🔗 Share this article Mikel Merino's Brace Ignites La Roja's Goal Spree in Commanding Win Over Bulgaria Everything started in Scottish soil and this impressive streak persists. That fateful evening at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; many believed it might turn out to be his last match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals defeating La Furia Roja, whereas virtually everyone anticipated his spell would be brief, De la Fuente talked about a pathway emerging - and interestingly, the man previously criticized of living in Disneyland proved correct. 36 months and later, Spain advanced extremely close of World Cup qualification, and also racking up their 29th straight official game unbeaten, matching the historic record. Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact On a night when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to accumulate a perfect dozen from 12 in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Arsenal midfielder and occasional striker scored the opening two goals and might have secured his second hat-trick in three Spain matches but when fouled in the closing minute, he generously handed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead. Thus it was La Real striker, scorer of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who continued the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad achieved between 2010 and 2013. Historic Achievement Currently, readers may have observed the symbol, and rightly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. Yet formally at least, this current team has equaled that historic team against which all Spanish national teams are compared. Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the record will be exclusively theirs. En route 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 favorites once more, just like old times. Total Control The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, admittedly, just as previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. Occurred two instances immediately after La Selección scored their opening goals – the third strike being an own goal – but ultimately their rivals had not been allowed a solitary shot on target. Overall count read: 33-3, Spain demonstrably being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to hold out as long as possible. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already. Pedri's Masterclass The display was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to track him as he flitted through their lines. He executed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation on 66 minutes, and his were the moments of utmost subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest too. When the José Zorrilla chanted his name midway the first half, he had just drifted unnoticed into the penalty box again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had already lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and delivered an additional pass from which Baena was denied. Sustained Attack An cleverly weighted delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a precise lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He got a chance of his own only to be unable to find a clean connection, striking wide. But then, almost immediately after, he delivered an additional 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 heat map appeared 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 uncertainty, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's half they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly sprinting away and hitting the outside of the net. Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino did it again. The delivery from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to power the header down and dash off to do laps round the flagpost. Final Moments As they had after the opener, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov played through and sending his and their second shot wide and yet the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Yet it was not completely done, Merino fouled in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.