🔗 Share this article Mikel Merino's Brace Ignites Spain's Scoring Spree in Dominant Win Over Bulgarian Side Everything started in Scottish soil and the momentum remains unbroken. That fateful evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; 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 virtually everyone expected his tenure would be brief, De la Fuente spoke about a route emerging - and remarkably, the manager once accused of being unrealistic turned out correct. 36 months and later, Spain advanced to within touching distance of World Cup participation, while simultaneously racking up their 29th consecutive official game without defeat, equaling the historic record. Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to secure a perfect dozen from twelve in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Gunners' playmaker and occasional forward scored the first two goals and could have secured his second consecutive three-goal haul in three Spain appearances but when fouled in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead. Therefore it was the Real Sociedad attacker, goal-getter of the decisive goal in the European Championship final, who continued the remarkable sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013. Historic Achievement Currently, you might have noticed the symbol, and rightly so. While FIFA might not classify it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain actually suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However formally at least, this present team has matched that legendary team against which all Spanish national teams are compared. Win in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be theirs alone. Along the way they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 sitting number one, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of previous eras. Total Control The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, combined score fifteen-zero. Occurred two moments immediately after the Spanish team obtained their opening goals – the third being an own goal – but eventually their rivals had not been permitted a solitary shot on target. Overall statistics read: thirty-three to three, Spain demonstrably playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. Ultimately, that defensive effort lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point. Midfield Brilliance This performance was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive simultaneously: everywhere 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 withdrawn to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the moments of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive as well. When the Valladolid stadium sang his name midway the opening period, he had just drifted unmarked into the area again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, 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 delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the opener, and a precise pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a proper connection, striking wide. But then, shortly after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, then had the lead. The positioning chart looked like they had run out of marking paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil. Momentary Threat 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 abruptly breaking away and striking the side-netting. Brought on for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had multiple chances in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The delivery from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above all defenders, was Merino to direct the header downward and sprint to celebrate round the corner flag. Closing Stages Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov played through and sending his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Still it was not completely finished, Merino kicked in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.