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Germany national football team
International Friendlies
Mar 27, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Brazil national football team

0-1

FT(HT: 0-2)
Jesus (38', 37')

Gabriel Jesus header ends Germany's unbeaten run as Brazil win in Berlin

Jesus heads Brazil to win over Germany
© Offside
Gabriel Jesus scores an adroit first-half header to hand Brazil a slender 1-0 victory over Germany in an international friendly at the Olympiastadion Berlin.

Brazil continued their preparations for this summer's World Cup in Russia by beating fellow favourites and current champions Germany 1-0 at the Olympiastadion Berlin this evening.

A first-half diving header from Gabriel Jesus proved enough for Tite's charges to hit back at the first time of asking after being humiliated by Die Mannschaft 7-1 in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The defeat also brings an end to a 22-game unbeaten run from Germany, who were just one match away from equalling their best record of 23 contests without suffering a loss on the international stage.

After a tempered opening, Philippe Coutinho was the first to threaten as he stole possession and beat two men inside the Germany box, only to pass straight into the path of Antonio Rudiger with two Brazilian shirts waiting.

The visitors arguably edged the first half, but they might have found themselves a goal behind when Julian Draxler cut the ball back for Ilkay Gundogan, who blazed an effort over the crossbar after arriving late in the box.

Mario Gomez was a surprise inclusion as a lone striker in attack and he proved sluggish, having been flagged for offside when breaking beyond Miranda from a basic route-one ball in behind the defence.

Regardless of the talent on show, the game still cried out for a moment of quality in a tepid first half, although that moment soon arrived when Willian slipped in Jesus, who beat two defenders with a delightful turn, before somehow managing to sky his shot over Kevin Trapp's goal.

Jesus did redeem himself just minutes later, however, as the Manchester City frontman met Willian's cross from the right with a diving header in the 37th minute. The attempt was initially saved by a valiant Trapp at point-blank range, but he could not prevent the ball falling over the line as he hit the deck.

Germany displayed some promising defensive organisation in the second period, but they were again tested after a smart counter found Coutinho in space on the edge of the area, the Barcelona playmaker firing over the bar without testing Trapp.

Gundogan was energetic in midfield and he sprung a smart break of his own, only for Draxler to see his shot blocked after collecting a perfectly-weighted through-ball from his teammate.

Draxler was unfazed and he soon returned with some pinpoint crossing from the left flank, but substitute Sandro Wagner failed to get his header on target as Alisson was once again left untested in the away goal.

The Paris Saint-Germain winger might just have prevented Germany from losing their unbeaten streak right at the death, but Alisson produced his best save of the game to deny the 24-year-old's first-time volley with a smart reaction stop during injury time.

Victory for Brazil has seen the Canarinho banish some of their demons after that nightmare contest in Belo Horizonte four years ago, although both sides will know that there is still plenty of work to be done before they potentially renew their rivalries in Russia come June.

GERMANY (4-2-3-1): Trapp; Boateng (Sule 68'), Kimmich, Rudiger, Plattenhardt; Kroos, Gundogan (Werner 81'); Goretzka (Brandt 61'), Sane (Stindl 61'), Draxler; Gomez (Wagner 62')

BRAZIL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alves, Silva, Miranda, Marcelo; Casemiro, Paulinho, Fernandinho; Willian, Coutinho (Costa 73'), Jesus

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Written by
Christopher Dodd
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Joe Gomez in action during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Crystal Palace on August 19, 2017
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