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

It all started in Scotland and the momentum remains unbroken. That memorable evening at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it could turn out to be his last assignment. Although two Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, while virtually everyone expected his tenure would be short-lived, De la Fuente talked about a pathway opening - and interestingly, the man previously criticized of being unrealistic proved right.

Three years and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of global football participation, while simultaneously racking up their twenty-ninth straight official game unbeaten, matching the historic record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

On a night when Pedri played and Mikel Merino created the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from twelve in qualifying, edging closer. The Gunners' playmaker and occasional forward netted the opening two goals and could have secured his second three-goal haul in three recent Spain matches but after brought down in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was the Real Sociedad attacker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 showpiece, who maintained the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Currently, readers may have noticed the asterisk, and rightly so. Although FIFA may not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However officially at least, this current team has equaled that historic team against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Win in Georgia in thirty days and the record 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 approach 2026 sitting No. 1, among the frontrunners once more, just like previous eras.

Complete Domination

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, aggregate score 15-0. There were two moments immediately after La Selección scored their first two goals – the third strike being an own goal – but ultimately their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target.

The total statistics read: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and nowhere at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to track him as he flitted through their lines. 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 moments of greatest subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive as well.

When the Valladolid stadium chanted his name during the opening period, he had just slipped unnoticed into the penalty box once more, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had previously lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled another pass from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

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

But then, almost immediately after, he floated another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the possession, now had the advantage. The heat map looked like they had run out of spray paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the unfairness, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria advanced into Spain's territory they could have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and hitting the side-netting.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three opportunities in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The cross from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to power the header downward and sprint to celebrate around the flagpost.

Closing Stages

Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov sent through and putting 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 turning into his own net. Yet it was not quite done, Merino kicked in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.