Germany hold a slender advantage over Italy in tonight’s UEFA Nations League quarter-final second leg clash in Dortmund. Newcastle star Sandro Tonali opened the scoring for the Azzurri in the first leg a few days ago now but the Germans struck back through second-half headers from Tim Kleindienst and Leon Goretzka. One of the biggest games football has to offer, a place in the semi-finals awaits the winner.
Italy appear to have made impressive strides under manager Luciano Spalletti but are up against it here. Germany did better than was expected in the European Championships they hosted last summer and Julian Nagelsmann is looking like an inspired choice ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It remains difficult to judge both sides too conclusively at this stage but there are certainly reasons for two of global football’s traditional powerhouses to feel positive again. Follow all the action LIVE with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog!
The hosts are in dreamland at the break!
It gets worse for Italy! Tim Kleindienst powers in a header after another fine Kimmich cross.
Almost a brilliant save from Donnarumma but the ball still crosses the line.
44 mins: Set-pieces have been a problem for Italy all night.
They now look short of confidence even when they do make a rare charge forward.
Second after a stunning save from Donnarumma to deny Kleindienst’s header, they are caught sleeping.
Kimmich takes a quick corner while the Italian goalkeeper is sorting out his defence and the Bayern star turns it home!
Kimmich scores from the spot!
28 mins: PENALTY TO GERMANY!
Buongiorno pulls Kleindienst’s shirt back as the German was looking to latch onto Goretzka’s through ball.
26 mins: Donnarumma denies Sane in the clearest chance Germany have had yet.
21 mins: Germany’s set-pieces wreak havoc in the Italian box time and time again.
15 mins: Italy make an absolute mess of clearing a Kimmich free-kick, with the ball bobbling up and down in the penalty box for what felt an age.
They just about clear in the end.
09 mins: Italy growing into it now, starting to see much more of the ball further up the field.
Neither side has had a great chance just yet but its been played at a fast pace.
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