Head-To-Head Nations League Special: Italy vs Germany

For the first head-to-head since the end of the season, we are looking towards the International Nations League as Italy face Germany. The format is also different, as we compare three players from each team and put them up against each other using their domestic season stats.

Italy will be looking to bounce back from their 3-0 Finalissima defeat to Argentina as they face Germany this weekend in the Nations League. 

Italy’s record 37 unbeaten run has abruptly come to an end after their Euro’s triumph as they failed to qualify for the World Cup and were dismantled by Argentina. 

The Nations League will now be their main focus before they look to galvanise as a squad once again. 

Germany head into the game on a nine-game unbeaten streak, with their last defeat coming against England back in June 2021. 

 

Gianluigi Donnarumma vs Manuel Neuer  

Save Percentage 

Donnarumma - 73.3%

Neuer - 71.9%

Goals Against per 90 mins 

Donnarumma - 1

Neuer - 0.93

Clean Sheet Percentage

Donnarumma - 29.4%

Neuer - 35.7%

 

Gianluigi Donnarumma endured a somewhat indifferent season in his first season with PSG as he and Keylor Navas shared the number one spot throughout the season. 

The Italian’s save percentage of 73.3% ranks him as the seventh best shot stopper in Ligue 1, while his teammate Navas actually ranks as number one with a save percentage of 78.9% 

Donnarumma was certainly kept on his toes during the Finalissima as Argentina managed 10 shots on target to Italy’s four. 

At the weekend, Donnarumma will be lining up against Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer who has enjoyed another title winning season with Bayern. 

Neuer’s save percentage of 71.9% ranks him as the fifth best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga this season. 

Bayern have generally managed to keep things tighter at the back this season and so Neuer has the edge when it comes to keeping clean sheets with a 35.7% percentage. 

 

Giorgio Chiellini vs Antonio Rudiger 

Tackles Won Percentage

Chiellini - 50%

Rudiger - 52.8%

Successful Pressure Percentage

Chiellini - 40.2%

Rudiger - 31.3%

Aerial duels win percentage 

Chiellini - 67.1%

Rudiger - 69.1%

 

Antonio Rudiger has become a dependable member of Germany’s back line and you can see how similarly his stats rack up against Giorgio Chiellini. 

Both centre half's win a similar number of aerial duels and win tackles at a similar success rate, but the Italian centre half has the advantage when it comes to successful pressures with 40.2%. 

Italy have tended to use a back four under Roberto Mancini, whereas Germany have been a little bit more flexible between playing a back three or four, depending on their opponents. 

 

Domenico Berardi vs Thomas Muller 

Goals 

Berardi - 15

Muller - 8

Assists 

Berardi - 14

Muller - 18

Goal-Creating Actions 

Berardi - 24

Muller - 28

 

No one can underestimate how important Thomas Muller is to this Germany side. 

Throughout his international career, Muller has scored 43 goals from 112 appearances, as well as creating countless chances. 

This season in the Bundesliga, Muller made it into double figures for assists for the third season running with 18 to his name. 

As he often is, he was the creative force behind Bayern’s title this season as he provided 84 key passes in total. Only Filip Kostic of Eintracht Frankfurt made more key passes in the Bundesliga this season.  

Domenico Berardi also played his part in Sassuolo’s 11th placed Serie A finish this season. 

The 27-year-old provided 14 league assists, which was more than any other Serie A player. 

He has averaged 2.5 key passes per 90, which was only bettered by Inter’s Hakan Çalhanoglu who provided 2.6 per 90. 

With 29 league goal contributions in total, this has been Berardi’s best season to date and he will be looking to replicate his form for his national side.