Italy, Germany Share Spoils in Cagey UEFA Nations League Tie

• Teenager Degnand Gnonto came off the bench to mark his Italy debut with a wonderful assist
• Joshua Kimmich pulled one back for Germany a few moments later as both sides began their campaigns with a single point.
• Italy will now shift their focus to Hungary who were shock 1-0 winners over England as Germany prepares to host the Euro 2020 runners up

Italy and Germany played out to a one-all draw in their opening game of the UEFA Nations League on Saturday night in Bologna.

Lorenzo Pellegrini and Joshua Kimmich scored for their sides in a game that was marked by a few clear-cut chances.

Germany started the better of the two sides as Italy struggled to keep up with their momentum. But for all their possession, Gianluigi Donnaruma remained largely untested in the Italian goal.

Fielding a side that has not played together in the past in his new-look side, Roberto Mancini started AC Milan's Sandro Tonali, Sassoulo's Davide Fratesi and AS Roma's Bryan Cristante.

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The experienced Bayern Munich duo of Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich picked up all the loose balls as Germany prodded.

Italy's best form of attack came severally through Frattesi and Giancluca Scammaca but the pair couldn't bring their shots to beat Manuel Neuer.

Serge Gnabry had the best effort of the first half after he danced through the Italian defence but Donnaruma got down in time to make a save on his near post

The Azurri appeared ro have settled better at the start of the second half but it was still a cagey affair. They finally blinked first after Mancini's substitute Gnonto, took on Paris Saint-Germain's Thilo Kehrer before delivering a teasing cross into the box that needed just tapping in from Lorenzo Pellegrini.

The European Champions were however not ahead for long with Joshua Kimmich sending in a pile driver of a shot that caught Donnaruma out.

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The two teams now occupy second position jointly. Hungary leads the group after a shock win over England.

Hungary beat England in a shock result

Sports Brief had earlier reported that England slumped to their first defeat against Hungary in 60 years on Saturday as the hosts earned a shock 1-0 win in Budapest to launch their Nations League campaign.

Dominik Szoboszlai scored the only goal from the penalty spot as Hungary celebrated their first victory over England since 1962.