Merino's Brace Sparks Spain's Scoring Run in Commanding Victory Over Bulgaria

Everything commenced in Scottish soil and this impressive streak continues. That fateful night at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it might prove to be his final match in charge. Despite two Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, whereas almost all spectators expected his tenure would be brief, De la Fuente spoke about a route emerging - and remarkably, the man previously criticized of living in Disneyland proved correct.

36 months and later, Spain moved to within touching distance of World Cup qualification, and also achieving their 29th straight competitive game without defeat, equaling the legendary record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Arsenal playmaker and sometime forward netted the opening two goals and could have earned his second consecutive three-goal haul in three Spain appearances but after fouled in the closing minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real striker, scorer of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who continued the remarkable sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Now, you might have noticed the asterisk, and correctly so. Although FIFA might not count it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain actually suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However formally at least, this current team has equaled that legendary team against which all Spanish sides are measured.

Victory 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 ranked No. 1, among the favorites once more, just like previous eras.

Total Control

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, admittedly, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, combined score 15-0. Occurred two instances immediately after La Selección scored their first two goals – the third being an own goal – but ultimately their rivals had not been allowed a single shot on target.

The total statistics showed: 33-3, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. Ultimately, that defensive effort lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already.

Pedri's Masterclass

The display was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to track him as he flitted through their lines. He completed 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 greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest as well.

When the José Zorrilla chanted his name during the first half, he had just drifted unnoticed into the area again, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had previously floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled another back from which Baena was denied.

Sustained Attack

An cleverly weighted delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a precise lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He got a chance of his own only to be unable to find a clean contact, striking wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he delivered an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, then had the lead. The heat map appeared like they had run out of marking paint half way through and a moment later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's half they could have equalized, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and striking the side-netting.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The delivery from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header down and dash off to do laps around the flagpost.

Final Moments

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov played through and sending 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 finished, Merino kicked in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing reign.