Scintillating Start to U21 Euro Clash: Spain Battles Back to Beat Slovakia 3-2
Spain scores twice before securing their lead, sparking spontaneous celebrations.
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Five sleepy minutes immediately after halftime nearly cost Spain a glorious win. The U21 powerhouse started the UEFA European Championship with a pulsating victory, but hosts Slovakia piled on the pressure in the second half. In the end, it was Spain that emerged victorious, securing a thrilling comeback.
In a grueling contest at the U21 Euro in Slovakia, Spain won against hosts Slovakia 3:2 (2:0). The record European champion had to fight back from relinquishing a 2:0 lead. Cesar Tarrega (90.) from Valencia FC netted the winning goal in the closing moments to secure Spain's impressive debut.
Marc Pubill (16.) and Mateo Joseph (18.) put Spain ahead in the early stages, but Slovakia, bolstered by the presence of Holstein Kiel defender Dominik Javorcek in the starting lineup, responded swiftly after the break. Samuel Kopasek (48.) and Tomas Suslov (53.) from the penalty spot equalized the score, forcing Spain to dig deep to secure the win. With this victory, Spain leads Group A.
Football Germany Aims to Break the Curse: U21 Euro Kicks Off with "Rough Matches" as Nagelsmann's Mission Begins Germany's team launches its Group B campaign on Thursday (21.00 CET/Sat.1 and live on ntv.de) against Slovenia in Nitra. They will then face the Czech Republic (15 June) and defending champions England (18 June).
The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the quarterfinals. The final will be held in Bratislava on 28 June.
Background
- Slovakia's Recent Victory over Spain (2024 Friendly - Jerez): Slovakia surprised Spain with a 2–0 triumph, thanks to goals from Timotej Jambor and Adrián Kaprálik[5].
- Spain's Last Meeting with Slovakia in a Competitive Setting (2025 UEFA U21 Championship Group A): Spain claimed a 3–2 victory over Slovakia in a five-goal thriller, marking Spain’s first match of the tournament[3][4].
- Spain vs Slovakia in U21 Qualification: Spain emerged victorious on two separate occasions (2021 and 2022) in nail-biting finishes, with scores of 3–2 and 3–2 respectively[1].
- Head-to-Head Competitive Record: Spain has a commanding record against Slovakia, with seven wins and one draw in eight meetings[1].
2025 UEFA U21 European Championship Group A Standings (Following Matchday 1)
| Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Points ||-----------|--------|------|-------|--------|-----------|---------------|--------|| Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 || Slovakia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 || Italy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 || Romania | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Upcoming fixtures:- Spain vs Romania (June 14, 2025, Bratislava, 18:00 CET)- Slovakia vs Italy (June 14, 2025, Trnava, 21:00 CET)[3]
In the U21 Euro clash, Spain's goalkeeper was tested severely following Slovakia's aggressive second-half comeback, but managed to secure a last-minute 3-2 victory for Spain. The Spain U21 team is set to face Romania next in their competition, continuing their football journey in the UEFA European Championship.
