Mikel Merino's Double Sparks La Roja's Scoring Spree in Commanding Win Over Bulgaria

Everything commenced in Scottish soil and this impressive streak persists. That memorable evening at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it could prove to be his last match in charge. Despite two Scott McTominay goals defeating La Furia Roja, while virtually everyone expected his tenure would be short-lived, De la Fuente talked about a route emerging - and interestingly, the man previously criticized of living in Disneyland turned out right.

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

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from twelve in qualifying, edging closer. The Arsenal playmaker and sometime forward scored the first two goals and might have secured his second hat-trick in three recent Spain appearances but when brought down in the final minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was La Real striker, scorer of the winning goal in the European Championship showpiece, who maintained the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Currently, you might have observed the asterisk, and correctly so. While FIFA may not count it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament decider 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 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 approach 2026 sitting No. 1, among the frontrunners once more, just like old times.

Total Control

This was "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, combined score fifteen-zero. There were two instances immediately after La Selección obtained their first two goals – the third strike being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their rivals had not been allowed a single shot on target.

The total statistics read: 33-3, Spain demonstrably playing as 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 resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

This performance was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and nowhere at once: everywhere for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he flitted through their defense. He executed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a rapturous applause on 66 minutes, and his were the moments of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive too.

When the Valladolid stadium chanted his name during the first half, he had just slipped unnoticed into the area again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not only that. He had previously floated a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and delivered an additional back from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a precise lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He got a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a clean connection, striking wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he floated another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, now had the advantage. The positioning chart looked like they had exhausted supply of marking paint half way through and a moment later Aghehowa could have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's territory they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking away and hitting the outside of the net.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored once more. The delivery from the left flank was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header down and sprint to celebrate around the corner flag.

Final Moments

Similar to their reaction after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov sent through and sending his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Still it was not quite finished, Merino kicked in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing reign.