🔗 Share this article Merino's Double Fuels Spain's Scoring Spree in Dominant Victory Over Bulgaria Everything started in Scottish soil and the momentum remains unbroken. That fateful evening at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; many believed it could turn out to be his last match in charge. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating La Furia Roja, while almost all spectators expected his tenure would be brief, De la Fuente spoke about a pathway opening - and interestingly, the man previously criticized of being unrealistic proved right. Three years and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of global football participation, and also racking up their 29th straight competitive game without defeat, matching the legendary record. Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to secure a perfect dozen from 12 in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Arsenal midfielder and occasional striker scored the first two goals and might have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three recent Spain appearances but after brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead. Thus it was the Real Sociedad striker, scorer of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who maintained the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013. Record Equaled Currently, you might have observed the symbol, and correctly so. Although FIFA may not classify it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain did 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 squad against which all Spanish sides are compared. Win in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. Along the way they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 ranked number one, among the frontrunners once more, just like previous eras. Total Control The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, combined score fifteen-zero. Occurred two instances immediately after La Selección scored their opening goals – the third being an own goal – but ultimately their opponents had not been allowed a single shot on target. Overall count showed: 33-3, Spain demonstrably playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point. Midfield Brilliance The display was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and elusive simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he darted through their lines. He executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the moments of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive too. When the Valladolid stadium sang his name midway the first half, he had just slipped unnoticed into the area again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had previously floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and delivered another back from which Baena was blocked. Continued Pressure 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 mishit his shot. He received a chance of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, striking wide. But then, shortly after, he floated another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had 88% of the possession, now had the lead. The positioning chart appeared like they had run out of spray paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two. Momentary Threat But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football great. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and hitting the side-netting. Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had multiple opportunities in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The cross from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header down and dash off to celebrate around the flagpost. Closing Stages As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov played through and putting his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the initial instance the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Yet it was not quite done, Merino kicked in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.