Inter Milanvs.Udinese

Inter are within touching distance of top spot following their big win over Lazio, and they now kick off another cup campaign intent on lifting the trophy for a 10th time.

Match preview

Having gone into Monday's game level on points with potential Scudetto rivals Lazio, Italy's reigning champions laid waste to their hosts at Stadio Olimpico and served notice that they will not easily be dethroned as kings of Calcio.

Inter were perhaps fortunate to be leading by two goals at the interval, but a beauty from Nicolo Barella sparked a dominant second half for the Milan giants: wandering wing-backs Carlos Augusto and Denzel Dumfries also found the net, before Marcus Thuram applied the finishing touch.

As a result of their statement 6-0 win in the capital, Simone Inzaghi's side sit third in the Serie A standings - three points behind relentless leaders Atalanta BC, with one game in hand.

The Nerazzurri have already equalled their club record for most top-flight away wins in one calendar year, and an annual away-goal tally of 47 throughout 2024 is also an all-time best.

Before conquering his former club in Rome, Inzaghi saw his side suffer a rare setback last week, when they were edged out by a last-minute strike in an absorbing battle between the German and Italian league champions.

Losing to Bayer Leverkusen - and conceding their first goal in this season's Champions League - has done little to knock Inter off course in their quest to reach the last 16, though, and they will soon take part in the Supercoppa Italiana.

Therefore, an unprecedented quadruple is still on as the nine-time winners begin their latest Coppa Italia campaign, coming in at this stage due to participating in European competition.

A club of more modest proportions, Udinese have never before lifted the Coppa, and they started this season's journey in the first round, way back in early August.

The Bianconeri cruised past Avellino, with forwards Lorenzo Lucca, Keinan Davis, Brenner and Florian Thauvin all finding the net on that occasion, and Lucca scored again in September's second-round win over Salernitana.

The Friuli club's top scorer this term, Lucca was also on target in a 3-2 league loss to Inter that same month, making it four straight defeats against the Nerazzurri.

If they can end that streak in Thursday's last-16 tie at San Siro, Udinese would then host Lazio in February's quarter-finals - but their priority is avoiding another close brush with relegation.

After surviving by the skin of their teeth last season, Kosta Runjaic took charge, and he has steered his side to ninth place in the table - albeit Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Napoli means they have now won just one of their last seven matches.

Inter Milan form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

L

W

Udinese Coppa Italia form:

W

W

Udinese form (all competitions):

L

L

D

L

W

L

Team News

With games coming every few days, Inter boss Simone Inzaghi is sure to rest a few regulars on Thursday evening, when first-choice strikers Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez may be benched.

While Mehdi Taremi, Marko Arnautovic and Joaquin Correa are all vying to replace them, Inzaghi has fewer options in defence due to the continued absence of both Benjamin Pavard and Francesco Acerbi.

Stefan de Vrij and Yann Bisseck should therefore join Alessandro Bastoni in the hosts' back three, while Carlos Augusto deputises for Federico Dimarco at left wing-back.

Udinese have a much less intense schedule, but Kosta Runjaic is still expected to rotate his squad at San Siro, and veteran striker Alexis Sanchez might even make a belated first appearance of the season against his old club.

Sandi Lovric suffered a thigh injury during last week's league loss to Napoli, so the Slovenian midfielder joins Oier Zarraga, Martin Payero, Keinan Davis and number one goalkeeper Maduka Okoye on the sidelines.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Buchanan, Frattesi, Asllani, Zielinski, Augusto; Correa, Arnautovic

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Sava; Abankwah, Kabasele, Toure; Modesto, Karlstrom, Atta, Ekkelenkamp, Kamara; Bravo, Lucca

We say: Inter Milan 4-1 Udinese

Whatever team they put out, Inter are virtually unassailable on home turf, so sweeping aside Udinese should prove no problem for Simone Inzaghi's second string.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

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