In their pursuit to book a place in the next round of the UEFA Nations League, coach Julian Nagelsmann and his lads secured a 2-1 advantage heading into the second leg of their fixture against Italy on Sunday, March 23. Kick Off Nigeria editor Nwosu Chigozie looks into the upcoming clash and provides his prediction and betting tips.
Match Preview
In the first leg of the highly anticipated match played at the San Siro Stadium, Germany came from behind in dramatic fashion to restore parity and went ahead to secure the winning goal through Tim Kleindienst’s 49th-minute strike and Leon Goretzka’s 76th-minute goal.
Surprisingly, Italy lost in front of their home fans in the first leg as the DFB-Team came from behind to cancel out Sandro Tonali’s 9th-minute opener and secure a lead and eventual win at full-time.
After a hard-fought win in Italy in the first leg, Germany, with a one-goal advantage on aggregate, will hope to finish the job in Dortmund when they host Italy for the second leg of the UEFA Nations League qualifiers play-off.
Following their disappointing loss at home, Luciano Spalletti and his players will be handed a lifeline in the second leg. Italy will aim to pull off a miracle in Dortmund, despite being at a disadvantage on aggregate.
Head to Head (Last 4 Matches)
- Italy 0-0 Germany
- Italy 1-1 Germany
- Germany 5-2 Italy
- Italy 1-2 Germany
Following Thursday’s game, Germany leads the head-to-head, with the DFB-Team recording 2 wins and 2 draws, while Italy has lost twice and managed two draws in the last four meetings.
Team News
There are no reported injuries from either camp. Both German coach Julian Nagelsmann and his Italian counterpart Luciano Spalletti are expected to retain the starting XIs from the first leg.
Prediction
Following the outcome of the first leg, an attacking display is expected from both sides, suggesting a likelihood of Over 2.5 goals, with odds of 1.85 on 1xBet.
The home side, Germany, are favoured to win and advance to the next stage, with odds of 1.78 on 1xBet.
Given Germany’s attacking power, they are also likely to win with over 1.5 goals, which stands at 1.80 odds on 1xBet.
Player to Watch
Jamal Musiala, a player of Nigerian descent, played an influential 90 minutes in the first leg and is one of the key players to watch for Germany. His creativity in midfield will be crucial to securing a win against Italy.
Having switched allegiance to Germany, Nigerian-born Karim Adeyemi made his debut against Italy, coming on in the 82nd minute for Leroy Sané. His blistering pace could prove valuable for the German team in the second leg.
In-form Fiorentina forward Moise Kean, who fired blanks in the first leg, will be hoping to rediscover his scoring touch and provide the goal Italy desperately needs in Dortmund.
