Berlin: Joshua Kimmich’s well-taken equalizer earned Germany a 1-1 draw with Italy in their Nations League opener on Saturday, ensuring his side remain unbeaten under the coach Hansi Flick.

Seeking to overcome their disappointment at failing to qualify for the World Cup for the second tournament in a row, Italy named an experimental squad for their League A, Group 3 game in Bologna, and gave a real test to the Flick team.

AS Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini edged the hosts 20 minutes from full time as Italy looked set for just their second victory in their last six games, but Kimmich pounced three minutes later to earn a point at his team.

The draw means Germany have won eight games and drawn since Flick took over from Joachim Loew after last summer’s European Championships, with England following in the Nations League on Tuesday. Italy versus Hungary. Too bad we conceded the equalizer right after, we were naive because it was not an easy game, especially at the start, Italy coach Roberto Mancini told RAI Sport.

It was the first time these players played together, they did a great job, they suffered when necessary, they attacked when necessary. The guys played really well, they played on par with what is a great national team right now.

Mancini mixed things up after the Azzurri’s 3-0 loss to Argentina in the ‘Finalissima’ on Wednesday, with only goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma retaining his place in the starting squad.

But the new Italian look impressed, with Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca coming the closest to a first-half opener as his well-conceived shot from 25 yards clipped the post. The visitors squandered their own chance in the first half, with Serge Gnabry firing from a good position.