Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the fixtures of the second round in the group stage of the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship will take place on Saturday at the Tehelné pole stadium in Bratislava, where Spain will face Romania. Here’s a value bet on the outcome of this clash with an attractive odds offer.
Match preview
The Spanish youngsters kicked off the tournament with a win, though it was far from convincing— their match against hosts Slovakia exposed that "La Rojita"’s defense is still a work in progress. Nevertheless, their attacking prowess shone through, allowing them to snatch a 3-2 victory. Julix’s squad continues to dominate the U21 Euros group stage—now unbeaten in nine matches since 2019.
Spain’s U-21 side is a traditional powerhouse at youth level, and the current roster only reinforces their elite status. Five consecutive wins against Romania provide a significant psychological edge. Now, "La Furia Roja" have a golden opportunity to cement their spot atop the group and advance to the playoffs from first place.
The Romanian U-21s once again began their campaign with disappointment—a narrow defeat to Italy has put them on the back foot. Despite their efforts, the team lacks consistent quality, especially in converting chances. So far, the "Little Tricolours" look like clear outsiders in Group A.
Romania’s struggles against Spain have become a trend. In their last seven meetings, Romania have managed just one win, with the rest ending in defeat. Their most recent encounter in 2023 ended in a 0-3 rout, and there’s little to suggest they’re poised for revenge this time around.
Probable lineups
- Spain U-21: A. Iturbe, M. Pubill, S. Mosquera, S. Tarrega, G. Martin, J. Guerra Moreno, B. Turrientes, Juanlu, P. Torre, D. Lopez, M. Fernandez
- Romania U-21: R. Sava, T. Strata, C. Ignat, M. Ilie, S. Borza, M. Corbu, U. Akdag, C. Grameni, I. Stoica, L. Munteanu, R. Ilie
Match facts and head-to-head
- Spain U-21 have won six of the last seven matches against Romania U-21
- In four of Spain U-21’s last five games, the “over 2.5 goals” bet has landed
- Romania U-21 have lost two of their last three matches in all competitions
Prediction
Spain are clear favourites both on paper and by head-to-head stats. Despite their defensive lapses, "La Rojita" possess attacking firepower capable of deciding matches even with mistakes at the back. Romania once again look vulnerable and are unlikely to pose a real threat—especially given their poor recent record in these encounters. Our pick for this match is "Spain to win and over 2.5 goals" at odds of 1.67.
