Mikel Merino's Brace Fuels La Roja's Goal Run in Commanding Win Over Bulgarian Side

Everything started in Scottish soil and the momentum persists. That memorable evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; many believed it might turn out to be his final assignment. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, while virtually everyone anticipated his tenure would be short-lived, De la Fuente talked about a pathway opening - and interestingly, the manager once accused of being unrealistic proved right.

Three years and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of global football participation, and also racking up their 29th consecutive competitive game unbeaten, matching the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria 4-0 to accumulate a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Arsenal playmaker and sometime striker scored the first two goals and might have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three Spain appearances but after brought down in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus 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, readers may have observed the symbol, and rightly so. Although FIFA might not count it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has equaled that legendary squad against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Win in Georgia in a month and the record will be theirs alone. Along the way they captured 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 frontrunners once more, reminiscent of old times.

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 outings, combined score fifteen-zero. There were two instances immediately after the Spanish team scored their first two goals – the third being an own goal – but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target.

The total count read: 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 they could. Ultimately, that resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and nowhere at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he flitted through their defense. He executed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive too.

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

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a clean contact, volleying wide.

But then, shortly after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had 88% of the possession, now had the advantage. The positioning chart looked like they had run out of spray paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football great. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's territory they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking away and striking the outside of the net.

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

Closing Stages

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov played through and putting his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the initial instance the away team had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Still it was not completely done, Merino fouled in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.