Trailing their old rivals by two points in the UEFA Nations League standings, Germany welcome Italy to Monchengladbach on Tuesday, as two European heavyweights convene.

Following draws for both side at the weekend, they wrap up a frantic spell at the start of their respective League A Group 3 campaigns by meeting for the second time in less than a fortnight.

Match preview

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Having posted four successive 1-1 draws - the last three coming in the Nations League - Germany are still seeking a first win in Group 3, and hopes of reaching the competition's finals as group winners rest on an upturn in fortunes over the next three matchdays.

Yet to make their first appearance in the Nations League finals, Die Mannschaft have some catching up to do after being held by a transitional Italy outfit in Bologna on the opening night and then conceding a late equalising goal at home to England.

On that occasion, versatile wing-back Jonas Hofmann deservedly put Hansi Flick's side ahead in the second half, before Harry Kane sent Manuel Neuer the wrong way from the penalty spot in the 88th minute.

Conversely, Germany needed to come back from a goal down to draw Saturday's contest with Euro 2020 opponents Hungary, and another Hofmann strike helped the side who sauntered through World Cup qualifying preserve an unbeaten record now dating back some 12 games.

With Chelsea duo Kai Havertz and Timo Werner again struggling to produce in the final third, despite dominating possession at the Puskas Arena, it was another disappointing result for Flick to absorb: stretching across both his reign and that of predecessor Joachim Low, the Germans have posted just one win from seven away fixtures since the Nations League began in 2018.

This edition's group stage will conclude in September, when they host Hungary in Leipzig and then tackle England at Wembley, but first Germany could do with taking maximum points against an Italy squad undergoing a sizeable rebuild - and they have gone unbeaten in their last five games against the Italians in all competitions.

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In the aftermath of their calamitous attempts at qualifying for Qatar 2022, European champions Italy have shed several of their old guard, to whom coach Roberto Mancini had stayed fiercely loyal despite declining form, and a considerably younger lineup have crept to the top of their Nations League group at the halfway stage.

The Azzurri ground out a goalless draw at Molineux on Saturday evening, in the third game of their packed summer schedule - which kicked off with a humbling defeat to South American counterparts Argentina in the 'Finalissima' - and are a point clear of supposed surprise package Hungary in the standings.

Taking a point against England - in a game played before just a few hundred young spectators, due to the chaotic scenes preceding last year's Euro 2020 final between the two nations - followed a merited draw against Germany at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara and victory over the Hungarians in Cesena.

Mancini's men remain unbeaten, then, as they head to North Rhine-Westphalia, and some early green shoots can be seen in the former Manchester City manager's development for the future.

Indeed, only two players who started the final at Wembley last summer featured in the first XI at the weekend, as talented prospects such as Sassuolo pair Davide Frattesi and Gianluca Scamacca start to establish themselves as regulars in the side.

Italy now round off a relatively positive camp by facing Germany for the second time in 10 days, and this time away at Monchengladbach's Borussia-Park, after the first meeting between the teams earlier this month resulted in the spoils being shared.

Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini opened the scoring for La Nazionale in the 70th minute, but their lead was soon wiped out by Joshua Kimmich, who equalised just three minutes later - this time, though, Mancini will be hoping to spring a surprise and go one better.

Team News

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Following a packed itinerary over the past fortnight, Germany coach Hansi Flick may be tempted to make some changes to his side on Tuesday night, but Jonas Hofmann - with three goals in his last four international appearances - is likely to retain the right wing-back berth back at his home ground.

Timo Werner has so far failed to make much of an impact up front this summer, neither has clubmate Kai Havertz, and both were withdrawn before the final whistle in Budapest. Therefore, Bayern Munich duo Leroy Sane and Thomas Muller could be drafted back into the side, with Karim Adeyemi and Lukas Nmecha providing more youthful options from the bench.

Another Bayern man, Serge Gnabry, has been troubled by a calf problem and may not feature at all in Die Nationalelf's final game of the current get-together, along with Marco Reus, who has sustained a muscular injury.

Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini's starting XI is more difficult to determine, as the ex-Inter coach has shown a renewed willingness to shuffle his pack and experiment this month; unearthing some useful new players in the manner that proved so profitable back at the start of his reign.

Atalanta's Matteo Pessina, who has struggled since playing a cameo role in Italy's Euros triumph, impressed as part of the supporting act for centre-forward Gianluca Scamacca against England, while Juventus defender Federico Gatti made his Azzurri debut on Saturday night.

Both will hope to hold on to their places in a probable 4-3-3 formation, though wonderkid Wilfried Gnonto has shown flashes of potential during his first senior call-up and could replace the former.

Alessandro Florenzi and Tommaso Pobega have become the latest players to leave the Azzurri's training camp, while Sandro Tonali must serve a suspension.

With most of his usual midfield colleagues either injured or released from the squad, Nicolo Barella could be set to return in the visitors' engine room, after being consigned to the bench at the weekend.

Germany possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Klostermann, Sule, Rudiger; Hofmann, Kimmich, Gundogan, Raum; Sane, Muller; Werner

Italy possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Calabria, Mancini, Bastoni, Spinazzzola; Frattesi, Cristante, Barella; Politano, Scamacca, Gnonto

We say: Germany 1-0 Italy

While Italy have fared better than many expected at the start of their tricky transition from one generation to the next, they remain unconvincing in the final third and may not get on the scoresheet.

Despite a lacklustre record in the Nations League so far, Germany are further ahead in their development by comparison, and they can find a goal from one of several tried and tested sources up front.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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