Bundesliga
Germany are through to the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League Final Four after surviving a scare to beat Italy 5-4 on aggregate in a thrilling quarter-final tie.
Germany 3-3 Italy (agg: 5-4)
Goals: 1-0 Kimmich pen. 30', 2-0 Musiala (assist: Kimmich) 36', 3-0 Kleindienst (assist: Kimmich) 40', 3-1 Kean 49', 3-2 Kean 69' (assist: Raspadori), 3-3 Raspadori pen. 90'+5
Leading 2-1 after victory in the first leg in Milan, Germany looked to press home their advantage from the get-go. Leon Goretzka, Maximilian Mittelstädt and Jamal Musiala all fired off warning shots, before Leroy Sané forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into the first save of note with 27 minutes gone. Germany's next meaningful attack produced a penalty as Alessandro Buongiorno fouled Tim Kleindienst in the box, with Kimmich sinking the resultant spot-kick into the bottom corner to give the hosts a 3-1 aggregate advantage. Donnarumma made a fantastic save to stop Kleindienst adding a second, but was powerless to prevent Musiala turning in Kimmich's ensuing corner from inside the six-yard box. Kimmich was the provider for Germany's next effort, with Kleindienst applying the finishing touch, just as he had after coming off the bench in the first leg.
Italy were given a lifeline early in the second half when Moise Kean pounced on a loose ball from Sané and fired beyond Oliver Baumann from the edge of the penalty area. Mittelstädt returned fire with a shot on the turn that made Donnarumma work, but the Italians continued to make in-roads at the other end. After causing a few wobbles in the Germany rearguard, the Azzurri's persistance was rewarded as substitute Giacomo Raspadori set up Kean for a classy finish into the top corner. Giovanni Di Lorenzo thought he'd won a penalty following a foul by Nico Schlotterbeck, but the decision was overturned upon VAR review in a huge let-off for Germany. VAR ruled in Italy's favour in added time as Raspadori won and converted a penalty to level the scores on the night, but Julian Nagelsmann's side held on to advance on aggregate and set up a semi-final showdown with Portugal on 4 June.
Teams
Germany: Baumann - Rüdiger (Bisseck 77'), Schlotterbeck, Tah - Kimmich (c), Stiller (Groß 63'), Goretzka (Amiri 63'), Mittelstädt - Sané (Adeyemi 63'), Musiala (Andrich 77') - Kleindienst
Unused subs: Nübel, Ortega, Koch, Burkardt, Undav, Leweling, Raum
Out: Havertz (hamstring), Henrichs (achilles), Nmecha (ligament), Pavlović, ter Stegen (tendon rupture), Wirtz (ankle ligament),
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Italy: Donnarumma (c) - Gatti (Politano 46'), Bastoni, Buongiorno – Di Lorenzo, Barella, Ricci (Zaccagni 85'), Tonali (Raspadori 68'), Udogie - Maldini (Fratessi 46'), Kean (Lucca 85')
Unused subs: Meret, Vicario, Bellanova, Comuzzo, Rovella, Ruggeri, Casadei
Out: Calafiori (knee), Retegui (adductor)
Coach: Luciano Spalletti
As it happened!
Italy aren't done yet. Raspadori steps up to take the penalty, smashing it into the right corner past Baumann to level the scores.
Following a VAR review after the Barella corner, the referee goes to the monitor and gives a penalty for a handball on Mittelstädt. What late drama!
Another break opens up for Germany. Kleindienst drives down the left, and Groß is in acres of space on the right, but the Gladbach forward can't pick him out.
Barella takes it from the left, whipping in a dangerous ball, but Groß is there to clear.
Italy commit men forward and Germany counter-attack. Adeyemi leads it, trying to use his pace to get in behind, but Bastoni snuffs out the danger.
Six minutes are indicated.
Tempers threaten to boil over again after Zaccagni fouls Kimmich, but the referee is quickly on the scene to diffuse the tension.
Kimmich takes the subsequent corner, finding the debutant at the far post, whose header is just wide of the left post.
The Bayern man hits a very clever free-kick, smashing it under the wall as they jump. Donnarumma reacts well after seeing it late to tip it wide and behind for a corner.
Italian hearts were in mouths as Schlotterbeck drove Germany up the pitch before being brought down right on the edge of the box. The Germany players scream for a penalty, but the referee correctly awards a free-kick.
Both Kleindienst and Bastoni see yellow for an altercation following a Germany free-kick.
Nagelsmann opts to strengthen the defence, bringing on reinforcements in the form of Andrich and Bisseck, with the latter making his debut for Germany.
The referee goes to the monitor on the advice from the VAR, and after review, the penalty is rescinded.
It is being checked, but Schlotterbeck is judged to have brought Di Lorenzo down in the box and so the referee points to the spot!
Italy are brimming with confidence at the moment. Politano releases Raspadori with a really cheeky backheel, and the substitute looks to curl one into the top left corner, but his effort is just wide.
There'll be some jangling German nerves in the crowd here in Dortmund. Raspadori has an instant impact off the bench, slipping it through for Kean, who beats his man on the edge of the box before curling a lovely finish into the top right corner and past the diving Baumann.
The Dortmund winger goes into the book not long after coming on for a late challenge on Bastoni.
Italy break between the German backline. Politano storms down the right and looks to cross it into the path of Kean in the middle, but a Schlotterbeck at full stretch slides in to make the block. Italy can't make anything of the resultant corner.
Nagelsmann makes three changes to freshen up his side: Amiri, Adeyemi and Groß all enter the fray.
Germany have a promising counter-attack with Musiala. He spots Sané on the far side and tries to pick him out, but Bastoni makes a vital block to put a stop to the attack.
A long ball through finds the wing-back. He tries to square it to Kleindienst, but it's deflected back to him. This time, he turns his man and opts to shoot, but his effort isn't powerful enough to trouble Donnarumma.
Italy have begun the second half really positively. Kean pounces on a loose ball from Sané, before smashing it into the bottom left corner past Baumann from the edge of the box. Great finish!
Italy get the ball rolling again for the second half here. The Azzurri make two changes as they chase the game: Frattesi and Politano replace Gatti and Maldini.
Germany are running riot here. Following a quick counterattack, Kimmich gets to the byline and chips it to the back post, where Kleindienst is waiting. The striker meets the header, and Donnarumma tries desperately to claw it off the line, but the referee blows his whistle to indicate it crossed. What a first half performance!
Musiala spins his marker about 25 yards from goal and drives forward. His attempt at slipping Kleindienst through comes straight back to him and this time he opts to shoot, dragging his effort narrowly wide.
Kleindienst gives away a foul on the right touchline for Italy. Maldini swings it in and Germany head it out, but only as far as Tonali. The midfielder strikes a powerful shot, but it's well over.
What a strange goal! Kimmich rushes to take the corner that came after Kleindienst's header was saved, and the Italian defence completely switch off. Musiala is on the captain's wavelength, however, dispatching the quick corner first-time unmarked from inside the six-yard box. How easy was that?!
A whipped cross from the right comes into the middle to be met by the head of Kleindienst, who steers it goalwards. It looks as if it'll nestle in the top corner, but Donnarumma makes a fantastic save at full-stretch to deny him!
Italy 1-2 Germany
Goals: 1-0 Tonali 8', 1-1 Kleindienst 48' (assist: Kimmich), 1-2 Goretzka 75' (assist: Kimmich)
Germany were dealt a blow inside the opening eight minutes when Sandro Tonali fired Jonathan Tah's attempted clearance past Oliver Baumann for the opening goal. The visitors began to find their groove as recalled midfielder Goretzka headed over from Bayern Munich teammate Joshua Kimmich, before warming the palms of Gianluigi Donnarumma from distance. Mainz striker Jonathan Burkardt was next to try his luck, but his shot didn't really trouble the goalkeeper. Julian Nagelsmann's side were then indebted to Baumann for only going in 1-0 down at the break, after the Hoffenheim custodian repelled efforts from Tonali and Moise Kean.
Nagelsmann switched to a back three for the start of the second half, with Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck replacing RB Leipzig's David Raum. Tim Kleindienst was also introduced to dramatic effect, the Borussia Mönchengladbach striker heading in a Kimmich cross to level the scores within three minutes of the restart. Kimmich tested Donnarumma as Germany upped the ante, but Italy continue to pose a threat on the counter, with Kean blazing over and Giacomo Raspadori thwarted in a one-on-one with Baumann. Goretzka went close again, before heading in Kimmich's wicked corner to put Germany in control of the tie ahead of Sunday's second leg in Dortmund.