Tomorrow evening’s clash between Inter and Udinese will be the 101st time the sides have met in Serie A. Udinese have won 22, drawn 27 and lost 51 of these games. The last time the teams faced each other the Nerazzurri gained revenge for the result earlier in the 2022/23 season, in which goals from Jaka Bijol and Tolgay Arslan helped Udinese claim a memorable 3-1 win at the San Siro back in September 2022.
Following on from their triumph over Milan back in November Udinese are after a second San Siro win in a row. If Gabriele Cioffi’s side achieve this it will be the first time since it was accomplished under the helm of Luciano Spalletti. Udinesewon three times in Milan back when the current Italy national team coach was in charge, between November 2002 and February 2004. However, Inter are a tough proposition and only Juventus (68) and Roma (52) have beaten the Friulians on more occasions that the Nerazzurri.
Lorenzo Lucca’s contributions could prove to be vital. After netting twice against Hellas Verona the striker now sits on four goals for this current Serie A campaign. The only two Italians to have better seasons for the club before turning 24 – in the three points for a win era – are Destiny Udogie (five goals in 2021/22) and Vicenzo Iaquinta (seven goals in 2002/03). What’s more, Lucca is the second youngest Italian to have scored more than once in a match in Serie A 2023/24, with only Monza’s Lorenzo Colombo ahead of him.
Udinese will need to be at their best both in attack and in defence if they are to prevail. One of Gabriele Cioffi’s main weapons is Festy Ebosele. The right-back has completed more successful dribbles than any other Serie A player this season, with 26. Walace, whose performances have been improving greatly as of late, will be tasked with halting Inter’s passing. The Brazilian actually made his Udinese debut against Inter back on 14 September 2019.
Three players will be facing their former club tomorrow. Daniele Padelli was at Inter between 2017 and 2021 and won Serie A with the club, Alexis Sanchez played 95 matches for Udinese between 2008 and 2011, scoring 20 times, while Juan Cuadrado featured on 20 occasions for the club between 2009 and 2011.