Gabriel Jesus scored Brazil as the South American nation defeated Germany by 1-0 in Berlin to end the hosts’ 22-game unbeaten run.
For some, it may also restore some lost pride for the five-time world champions following the humiliating mismatch between the two sides in their previous meeting, when Germany crushed the hosts by 7-1 in the 2014 World Cup semi-final in Belo Horizonte.
It also meant that Joachim Low’s side, the reigning world champions and the team top of the world rankings, lost for the first time since a 2-0 defeat by France in the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
Gabriel Jesus’s first-half header settled the friendly seven minutes before the interval when the goalkeeper, Kevin Trapp, flapped at his powerful but centrally positioned header and allowed the ball go in.
Jesus had also missed a good chance minutes earlier when he left two Germany defenders sprawling on a counterattack and then fired over with only the goalkeeper to beat.
On the other side of the pitch, Ilkay Gundogan had the home side’s best chance when he mishit the ball after Julian Draxler pulled it back.
There was also a contentious moment in the game as the referee, Jonas Eriksson, asked the Brazil captain, Dani Alves, to calm his players down after Toni Kroos felt the effect of yet another robust challenge.
Despite their lead, Brazil emerged with more intent after the break, with Antonio Rüdiger blocking Willian and Paulinho drawing a good save from Trapp off the rebound, before Philippe Coutinho fired just over.
The Barcelona forward was also denied when Joshua Kimmich produced a vital interception, and Jesus missed an open goal from the resultant corner.
As the game later, Sandro Wagner twice headed good chances wide but that was as close as Germany got as Brazil adopted a 6-3-1 formation to protect their lead.