one, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of old times.

Complete Domination

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, aggregate score fifteen-zero. Occurred two moments immediately after the Spanish team obtained their first two goals – the third strike being an self-inflicted – but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a single shot on target.

Overall count read: 33-3, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. As it turned out, 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 all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to track him as he darted through their lines. He executed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on 66 minutes, and his were the moments of utmost subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest as well.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the opening period, he had just slipped unmarked into the penalty box once more, chipping 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.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his attempt. He got a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, striking 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, then had the advantage. The positioning chart looked like they had run out of marking paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's half they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly sprinting away and striking the side-netting.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino scored once more. The delivery from the left flank was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to direct the header downward and dash off to celebrate around the flagpost.

Closing Stages

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov sent through and sending his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his team's goal. Still it was not quite done, Merino kicked in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's continuing reign.