Preview: Turkey Under-19s vs. Spain Under-19s - prediction, team news, lineups

Spain Under-19s will have the chance to begin the European Under-19s Championship with consecutive victories when they face Turkey Under-19s in Friday's clash in Belfast.

Meanwhile, Turkey will be looking for a positive response after they fell to a narrow defeat to France in their tournament opener.

Match preview

Turkey are appearing in the Under-19 Euros for the first time since they finished runners-up to Spain in the 2004 competition.

Incidentally, Turkey faced Spain in their second group match of that tournament, falling to a 3-2 loss against a side that featured the likes of David Silva and Roberto Soldado.

Twenty years on, Soykan Basar's side will be desperate to claim all three points after they gave up an early lead to lose 2-1 in their opening match against France.

Yiit Fidan opened the scoring in the fourth minute, before second-half goals from Lucas Michal and Jeremy Jacquet turned the game in France's favour.

Although they face a tough task in Friday's fixture, Turkey will at least fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet, having found the net in 10 of their last 11 outings.

Meanwhile, Spain are hoping to continue their fine record in the Euro Under-19s group stage after reaching the knockout rounds in each of their last seven appearances at the tournament.

They are already well set to secure another semi-final appearance following their narrow 2-1 win in Tuesday's opening game against Denmark.

An eventful game saw Chema Andres's opener cancelled out by Mikel Gogorza, before Rayane Belaid was given his marching orders in the 77th minute following two yellow card offences.

Despite being left at a numerical disadvantage, Spain still managed to clinch all three points thanks to Iker Bravo's 79th-minute winner, ensuring they have now gone eight group matches without defeat at the Under-19 Euros.

They have also won nine of their previous 10 games (D1), with their most recent defeat taking place against Italy in July 2023.

Team News

Although his team fell short against France, Basar could opt for consistency and name an unchanged lineup for Friday's contest.

Fidan is set to resume his central defensive pairing alongside Efe Sarikaya, while Ali Turap Bulbul and Berkay Yilmaz are expected to operate as full-backs.

Trabzonspor's Poyraz Yildirim will offer one of Turkey's main goal threats alongside his forward partner Emirhan Demircan.

As for Spain, Daniel Munoz is likely to feature among the substitutes after completing a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards in qualifying.

Miguel Carvalho could come into the side to replace Belaid, who will serve a one-match ban following his dismissal in the win over Denmark.

Turkey Under-19s possible starting lineup: Bayram; Bulbul, Sarikaya, Fidan, Yilmaz; Dagdeviren, Sertkaya, Gezek, Uzun; Yildirim, Demircan

Spain Under-19s possible starting lineup: Jimenez, Ramon, Keddari, Gasiorowski, Diaz; Rodriguez, Andres, Carvalho; Mella, Diao, Bravo

We say: Turkey Under-19s 1-2 Spain Under-19s

Having won nine of their last 10 matches, Spain will carry significant momentum into Friday's contest, and we think they will showcase their extra quality to claim a narrow victory in their second group game.

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