Merino's Double Sparks La Roja's Goal Spree in Dominant Win Over Bulgaria

It all began in Scotland and this impressive streak continues. That fateful night at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's manager; many believed it might turn out to be his final match in charge. Despite two Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, whereas virtually everyone expected his spell would be brief, the coach spoke about a pathway emerging - and remarkably, the manager previously criticized of being unrealistic proved right.

36 months and later, Spain advanced to within touching distance of global football participation, and also racking up their twenty-ninth consecutive official game without defeat, matching the historic record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate 12 points from twelve in qualifying, edging closer. The Gunners' midfielder and sometime striker netted the first two goals and could have earned his second hat-trick in three recent Spain matches but when fouled in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was the Real Sociedad striker, scorer of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 final, who maintained the remarkable sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Currently, readers may have noticed the symbol, and correctly so. Although FIFA might not count it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has equaled that historic squad against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be theirs alone. 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 favorites once more, reminiscent of previous eras.

Complete Domination

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, combined score 15-0. There were two instances immediately after the Spanish team scored their opening goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their opponents had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

Overall count read: 33-3, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the only 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.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he flitted through their defense. He completed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest too.

When the Valladolid stadium chanted his name midway the opening period, he had just slipped unmarked into the penalty box again, dinking 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 strike wide and pulled another back from which Baena was denied.

Sustained Attack

An cleverly weighted pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the opener, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He received a chance of his own only to fail to find a proper contact, volleying 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 ball, then had the lead. The heat map looked like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the injustice, that makes football great. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's territory 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 multiple opportunities in as many minutes before Merino did it again. The cross from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header downward and dash off to do laps round the flagpost.

Closing Stages

Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov played through and sending his and their following 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 own net. Still it was not quite finished, Merino kicked in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.