Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
The second round of the UEFA European U-19 Championship group stage brings us a clash between Romania and Spain on Monday at the Anghel Iordănescu Arena in Voluntari. I’m tipping a bet on goals in this encounter with an attractive odds offer.
Match preview
The Spanish U19 national team is a regular at the business end of youth tournaments and holds the record for the most titles in this age category. Under coach José Lana, the squad continues to showcase classic Spanish football — possession dominance, high pressing, and attacking versatility. Despite a shock defeat to Kosovo in the first qualifying round, Spain had no trouble advancing to the finals, dispatching sides like Austria, France, and Latvia along the way.
In their Euro 2025 U19 opener, La Roja edged Denmark 1-0, not allowing their opponents a single real chance. Such a measured yet mature display cements Spain’s status as one of the top title contenders. Of particular note is the defensive solidity — just two goals conceded in their last five official outings.
Romania, as tournament hosts, earned an automatic spot in the finals, skipping the qualifiers. While that’s an advantage in some ways, it also means a lack of competitive rhythm. The team played a series of friendlies, showing inconsistency: defeats to Poland (0-1) and Portugal (1-4) were followed by surprise victories and high-scoring draws. Defensive lapses, especially positional errors, remain a concern.
Nevertheless, Romania showed grit in their opening match, overcoming Montenegro 2-1, though not without second-half scares. Their biggest asset will be the home crowd and an attacking mentality, factors that could put pressure on the technically superior but perhaps less emotionally charged Spaniards. However, to claim any points against one of the tournament’s heavyweights, Romania will need a flawless display in terms of effort and focus.
Probable lineups
- Romania U19: Munteanu R., Cercel I., Fălcușan D., Marincău E., Marita R., Simionaș L., Păcuraru D., Matei D., Tarba I., Codor J., Vermeșan I.
- Spain U19: Jiménez R., Olmedo A., Martín J., Cuenca A., Muñoz D., Marcos O., Merino I., Monserrate Pueyo A., Cordero A., Djanne O., García P.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Spain U19 have won the UEFA European U-19 Championship 9 times — a tournament record
- In their last two meetings: one win for Spain, one draw
- The “Under 2.5 total goals” bet landed in both head-to-head matches
Prediction
Spain enter this match as clear favorites: better organized, showing mature possession, and giving opponents very little space. Despite Romania’s home advantage and fighting spirit, it’s unlikely they’ll withstand the pressure for the full 90 minutes. Our pick: Spain to win with a -1.0 handicap at odds of 1.65.
