🔗 Share this article Mikel Merino's Brace Sparks La Roja's Scoring Spree in Commanding Victory Over Bulgarian Side Everything started in Scotland and this impressive streak continues. That fateful night at Hampden represented merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it might turn out to be his final assignment. Although two Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, while almost all spectators expected his spell would be short-lived, De la Fuente spoke about a pathway emerging - and remarkably, the manager once accused of living in Disneyland proved right. 36 months and later, Spain advanced extremely close of World Cup qualification, while simultaneously achieving their 29th consecutive competitive game without defeat, matching the legendary record. Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino created the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria four-nil to secure 12 points from twelve in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Gunners' playmaker and sometime forward scored the first two goals and might have secured his second hat-trick in three recent Spain appearances but when fouled in the final minute, he selflessly passed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead. Therefore it was the Real Sociedad attacker, 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. Record Equaled Currently, readers may have noticed the symbol, and correctly so. While FIFA may not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament final back in June. However officially at least, this present team has equaled that historic squad against which all Spanish national teams are measured. Victory in Georgia in a month and the record will be exclusively theirs. 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 favorites once more, just like old times. Total Control The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, combined score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after La Selección scored their first two goals – the third being an own goal – but eventually their rivals had not been permitted a solitary shot on target. The total statistics showed: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the sole objective his team could have was to hold out 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 already. Pedri's Masterclass This performance was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive simultaneously: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he darted through their defense. He executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation on 66 minutes, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive as well. When the José Zorrilla sang his name midway the opening period, he had just slipped unmarked into the area again, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had previously lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled an additional back from which Baena was denied. Continued Pressure An cleverly weighted delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should 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 proper contact, striking wide. But then, almost immediately 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, now had the advantage. The heat map appeared like they had run out of spray 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 could have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting 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 scored once more. The delivery from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, 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 survived again, Despodov sent through and putting his and their following shot wide and yet the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his own net. Still it was not completely done, Merino kicked in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.