Mikel Merino's Brace Sparks Spain's Goal Spree in Dominant Win Over Bulgarian Side

It all started in Scotland and this impressive streak continues. That memorable night at Hampden represented merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it might prove to be his last match in charge. Although two Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, while almost all spectators expected his spell would be short-lived, De la Fuente talked about a pathway opening - and remarkably, the manager once accused of living in Disneyland proved right.

Three years and later, Spain advanced to within touching distance of World Cup participation, and also achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game unbeaten, matching the historic record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to secure 12 points from 12 in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Arsenal midfielder and sometime striker scored the opening two goals and could have secured his second consecutive hat-trick in three Spain matches but after brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was La Real attacker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the European Championship final, who continued the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Currently, readers may have noticed the asterisk, and rightly so. Although FIFA may not classify it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain actually lose once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. Yet formally at least, this present team has matched that historic team against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the record will be exclusively theirs. En route they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 ranked number one, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of old times.

Total Control

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. Occurred two instances immediately after La Selección obtained their first two goals – the third being an own goal – but eventually their rivals had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

Overall statistics read: 33-3, Spain demonstrably being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already.

Pedri's Masterclass

The display was about the entire team, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to track him as he flitted through their defense. 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 instances of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the sharpest as well.

When the Valladolid stadium chanted his name during the first half, he had just drifted unnoticed into the penalty box again, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not just that. He had already lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and delivered another pass from which Baena was denied.

Sustained Attack

A disguised delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to fail 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 ball, now had the advantage. The heat map appeared like they had exhausted supply of spray paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Momentary Threat

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

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino did it again. The delivery from the left was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to direct the header down and sprint to do laps around the corner flag.

Final Moments

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov sent through and putting his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the first time the away team had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Yet it was not completely done, Merino kicked in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.