In a thrilling encounter at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Germany secured a 2-1 victory over Italy in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarterfinal on March 20, 2025. Leon Goretzka emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal with just 14 minutes remaining, as Germany rallied from an early deficit.

Italy struck first in the ninth minute when Sandro Tonali capitalized on a well-executed play involving Nicolò Barella and Matteo Politano. Tonali's shot found the corner of the net, giving Italy a 1-0 lead. Despite Italy's early advantage, Germany dominated possession but struggled to convert their chances into goals. Goretzka missed a couple of opportunities, and Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made crucial saves to keep his team ahead.

The tide turned in the second half when Germany equalized just four minutes after the restart. Joshua Kimmich delivered a precise cross into the box, where substitute Tim Kleindienst headed in the equalizer with his first touch. The momentum shifted firmly in Germany's favor following the goal, as they continued to apply pressure on the Italian defense.

Germany's winner came from a corner taken by Kimmich, which appeared to have gone in without a touch, but Goretzka managed to get a slight header on it to ensure the goal counted. Despite Italy's attempts to respond, including efforts from Barella and Daniel Maldini, Germany held on to secure the win and take a crucial one-goal advantage into the second leg in Dortmund.

As the two teams prepare for the return fixture, Italy will be looking to draw on their history against Germany, hoping to replicate their success from the 2006 World Cup semifinal when they triumphed over their rivals. The stage is set for an exciting conclusion to this quarterfinal showdown.