Slovakia U17 began their UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 away victory over Bulgaria U17 on October 29, 2025. In a tense and closely-matched encounter, a single goal proved decisive. The Slovakian side showed great defensive discipline and organization to nullify the Bulgarian attack on home soil. The winning goal likely came from a set-piece or a swift counter-attack, capitalizing on one of the few clear chances in the match. The three points on the road provided Slovakia with the perfect start in a competitive group, immediately putting them in a strong position. For Bulgaria, the narrow defeat in their opening fixture meant they faced an uphill battle in their remaining matches to keep qualification hopes alive.