Bratislava, Slovakia – Romania's U21 national team delivered a major upset in the opening match of their UEFA European U21 Championship campaign, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a heavily favored Spanish side on Saturday, June 14, 2025. A solitary goal in the opening minutes from striker Louis Munteanu was enough to see the determined Romanians through, as Spain was left to rue a missed penalty and a host of squandered opportunities.
The decisive moment of the match came in the 4th minute. Capitalizing on a swift counter-attack, the Romanian side carved through the Spanish defense, with Munteanu finishing clinically to give his team a dream start.
Stunned by the early goal, Spain gradually grew into the game and began to dominate possession, as was widely expected. They created several chances throughout the first half, but the Romanian defense, marshaled resolutely, held firm.
The best opportunity for "La Rojita" to equalize came in the second half when they were awarded a penalty. However, the spot-kick was missed, a moment that encapsulated a frustrating evening for the Spanish attack. Despite relentless pressure in the final stages of the game, Spain could not find a way past an inspired Romanian backline and a goalkeeper in fine form.
The victory gives Romania a crucial three points in what is considered a challenging group, while Spain will now be under pressure to secure positive results in their upcoming fixtures to ensure their progression in the tournament. The result is a significant boost for Romanian football and a testament to their disciplined and spirited performance against one of the tournament favorites.
