The arena awaits the outcome: Spanish dominance or Serbian grit?

This will be a clash between the current world and European champions and the hosts, with the outcome likely to play a major role in deciding the standings in Group C.

Spain started the tournament in dominant fashion, crushing Israel 28–3, while Serbia struggled in their opener against the Netherlands, only securing victory (18–16) after a penalty shootout, earning two points instead of three.

While David Martín’s team used their match against Israel to fine-tune for what awaited them on Monday, Uroš Stevanović’s squad had to fight back from the brink, expending far more energy than expected.

The Spaniards enter this match as favorites. Their European and World Championship titles, combined with a roster full of top-tier players, establish them as the team to beat. Their status is reinforced by recent head-to-head results against the “dolphins,” proving they know exactly how to challenge Serbia.

Slobodan Sandić / Vaterpolo savez Srbije

The last time these teams faced each other was at a preparatory tournament in Trebinje, where Spain came out on top (14–10). However, since it was a friendly match, the result should be taken with a grain of salt.

Serbia last beat Spain in March 2023 at the World Cup, winning 14–13 after penalties (9–9 in regular time). Since then, the “Red Fury” has racked up six consecutive victories across all competitions and friendlies.

The current losing streak and the unexpected tough start to the European Championship are reason enough for the reigning Olympic champions to regroup and show that the match against the Netherlands was just an off day.

The narrow win against the Dutch certainly shook the “dolphins,” but it also sparked their fighting spirit at a time when there is no room for mistakes.

That’s how goalkeeper Milan Glušac, a debutant at this European Championship, described it. Against the Netherlands, he guided his team to victory with crucial saves in regular time and a decisive penalty save that earned Serbia two points.

“I no longer have the right to slip up. Maybe the Spaniards will underestimate us now. But in a way, it’s good that we had this ‘loss.’ We know them very well, we understand their style of play. We believe in our game and in our crowd, which will be like an extra player. We are motivated to beat Spain. This is just another step toward the goal we’re aiming for, which is the European Championship final,” said Glušac.

"The Spaniards have that team chemistry; they’ve been playing together for a long time. They know at every moment who is doing what. They have excellent centers, outside shooters, and a goalkeeper. All of that is well known. They are the current world and European champions. But we need to focus on our defense and offense, minimize mistakes, and there won’t be any problems."

The lessons, Glušac says, were learned from the match against the Netherlands.

"Maybe it was the first game, some pressure, but it’s not that big of a pressure. The ball was a bit harder, the pool is tougher, but now we’ve gotten used to it and fully relaxed, we felt the crowd and they felt us. It will be much better against Spain. The atmosphere is still at a top level. The chemistry is excellent. We still have to believe in our work and aim for the final, which is our goal," Glušac added.

The current European and world champions have a streak rarely seen in modern water polo: since 2018, they have almost never left the winner’s podium, with only one loss in regular time over the last four European Championships.

EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

"They will be officially led by the world’s and Europe’s best player, Álvaro Granados, with significant contributions from Bernat Sanahuja and Alberto Munariz, while goalkeeper Unai Agirrezabalaga will provide security between the posts. This quartet has been playing together in the national team since 2017, and it is precisely this combination of individual class and a strong team identity that has made Spain the most stable national team in Europe over the past few seasons.

“It’s clear that Spain and Serbia are considered the favorites of the tournament, but I don’t put too much stock in that. There have been tournaments where we were favorites and didn’t meet expectations. That’s why neither I nor the team think that way. Every tournament starts from scratch. We have to build our game from the beginning and give our maximum, without being burdened by what happened before,” Granados told B92.sport before the start of the European Championship.

“With the new European Championship format, every game is extremely important, and the match between Serbia and Spain will be a turning point of the tournament. If we manage to win, the rest of the competition will look much more favorable. But clearly, it will be a real battle in the pool. We’ve been preparing for this match for several weeks and feel confident, and above all, we’ll try to enjoy this experience in front of the home crowd. This match completely determines the course of the tournament. With this new competition system, there is no room to build form during the group stage – every match is crucial. The duel with Serbia is not an ordinary group match, but a game we must treat as a final,” added the officially recognized best water polo player in the world and Europe for 2025."

Albert ten Hove/Marcel ter Bals / DeFodi Images / Profimedia

"Serbia is a team that has long been accustomed to playing the biggest matches; they are the current triple Olympic champions", Granados spoke with great respect about their main rival at the European Championship.

“What the Serbian national team has shown in recent years, especially at the Olympic Games, is that they know how to play as a team. In my opinion, they have two of the best water polo players not only of today but in history – Mandić and Jakšić. We must be fully aware of that, but even more importantly, Serbia knows how to put individual quality at the service of the collective. That is precisely their greatest strength,” said Álvaro, describing this clash as a meeting of titans both in team and individual terms.

“If I had to describe the Spain vs. Serbia duel, I would say these are two teams with enormous individual quality, but above all they prioritize the collective. It will be an extremely exciting water polo match to watch – a lot of talent on both sides and two great teams facing each other,” Granados added.

The same level of respect for Serbia was expressed to B92.sport by Spain’s coach David Martín and goalkeeper Unai Agirrezabalaga, clearly stating that the tournament begins for them this Monday and that they expect a very tough, tactical, and fighter-like match.

Slobodan Sandić / Vaterpolo savez Srbije

The Serbia vs. Spain duel goes far beyond a regular group stage match. It is a clash of two water polo philosophies, two schools, and two teams that have shaped the top of world water polo for years.

“We have been preparing in parallel for Spain. We played against them in Trebinje, so there are no unknowns. Individually, they are far more skilled than the Netherlands, and as a team, they are the best at the championship. They have played together for many years, know each other perfectly, and there’s no mistake or panic. They play flawlessly. We need a much better performance from our side if we want to have a chance against Spain,” stated Serbia’s coach Uroš Stevanović.

For the “Dolphins,” this is an opportunity to show that the opening match was just an off day, while for the Spaniards it is a test of character in the furnace of Belgrade’s atmosphere.

One thing is certain: the audience will witness top-level water polo, and the winner of this clash will gain much more than points—they will secure a psychological advantage in the fight for the European throne.