Mikel Merino's Brace Fuels Spain's Scoring Spree in Dominant Victory Over Bulgaria

Everything started in Scotland and this impressive streak persists. That fateful night at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; many believed it might turn out to be his final assignment. Despite two Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, whereas almost all spectators anticipated his tenure would be brief, the coach talked about a pathway emerging - and remarkably, the man previously criticized of being unrealistic proved correct.

36 months and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of World Cup participation, while simultaneously racking up their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game unbeaten, equaling the legendary record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to accumulate a perfect dozen from 12 in qualifying, edging closer. The Gunners' midfielder and sometime forward scored the opening two goals and might have secured his second hat-trick in three Spain appearances but when brought down in the closing minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was the Real Sociedad attacker, scorer of the decisive goal in the European Championship final, who continued the remarkable sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, readers may have observed the symbol, and rightly so. While FIFA might not count it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain did lose 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 measured.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. 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 number one, among the frontrunners once more, just like old times.

Total Control

This was "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, aggregate score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after the Spanish team obtained their opening goals – the third strike being an own goal – but ultimately their opponents had not been permitted a single 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 hold out as long as they could. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

This performance was about the entire team, but at the heart of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and nowhere simultaneously: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he flitted through their lines. He executed 101 passes by the time he was substituted to a standing ovation on 66 minutes, and his were the instances of utmost subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive too.

When the José Zorrilla sang his name midway the first half, he had just slipped unnoticed into the area once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not just that. He had previously floated a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled an additional pass from which Baena was denied.

Continued Pressure

A disguised pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a precise lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He got a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, striking wide.

But then, shortly after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, then had the lead. The heat map looked like they had run out of marking paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football great. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's half they might have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and striking the side-netting.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The cross from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, jumping above everyone, was Merino to power the header down and dash off to do laps round the corner flag.

Closing Stages

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov played through and putting his and their second shot wide and yet the initial instance the away team had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his own net. Still it was not completely finished, Merino kicked in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.