Unstoppable Spain tie a record and make history

Spain’s 4–0 win over Bulgaria on matchday four of Group E did more than keep momentum alive. It placed Luis de la Fuente alongside some of the most successful periods in La Roja’s modern history and pushed this team within touching distance of two long-standing landmarks.

The result preserved a three-point cushion over Turkey and extended Spain’s unbeaten run in official matches to 29. The shootout loss to Portugal in the Nations League does not count toward that tally. Vicente del Bosque’s Spain also reached 29, which means De la Fuente’s side are now two matches from matching Italy’s benchmark.

The broader streaks underline how consistent this Spain has become across settings and opponents. At home in World Cup qualifiers, La Roja have now gone 63 in a row without defeat. One more will equal Brazil’s world record. The calendar sets up a compelling stage. The penultimate outing is away to Georgia, followed by a home finale against Turkey in November. If Spain keep their noses in front, qualification could be sealed on the final day in front of their own supporters, which would be a fitting backdrop for a potential record-equaling night.

On the pitch against Bulgaria, Spain looked like a team that knows its roles and patterns inside out. De la Fuente’s approach prizes width and quick circulation, but within a structure that allows for vertical thrust. The full backs stepped high to create overloads, the wingers held the touchline to stretch the block, and the interior midfielders timed their runs into the area. The effect was immediate. Spain racked up 22 first-half shots to Bulgaria’s one, a disparity that reflected both territorial dominance and the variety of Spain’s chance creation. There were cutbacks from the byline, late darts to the near post, and patient switches that pulled defenders into uncomfortable rotations.

The scoreline at the break told only part of the story. It was 1–0 thanks to Mikel Merino, whose headed finish from Robin Le Normand’s delivery rewarded Spain’s insistence on attacking space rather than simply recycling. Bulgaria’s goalkeeper produced several sharp saves and the woodwork came to the rescue once, while a couple of close-range efforts missed the target by inches. Those small margins kept the contest technically alive, even if the flow never felt in doubt.

De la Fuente’s in-game management has become an asset, and it showed again after halftime. Spain did not rush. They squeezed the pitch and waited for Bulgaria’s first step forward to open a passing lane. The second goal arrived in the 57th minute and it was again Merino, once more with his head, this time meeting an Alex Grimaldo cross that asked to be attacked. The sequence was quintessential Spain under this coach. The left-sided triangle of Grimaldo, an interior, and the winger pulled the defensive line to one side, then inverted the roles so that the full back could arrive untracked. Merino’s run from a deeper starting point gave him separation and the finish was assertive.

The third came via an own goal from Chernev during a scramble that followed another penetrative action down the flank. That moment summed up the cumulative pressure. When a team defends for long stretches facing its own goal, deflections and misjudgments become more likely. Spain kept Bulgaria in that uncomfortable posture almost from start to finish. The fourth was a cleaner conclusion, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting from the penalty spot to close out a performance that balanced control with consequence.

There were individual threads worth highlighting beyond the scorers. Samu’s first start at this level offered a glimpse of why the staff trust him. He pressed with intensity, linked play with simple lay-offs, and showed the willingness to run beyond the ball that prevents Spain’s possession from becoming predictable. Grimaldo, back in the fold, brought his club form to the international stage, offering consistent quality in the final third and delivering the kind of whipped service that begs for aggressive runs. Le Normand’s assist for the opener was not a coincidence either. De la Fuente encourages center backs to step into midfield when space opens, and the Real Sociedad defender picked his moment to good effect.

The midfield balance was another clear positive. With a single pivot anchoring circulation, Spain used the half spaces smartly. One interior would drop toward the ball to help bypass the first Bulgarian line while the other surged beyond the forwards to keep the back four honest. That see-saw created continuous dilemmas. Step out and leave the pivot free. Hold shape and allow Spain to turn and face goal. The ensuing indecision was visible in Bulgaria’s staggered pressing, which often left a passing lane open just long enough for Spain to exploit.

Defensively, Spain’s rest defense was tidy. The counter-press after losses was immediate and coordinated. Wingers inverted to close central lanes, full backs recovered on angles that discouraged straight-line counters, and the nearest midfielder hunted the first touch. Bulgaria did engineer occasional escapes but rarely with numbers, which meant Spain could reset without conceding territory. The clean sheet felt like the natural product of that collective behavior rather than a night of emergency interventions.

Context matters with records, and these are not empty numbers. The 29-match unbeaten run in official competition speaks to a group that has endured different phases within a qualifying cycle. There have been games on poor pitches, away days where the early goal never arrived, and opponents who chose deep blocks or high-risk presses. Spain have met those tactical puzzles with patience and without losing their principles. The home qualifier streak is even more telling. It stretches across generations and tactical evolutions, yet it persists because Spain almost always marry control with enough incision to tilt these fixtures decisively.

Looking ahead, the final two fixtures ask different questions. An away match in Georgia can be scrappy by nature, which puts a premium on tempo control and set-piece focus. The closer could bring a direct duel with Turkey for first place or at least for the prestige of finishing with a statement. Spain will want to arrive at that night with the record in sight and the ticket already punched. If the equation remains tight, the message will be simple. Match Turkey’s result in the previous round or do better and remove the doubt.

De la Fuente’s tone after games like this tends to be measured. He points toward habits rather than headlines, which is wise when records can become distractions. The value in this win sits in the performance details. The wing rotations that pulled markers around. The composure when Bulgaria had their rare phases of the ball. The insistence on high-quality shots after working the ball to the right zones. Those are the traits that travel into the matches where a single moment can swing a tournament path.

Supporters will rightly enjoy the milestones creeping into view. They can also take comfort in how those milestones are being chased. This Spain is not living off moments of individual brilliance alone. The collective creates the platform and then the finishers apply the gloss. Against Bulgaria the math added up. Territory became pressure. Pressure became chances. Chances, at the second time of asking, became goals.