Merino's Brace Fuels La Roja's Goal Spree in Commanding Win Over Bulgaria

Everything began in Scottish soil and the momentum remains unbroken. That memorable evening at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; many believed it could turn out to be his last match in charge. Despite two Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, while almost all spectators anticipated his spell would be brief, the coach spoke about a route emerging - and interestingly, the manager previously criticized of being unrealistic proved right.

36 months and later, Spain moved extremely close of World Cup participation, and also racking up their 29th straight official game unbeaten, equaling the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain defeated Bulgaria 4-0 to accumulate a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Arsenal midfielder and occasional forward scored the opening two goals and might have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three Spain appearances but when brought down in the closing minute, he generously handed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

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

Record Equaled

Now, you might have noticed the asterisk, and rightly so. Although FIFA may not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain did lose once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament decider back in June. However formally at least, this present team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Win in Georgia in thirty days and the record will be theirs alone. 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 sitting number one, among the frontrunners once more, reminiscent of old times.

Total Control

The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, admittedly, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four outings, combined score fifteen-zero. Occurred two instances immediately after the Spanish team scored their opening goals – the third strike being an self-inflicted – but ultimately their rivals had not been permitted a single shot on target.

The total statistics 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 they could. As it turned out, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about the entire team, but at the core of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and nowhere simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he flitted through their lines. He completed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the moments of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive too.

When the José Zorrilla chanted his name midway the first half, he had just drifted unmarked into the penalty box once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not just that. He had already floated a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled an additional back 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 neat pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a proper connection, striking wide.

But then, almost immediately 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 heat map looked like they had exhausted supply of spray paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two-nil.

Momentary Threat

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

Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, 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 dash off to do laps round the flagpost.

Closing Stages

Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov played through and putting his and their second shot wide and yet the initial instance the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his own net. Still it was not completely done, Merino kicked in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.