Leon Goretzka headed home the winner with 14 minutes remaining
Germany recovered from a goal down to record their first away victory over Italy in 39 years in the teams' Nations League quarter-final first leg.
Sandro Tonali, who helped Newcastle beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, opened the scoring with a first-time finish after Jonathan Tah had cleared Matteo Politano's cross into his path.
But Germany responded well and after Leon Goretzka twice went close to an equaliser before the break, half-time substitute Tim Kleindienst headed the visitors level early in the second period from Joshua Kimmich's delivery.
Moise Kean sent a fierce effort over the crossbar and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann denied Giacomo Raspadori with an outstretched leg, before Goretzka headed in another Kimmich cross to complete the turnaround with 14 minutes remaining.
Kleindienst almost put through his own net to level the tie, but Baumann managed to claw the midfielder's attempted clearance to safety as Germany held on to take a narrow lead into Sunday's second leg (19:45 GMT kick-off).
Luciano Spalletti and his players will be bitterly disappointed not to have taken anything from the game after forcing Baumann into action on multiple occasions, with Tonali and former Everton striker Kean persistent threats.
The Italy boss also revealed that Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori will need to be assessed after suffering an apparent injury to his left knee in an awkward fall late in the second half.
The result ends Italy's five-match unbeaten home run against Germany, whose last away triumph over the Azzurri had been in February 1986.
The teams face each other again in the second leg in Dortmund, with the winners playing Denmark or Portugal in the semi-finals.
