Udine’s Bluenergy Stadium sets the stage for a lopsided Serie A showdown between relegation-battling Udinese and runaway leaders Inter. Monday’s clash could determine the home team’s season, especially if they can upset the apple cart, with the visitors looking to get the job done.
Udinese’s tendency to draw their Serie A games could lead to their demise as they brace for an unfavorable schedule down the final stretch. Including this fixture against Inter, Gabriele Cioffi’s men will face four current top-eight sides in the next five rounds, highlighting the skepticism surrounding the home camp.
A 1-1 draw against second-from-bottom Sassuolo last Monday left Udinese flirting with the drop zone. Only two points separate the Friulians from relegation territory ahead of the kick-off. But given the circumstances, Cioffi would probably embrace another share of the spoils with open arms as he goes up against the best Italian club this term.
Inter headed into March’s international break with a bitter taste in their mouths after conceding a late equalizer in a 1-1 home draw against Napoli. However, goals from Federico Dimarco and Alexis Sanchez on either side of halftime inspired them to a clear-cut 2-0 triumph against Empoli in the previous round, helping them protect a 14-point lead on second-placed Milan.
With Milan breezing past Lecce 3-0 on Saturday, the gap is now 11 points, and with seven matchdays left, Inter will want to avoid a frantic finish. Another win would restore a title-clinching lead at the table’s summit, and taking on Udinese fits the narrative to a ‘T.’
Match Preview
Udinese
A thumping 4-0 defeat in December’s reverse fixture at Giuseppe Meazza marked Udinese’s eighth scoring blank across their last 12 meetings with Inter. However, one of the rare exceptions to this dismal run was in this corresponding fixture in 2022/23 as Cioffi’s side thrashed Nerazzurri 3-1, ending a dreadful streak of nine winless home league H2Hs (D2, L7).
But agony could be the most accurate description of Udinese’s home form in 2024. They have failed to win any of their six Serie A matches at the Bluenergy Stadium this year (D3, L3), netting one goal or fewer on five occasions. Interestingly, the only time Udinese bagged multiple goals in this stretch was in a 3-2 defeat to Inter’s arch-rivals Milan in January.
Inter
Despite facing the prospect of losing back-to-back away league encounters against Udinese for the first time since 2000, Inter will take the field in high spirits. In addition to their imperious defensive record in recent games against the Friulians, they’ve been outstanding at the back this entire season.
Inzaghi’s troops have recorded an eye-catching 19 clean sheets in the first 30 rounds, conceding a league-low 14 goals. Defensive solidity has not affected Nerazzurri’s attacking aspirations, especially on the road, where Inter have won their last five league outings by an aggregate score of 15-3.
As Serie A’s best travelers, they’ve only dropped points twice on 14 road trips this season (W12, D2), returning an intimidating +28 goal difference (GF:34, GA:6).
Team News
Long-term absentees Gerard Deulofeu and Enzo Ebosse have got company in the treatment room. Brenner and Keinan Davis are unavailable for this match-up, as is Udinese’s star frontman Lorenzo Lucca. The Italian striker has accumulated yellow cards and will have to remain in the stands.
On the other hand, Alessandro Bastoni and Stefan de Vrij are facing injury problems and will not be part of the traveling squad. But Inter will take confidence from Yann Sommer’s return from injury. Marko Arnautovic is also back to the fold after a month-long spell on the sidelines, leaving Juan Cuadrado as the only remaining missing player.
Udinese vs Inter Potential Lineups
Udinese (3-5-1-1): Maduka Okoye; Joao Ferreira, Jaka Bijol, Nehuen Perez; Roberto Pereyra, Sandi Lovric, Walace, Lazar Samardzic, Hassane Kamara; Florian Thauvin; Isaac Success.
Inter (3-5-2): Yann Sommer; Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, Carlos Augusto; Matteo Darmian, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martinez.
Udinese vs Inter Prediction
Udinese have been up the creek without a paddle at home this calendar year, and Inter’s visit ought to plunge their home crisis into further disarray. It takes no rocket science to predict the outcome, with the visitors likely to run out victorious and probably unscathed.
Prediction: Inter Win
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