Skipper Joshua Kimmich set up both goals as Germany beat Italy in their Nations League quarterfinal and took a slender 2-1 lead ahead of the return leg in Dortmund. Die Mannschaft came from behind to beat the Azzurri 2-1 at the San Siro thanks to a strong second-half performance.
Italy drew first blood in the 9th minute. A lovely pass from Nico Barella saw Matteo Politano advance on goal, but German keeper Oliver Baumann made himself wide and forced Politano to cut back. Defender Jonathan Tah attempted to clear the ball, but it landed at the feet of the unmarked Sandro Tonali, and the midfielder, fresh from winning the Carabao Cup with Newcastle, made no mistake.
German coach Julian Nagelsmann rang in the changes at half time and one of them- Monchengladbach’s Tim Kleindienst, equalised for Germany with his first touch of the game. The striker made an instant impact as he nodded home Kimmich’s cross.
Veteran Baumann was excellent in goal and made an important save to deny Giacomo Raspadori midway through the second half. That proved to be vital as Germany went to take the lead shortly afterwards, with Leon Goretzka heading in Kimmich’s excellent corner.
