Mikel Merino's Double Fuels Spain's Scoring Run in Commanding Victory Over Bulgarian Side

It all started in Scotland and this impressive streak remains unbroken. That memorable night at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's manager; numerous observers thought it could turn out to be his last match in charge. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating La Furia Roja, whereas almost all spectators anticipated his spell would be short-lived, De la Fuente spoke about a pathway emerging - and interestingly, the man once accused of living in Disneyland proved correct.

Three years and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of World Cup qualification, while simultaneously achieving their 29th straight official game unbeaten, matching the legendary record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

On a night when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate a perfect dozen from 12 in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Gunners' playmaker and sometime striker scored the first two goals and might have earned his second three-goal haul in three recent Spain matches but after brought down in the final minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, scorer of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who continued the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, you might have noticed the asterisk, and correctly so. While FIFA might not count it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain did lose once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament decider back in June. Yet formally at least, this current team has matched that legendary team against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Win 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 No. 1, among the frontrunners once more, just like old times.

Complete Domination

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, just as previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, aggregate score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after the Spanish team scored their opening goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their opponents had not been permitted a single shot on target.

The total count read: thirty-three to three, Spain demonstrably being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. As it turned out, that resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented 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: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, unable to track him as he flitted through their defense. He completed one hundred and one passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on 66 minutes, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive as well.

When the José Zorrilla sang his name midway the first half, he had just drifted unnoticed into the area once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had already floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and delivered another back from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

A disguised delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He received a chance of his own only to be unable to find a clean connection, striking 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 ball, now had the lead. The heat map appeared like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the unfairness, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and striking the outside of the net.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino did it again. The delivery from the left flank was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header downward and sprint to do laps around the corner flag.

Closing Stages

Similar to their reaction after the first goal, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov played 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 wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Still it was not completely finished, Merino fouled in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.