Preview: Inter Milan vs. Udinese - prediction, team news, lineups

Having crushed Napoli down south, Inter return to their San Siro stronghold topping the table by two points from old foes Juventus; meanwhile, the visitors are Italy's draw specialists.

Match preview

Already most pundits' favourites for the Scudetto, Inter rubber-stamped their status at the team to beat last weekend, as they dismantled reigning champions Napoli in their own back yard, with a little help from Hakan Calhanoglu's stunning opener just before half time.

After the Turkey international struck sweetly to become the first Inter midfielder with more than five goals at this stage of a Serie A season since Lothar Matthaus in 1990, Simone Inzaghi's side seized the momentum, and further finishes from Nicolo Barella and Marcus Thuram secured a superb 3-0 success at Stadio Maradona.

As a result, they moved back to the top of the Serie A standings, leaving Napoli 11 points behind - arch-rivals Milan trail by six.

Now boasting a goal difference of +26 (33 scored and just seven conceded) - equalling the club's best record after 14 games, set some 90 years ago - the Nerazzurri have proved themselves a well-oiled machine that could take some stopping in Italy and beyond.

Indeed, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez (13 goals) has scored more times in Serie A this season than Saturday's opponents Udinese (12), and his side have still lost just once in all competitions, having also confirmed their place in the Champions League's last 16.

With a win this weekend, the second-city club would reach 38 points after their first 15 matches for just the fourth time this century, and recent history suggests that victory is theirs for the taking: Inter have lost only one of their last 11 league meetings with Udinese, winning each of the last five at San Siro.

Udinese's lone win during that sequence did come as recently as last season, when triumphed 3-1 on home turf, but the Fruilani are up against the odds on this occasion - not only due to their hosts' might, but also because of their own failings.

Last week, Gabriele Cioffi's side let victory slip through their fingers, as they led 2-0 and then 3-2 against lowly Hellas Verona but still contrived to miss out on maximum points once again.

Substitute striker Lorenzo Lucca left the bench after seven minutes and bagged a brace for the Bianconeri, but conceding deep into stoppage time left them with just one Serie A win all season.

A meagre total of 12 points from their first 14 games means Udinese have recorded their lowest tally at this stage of a season since 1994, and a relegation battle could be in prospect if they cannot hold on to such leads more frequently.

Since Cioffi replaced Andrea Sottil in the dugout, his team have at least edged their way out of the drop zone, but they still await a first league victory in Udine this season, having also drawn no less than nine times home and away.

Inter Milan Serie A form:

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Inter Milan form (all competitions):

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D

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W

Udinese Serie A form:

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D

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Udinese form (all competitions):

D

L

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Team News

Inter's fitness woes deepened last time out, as injuries to Dutch duo Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries left Simone Inzaghi somewhat short-handed at the back.

Carlos Augusto was required to deputise in the back three at Stadio Maradona, as Benjamin Pavard (knee) is still out of action. The latter's defensive colleague Alessandro Bastoni (calf) should return to the squad, though, after missing each of Inter's three games since last month's international break.

Starting up front, summer signing Marcus Thuram has been directly involved in 11 Serie A strikes already this season (five goals and six assists) - the most of any new Nerazzurri player since Champions League hero Diego Milito recorded 13 in his first 15 appearances back in 2009.

A brace against Verona last Sunday took Lorenzo Lucca on to four league goals this term, so the ex-Ajax striker is set to start for Udinese in Milan; fellow forwards Florian Thauvin and Isaac Success should overcome minor injuries to feature on the bench.

Slovenian centre-back Jaka Bijol has been ruled out until January after having surgery on a foot fracture, while long-term absentees Gerard Deulofeu, Enzo Ebosse and Brenner remain unavailable too.

Meanwhile, in midfield, captain Roberto Pereyra plays a more advanced role, and Serbia international Lazar Samardzic comes up against the club he was within a whisker of joining earlier this year.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Darmian, Acerbi, Augusto; Cuadrado, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Silvestri; Ferreira, Kabasele, Perez; Ebosele, Samardzic, Walace, Payero, Zemura; Pereyra; Lucca

We say: Inter Milan 2-0 Udinese

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