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

Everything commenced in Scotland and this impressive streak continues. That memorable night at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; many believed it might prove to be his final match in charge. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, while almost all spectators expected his spell would be brief, De la Fuente spoke about a pathway opening - and remarkably, the man once accused of being unrealistic turned out right.

Three years and later, Spain moved to within touching distance of global football participation, and also racking up their twenty-ninth consecutive official game without defeat, equaling the legendary record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

On a night when Pedri played and Mikel Merino created the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to secure a perfect dozen from 12 in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Arsenal midfielder and occasional forward scored the opening two goals and could have secured his second hat-trick in three Spain appearances but after brought down in the final minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was La Real striker, goal-getter of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who continued the impressive sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, readers may have observed the symbol, and rightly so. Although FIFA may not count it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain actually lose once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet formally at least, this current team has matched that legendary team against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. En route 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 frontrunners once more, just like old times.

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, combined score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after the Spanish team obtained their first two goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a single shot on target.

The total count read: thirty-three to three, Spain demonstrably being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

The display was about all of them, but at the core 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 executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was substituted to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive too.

When the José Zorrilla chanted his name midway the opening period, he had just slipped unnoticed into the area once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had already lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled an additional back from which Baena was denied.

Continued Pressure

A disguised delivery had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, volleying wide.

But then, shortly after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had 88% of the possession, then had the lead. The heat map looked like they had exhausted supply of marking paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football great. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's half they might have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly sprinting away and hitting the side-netting.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino did it again. The delivery from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header downward and sprint to do laps round the flagpost.

Closing Stages

Similar to their reaction after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov sent 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 team's goal. Still it was not completely done, Merino kicked in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.