Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the matches of the final round of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship will take place on Tuesday in Bratislava, where Romania will face Slovakia. I suggest a bet on goals in this encounter, backed by an appealing odds.
Match preview
Romania entered Euro 2025 with ambitions of fighting for a playoff berth, but after just two rounds, it became clear—Daniel Pancu's side could not rise to the challenge. Two narrow defeats (0-1 to Italy and 1-2 to Spain) sent the Romanians packing early, despite a respectable showing and even taking the lead against Spain.
Nevertheless, Romania did not look hopeless—the team displayed fighting spirit, tried to stay compact, and boldly pushed forward in attack. In the clash with Slovakia, the players will surely try to redeem themselves for previous losses and finish the tournament with points, especially given that the opponent's defense leaves plenty of space.
As hosts of this tournament stage, Slovakia have played bold and progressive football, but have yet to earn a point. Jaroslav Kentosh's team lost both matches by the narrowest of margins: against Spain (2-3), they came close to causing an upset, while against Italy (0-1), they conceded from the penalty spot.
Despite two defeats, Slovakia left a very positive impression: they played with courage, pushed forward, and never shied away from big-name opponents. With home fans behind them for the final match, they'll have a great opportunity to deliver a result that matches the quality of their play.
Probable lineups
- Romania U21: R. Sava, T. Strata, M. Ilie, U. Akdag, S. Borza, O. Perianu, C. Vulturar, C. Grameni, R. Ilie, L. Munteanu, O. Popescu
- Slovakia U21: L. Belko, J. Jakubko, A. Obert, D. Javorcek, T. Rigo, S. Nebyla, M. Zauer, N. Marcelli, T. Suslov, L. Zauer, S. Kopasek
Match facts and head-to-head
- The last head-to-head ended with Slovakia defeating Romania 4-3.
- Both teams have scored in three of Romania’s last four official matches.
- In eight of Slovakia’s previous eleven encounters, both teams found the net.
Prediction
Both teams have already been eliminated, so they can play with freedom and go for an open, attacking game. Considering the defensive instability and clear attacking focus on both sides, a high-scoring contest looks likely. Our recommended bet: "Both teams to score" at odds of 1.60.
