The U-21 returned to Huesca 20 years after their last visit and did so against a rival to take into account in the next European 2023, Norway, which has also not yet ruled out the presence of Haaland for the tournament (he is of age, does not go to the World Cup and can classify his country for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024). The match in El Alcoraz was, therefore, a good test to certify the good moment of La Rojita, which in this 2022 has won the six matches it has played.
It was difficult for Spain to enter the game. Norway dominated the opening minutes and had a very clear chance to get ahead at Holm’s feet, but eRookie Leo Román became a giant one-on-one and stopped the Norwegian’s shot with his foot. It wasn’t until half an hour into the game that Baena headed in a cross from Sergio Gómez and tested Klaesson’s reflexes for the first time, who replied to Román’s save with his foot. That action woke up Spain, which led by the City side (far right for De la Fuente), full of joy on his return to a stadium that adores him, began to take the reins of the party. Abel Ruiz and Riquelme were the next to warn that the goal was approaching, but finally it was Gragera who put Spain ahead finishing off a corner thrown by Baena in an unorthodox way.
At the break, De la Fuente changed the line of attackers behind the nine (Riquelme, Baena and Sergio), but kept Abel Ruiz in the lead, who did not take five minutes to show that the coach had been right to hold him for a little while longer on the grass. Rodri looked for Bryan Gil from above in the area and the Tottenham man lowered it with his head so that the Braga striker, who was coming from the front, scored his 51st goal with the national team’s inferiors and closed a great week after the two goals scored in Romania.
De la Fuente took advantage of what was left to give minutes to all those summoned. He lost a bit of intensity in the game with so many substitutions, but the dominance remained completely Spanish until discount time, in which there was still time for Hugo Novoa to score his first goal with the U21 after getting rid of two rivals in the area.