Mikel Merino's Brace Sparks Spain's Goal Run in Commanding Victory Over Bulgaria

Everything began in Scotland and the momentum continues. That memorable evening at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it might turn out to be his final assignment. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, whereas virtually everyone anticipated his spell would be brief, the coach talked about a pathway emerging - and interestingly, the man previously criticized of living in Disneyland proved correct.

36 months and four days, Spain moved extremely close of World Cup qualification, and also racking up their twenty-ninth straight official game unbeaten, matching the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain overcame Bulgaria four-nil to secure a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Arsenal playmaker and occasional forward netted the first two goals and might have secured his second three-goal haul in three Spain matches but after brought down in the final minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

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

Record Equaled

Now, readers may have noticed the symbol, and correctly so. Although FIFA may not count it as a defeat, during this remarkable run Spain actually suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament final back in June. However formally at least, this present team has matched that historic squad against which all Spanish sides are compared.

Win in Georgia in a month and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. En route they won 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, reminiscent of old times.

Total Control

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, aggregate score fifteen-zero. Occurred two moments immediately after La Selección scored their first two goals – the third being an self-inflicted – but eventually their rivals had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

The total statistics read: 33-3, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the only objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

This performance was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and elusive simultaneously: present for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he flitted through their lines. He completed 101 passes by the time he was substituted 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 José Zorrilla chanted his name during the opening period, he had just drifted unnoticed into the penalty box again, 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 delivered an additional pass from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

A disguised pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the opener, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He got a opportunity of his own only to be unable to find a clean contact, volleying 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 positioning chart looked like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's half they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking away and striking the outside of the net.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had multiple chances in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The cross from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header down and dash off to celebrate around the flagpost.

Closing Stages

Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov sent through and sending his and their second 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 own net. Yet it was not completely finished, Merino fouled in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.