Nations League | Italy 1-2 Germany: Tonali hope ends in disappointment

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 20: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy fails to make a save as Leon Goretzka of Germany scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal leg one match between Italy and Germany at Stadio San Siro on March 20, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Italy saw the splendid Sandro Tonali opener overturned by Tim Kleindienst and Leon Goretzka headers, as Germany win the first leg of the Nations League quarter-final.

The decider will be in Dortmund on Sunday for a place in the Final Four. The Azzurri missed Mateo Retegui, Federico Dimarco, Andrea Cambiaso and Gianluca Scamacca, with Mattia Zaccagni barely fit for the bench, but Nicolò Rovella got the nod in midfield. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kai Havertz, Niclas Füllkrug and suspended Florian Wirtz were out of action.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

While the visitors dominated the early possession, Italy opened the scoring with a well-worked team move. Alessandro Bastoni’s cross-field pass found Nicolò Barella down the right, he sent Matteo Politano down that flank and the pull-back was deflected off Jonathan Tah into the path of Tonali to sweep home from nine yards.

epa11976764 Italy’s midfielder Sandro Tonali (R) celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Italy and Germany at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, Italy, 20 March 2025. EPA-EFE/Daniel Dal Zennaro

Leon Goretzka’s header landed on the roof of the net, then his volley was straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Baumann had more difficulty with his gloves stung by a long-range Tonali strike.

Moise Kean had a huge opportunity moments later, springing the offside trap on an inspired first-time Politano ball over the top to force a desperate save at the near top corner.

Nadiem Amiri’s pull-back from the by-line caused some panic, but Germany equalised straight after the restart with substitute Tim Kleindienst, who was ready to nod in the Joshua Kimmich cross from the right.

Donnarumma had to rush off his line to smother at the feet of Kimmich, while Destiny Udogie’s header was charged down by Kimmich at the back post.

There were two massive Italy opportunities in the space of two minutes. First Tonali’s aerial back-heel flick set up Kean to volley just over from a tricky angle, then the Newcastle United midfielder set up Giacomo Raspadori for an angled drive, parried by Baumann’s outstretched boot.

Goretzka’s glancing header turned another Kimmich cross wide and Germany turned the game around when Raoul Bellanova gave the ball away cheaply twice. On the resulting corner, Goretzka got in front of Bastoni for the glancing header to beat Donnarumma.

Baumann needed a great reaction save on the deflected Bastoni header from a corner, then had his gloves stung by the sudden Daniel Maldini scorcher.