Already holding a 2-1 lead in the tie and aiming to avoid a nervy second leg, Germany started ferociously, going close through both Maximilian Mittelstadt and Leon Goretzka in the first two minutes.
Aside from the odd foray upfield, Italy were largely holed up in their own defensive third, inviting the hosts to pepper their goal with shots, although only Leroy Sane initially troubled Gianluigi Donnarumma.
But that was to change on the half-hour mark, with Goretzka’s through ball causing Alessandro Buongiorno to haul down Tim Kleindienst in the area, before Joshua Kimmich finished confidently into the bottom left from the penalty spot.
A dejected Italy had no answers, and it was only a matter of minutes before the lead was doubled. The Azzurri were fortunate that Donnarumma was at full stretch to tip over Kleindienst’s header, but then totally switched off as Kimmich craftily sent a quick corner into a completely unmarked Jamal Musiala, who tapped into the empty net.
The visitors looked desperate for half-time to come, but Kleindienst added to his strike in the reverse in first-half stoppage time, rising highest to nod Kimmich’s cross over the line despite Donnarumma’s best efforts.
However, complacency crept in to grant the Italians a lifeline just after the interval, with Sané’s misjudged pass allowing Moise Kean to intercept and fire inside Oliver Baumann’s near post.
That certainly gave the visitors a lift, and Kean closed the gap further by receiving it from substitute Giacomo Raspadori, shifting it onto his right and powering into the top corner to set up a dramatic final 20 minutes.
Italy then had a penalty decision overturned by VAR, but the review system was finally on their side in stoppage time when it judged Mittelstädt to have handled it in the area. Raspadori coolly dispatched from the spot, but there was to be no fourth to cap off a heroic Italian effort and send the tie to extra time.
An eighth H2H without defeat not only sends Germany through, but it also means that they will host the final stages of the UNL, which will now take place in Stuttgart and Munich in June.
That bodes well for the Nationalelf’s chances of a first international trophy since 2017, while it’s back to the drawing board for Spalletti’s side, who will turn their attention to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification attempts after missing the last two editions.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Joshua Kimmich (Germany)