Florian Wirtz and Brajan Gruda scored as Germany beat Serbia 3-1 in the UEFA Nations League at Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade on Friday 13 November. Serbia's Srđan Babić turned the ball into his own net and later scored, before Vanja Dragojević and Andrija Živković were sent off.
Match facts
- Result: Serbia 1-3 Germany (half-time 0-2)
- Competition: UEFA Nations League A, Group A2, Matchday 5
- Venue: Stadion Rajko Mitić, Belgrade
- Kick-off: 19:45 UK
- Scorers: Germany - Babić 3' (og), Wirtz 14', Gruda 50'; Serbia - Babić 56'
- Red cards: Serbia - Vanja Dragojević 74', Andrija Živković 89'
- Next: Germany v Netherlands, Monday 16 November, 19:45 UK; Greece v Serbia, same time
How the match unfolded
Jürgen Klopp's Germany, who beat Serbia 2-0 earlier in this group and drew 1-1 with the Netherlands on the opening matchday, were ahead inside three minutes in Belgrade.
Babić put through his own net in the third minute, and Wirtz added a second in the 14th. Klopp started Marc-André ter Stegen in goal and Joshua Kimmich as captain, with Kai Havertz, Derry Scherhant and Gruda in the attacking line and Florian Wirtz in midfield. Maximilian Mittelstädt and Philipp Treu started in the wide defensive positions, with Jonathan Tah and Malick Thiaw in the centre. Germany led 2-0 at half-time.
Five minutes after the restart Gruda made it 3-0. Serbia responded in the 56th minute, when Babić — who had scored the early own goal — found the net at the right end to make it 1-3.
The home side then finished with nine players. UEFA's match centre shows Dragojević was sent off in the 74th minute and Živković in the 89th. Nuno Gomes's Serbia had started with Dušan Tadić as captain and Vanja Milinković-Savić in goal, with Sergej Milinković-Savić and Lazar Samardžić in midfield. Javier Alberola Rojas was the referee.
What the result means
UEFA's official standings after Friday's matches show Germany on 8 points from five games, level with Greece but third in Group A2, three points behind the Netherlands on 11. Serbia are still without a point. One matchday remains, with the top two reaching the quarter-finals.
Germany had lost 1-0 to Greece in Augsburg earlier in the campaign, so this win keeps them in the hunt going into the final game.
What happens next?
Germany host the Netherlands on Monday 16 November at 19:45 UK, while Greece host Serbia at the same time.
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