🔗 Share this article Merino's Double Fuels Spain's Scoring Run in Dominant Win Over Bulgarian Side It all started in Scottish soil and the momentum persists. That memorable night at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; many believed it could turn out to be his final match in charge. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, while almost all spectators expected his spell would be short-lived, the coach spoke about a pathway opening - and interestingly, the manager previously criticized of being unrealistic turned out right. 36 months and later, Spain moved to within touching distance of World Cup participation, while simultaneously racking up their 29th consecutive official game unbeaten, equaling the historic record. Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact During an evening when Pedri played and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure a perfect dozen from twelve in qualifying, edging closer. The Arsenal playmaker and occasional striker netted the first two goals and could have earned his second consecutive three-goal haul in three recent Spain matches but after brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead. Therefore it was La Real attacker, scorer of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who continued the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013. Record Equaled Now, readers may have noticed the symbol, and rightly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain did lose once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament final back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has matched that historic squad against which all Spanish sides are compared. Victory in Georgia in a month and the record will be exclusively theirs. En route they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 sitting number one, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of previous eras. Total Control The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. Occurred two instances immediately after the Spanish team obtained their first two goals – the third strike being an own goal – but eventually their rivals had not been allowed a solitary shot on target. The total statistics showed: 33-3, Spain demonstrably playing as 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 defensive effort lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already. Midfield Brilliance 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, incapable to detect him as he darted through their lines. He completed 101 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 as well. When the Valladolid stadium chanted his name during the first half, he had just drifted 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 volley wide and pulled an additional pass from which Baena was blocked. Continued Pressure A disguised delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the opener, and a precise pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a clean connection, volleying wide. But then, shortly after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had 88% of the possession, now had the advantage. The heat map appeared like they had run out of spray 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 half they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking away and striking the side-netting. Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The cross from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above all defenders, was Merino to direct the header downward and sprint to do laps round the flagpost. Final Moments Similar to their reaction after the first goal, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov played through and sending his and their second shot wide and yet the first time the away team had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Yet it was not quite finished, Merino fouled in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.