- Italy finished second in Group A2, level on 13 points with France
- Germany topped Group A3, scoring 18 goals in six games
- Recommended bet: Both teams to score

Italy and Germany will play their first game of 2025 when they meet in the quarter-finals of the Nations League in Milan on Thursday.

The Azzurri were unlucky to finish second in Group A2, having collected 13 points from six matches.

Luciano Spalletti's side scored more goals than group winners France, but Didier Deschamps' men had a superior goal difference, which handed them a decent draw against Croatia.

Italy will now have to get the better of Germany over two legs and Julian Nagelsmann's visitors will be full of confidence after winning Group A3 by five points.

Team News

Italy left-back Federico Dimarco is absent due to injury, and Spalletti may turn to Tottenham's Destiny Udogie to start in defence.

Thankfully, the hosts have no other injury woes, but Naglesmann is without a host of first-team stars.

Florian Wirtz is suspended for the first leg, but an ankle injury means he would miss the second contest anyway. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre Stegen is also sidelined.

Kai Havertz, Benjamin Henrichs, Felix Nmecha and Aleksandar Pavlovic are also unavailable for Thursday's encounter.

The stats

Italy come into the game on the back of a 3-1 defeat to France in November 2024, but they were unbeaten in their five games before that.

The Azzurri will feel that home advantage in the first leg could pay dividends, but they have only kept one clean sheet in thier last 10 outings.

Germany have not lost since July's 2-1 defeat to Spain after extra-time in Euro 2024 and Nagelsmann's side have enjoyed a six-match unbeaten run since then.

DFB-Team only conceded four goals in their six Nations League group games and they beat Italy 5-2 in their previous clash in June 2022, which also took place in this competition.

Prediction

Italy's poor defensive record will give Germany tonnes of confidence ahead of kick-off and both teams are used to scoring against each other.

Seven of the last eight clashes between the pair saw both teams find the back of the net, and a repeat of that looks the safe play.

Germany failed to keep a clean sheet in their three Nations League Group A3 away games and both teams have the attacking quality to hurt one another.

Back both teams to score at 4/5 with LiveScore Bet

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