Merino's Double Fuels Spain's Scoring Spree in Dominant Win Over Bulgarian Side

Everything started in Scotland and the momentum continues. That memorable night at Hampden represented merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; many believed it might turn out to be his last match in charge. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, whereas almost all spectators anticipated his tenure would be brief, the coach spoke about a route opening - and interestingly, the manager once accused of being unrealistic turned out correct.

36 months and later, Spain moved to within touching distance of World Cup qualification, and also achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive official game without defeat, matching the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Decisive Contribution

During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Arsenal playmaker and occasional forward netted the opening two goals and could have earned his second three-goal haul in three Spain matches but when brought down in the closing minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, scorer of the winning goal in the European Championship showpiece, who continued the remarkable sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, readers may have noticed the asterisk, and rightly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain did suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament final back in June. Yet officially at least, this present team has equaled that legendary team against which all Spanish sides are measured.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the record will be theirs alone. Along the way 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 favorites once more, reminiscent of previous eras.

Total Control

The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after the Spanish team obtained their opening goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but eventually their rivals had not been allowed a single shot on target.

Overall statistics 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. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's 18th attempt on target already.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about all of them, but at the heart of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he flitted through their lines. He completed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the first half, he had just drifted unnoticed into the area once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not just that. He had already floated a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled an additional back from which Baena was denied.

Continued Pressure

A disguised pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a precise pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a chance of his own only to fail to find a proper connection, volleying wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, then had the advantage. The positioning chart appeared 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 injustice, that makes football great. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's half they could have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking away and hitting the side-netting.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The delivery from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to power the header down and dash off to do laps around the corner flag.

Final Moments

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov played through and putting his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the first time the away team had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Still it was not completely finished, Merino fouled in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing reign.