Inter Milan vs Udinese

The sides make their way out in the flashing lights of San Siro, kick off is moments away!!

Did you know that Martinez and Calhanoglu are the only two players in Serie A this season to have scored at least once against every other opponent. 32-year-old Calhanoglu makes his 217th Inter appearance tonight, having scored 52 goals and assisted 39 in that time.

Runjaic makes just two changes from the Lazio defeat. Kabasele replaces the injured Oumar Solet in the back three, while Miller comes into midfield for Piotrowski, who is also on the physio table. Davis continues up front after scoring 10 goals in 30 Serie A games last season.

Chivu utilises the strength and depth of his squad to make four changes from the dramatic win over Napoli. Stones replaces Bisseck in the back three, Augusto comes in for Dimarco at wing back, Mkhitaryan replaces Sucic in midfield and Thuram partners Esposito in the front two as Martinez is rested. It is the Frenchman’s first league start of the season, after scoring 13 times in the title-winning campaign, though he did score the crucial equaliser against Napoli last time out.

SUBS: Sandi Lovric, Pier Zarraga, Idrissa Gueye, Nicolo Bertola, Vakoun Bayo, Giorgi Chakvedatze, Bartosz Mrozek, Giulio Vinciati, Lazar Jovanovic, Daniele Padelli.

UDINESE (3-4-2-1): Maduka Okoye; Enzo Ebosse, Christian Kabasele, James Abankwah; Hassane Kamara, Lennon Miller, Jesper Karlstrom, Mergim Vojvoda; Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, Unai Gomez; Keinan Davis.

SUBS: Aleksandr Stankovic, Petar Sucic, Lautaro Martinez, Luis Henrique, Raffaele Di Gennaro, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Curtis Jones, Benjamin Pavard, Yann Bisseck, Federico Dimarco, Mattia Mosconi, Ivan Provedel.

INTER (3-5-2): Josep Martinez; Alessandro Bastoni, Manuel Akanji, John Stones; Carlos Augusto, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Piotr Zielinski, Nicolo Barella; Andy Diouf, Francesco Pio Esposito, Marcus Thuram.

Early season form suggests that Cristian Chivu’s dominant Inter are in the mood to make it back-to-back Serie A titles for the first time since 2010, when the club won a record five on the bounce from 2006. Chivu himself was a key part of that side, and it would be fitting if he were to lead them back to those heights from the touchline. Victories against Monza, Cagliari and a dramatic three-goal turnaround against Napoli have laid down a perfect start to the league season, but the Nerazzurri fell 2-1 to Real Madrid in midweek’s Champions League opener. Kosta Runjaic’s 11th-placed Udinese, meanwhile, have made a typical start to their campaign, with a win away to Monza sandwiched between an opening day draw with Como and a loss to Lazio last weekend. And while today’s hosts have won 18 of their last 23 league games against the visitors, Udinese did produce a memorable performance here at the start of last season, with goals from Keinan Davis and Arthur Atta delivering a 2-1 comeback victory. That said, their previous seven away trips to Inter had ended in defeat and Chivu will be hoping to return to that norm today. Udinese full-back Hassane Kamara has started the season in surprisingly potent form, scoring against Como and Monza. For Inter, it is the dependable pair of captain Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu who lead the early scoring, both with two. Opta’s win predictor has this one at 73% in favour of a home win, and given that none of the last 12 meetings have ended in a draw, we should be in for an exciting 90 minutes in Milan.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of this Serie A clash between Inter and Udinese, from San Siro in Milan!

Udinese get us underway in Milan, kicking right to left in their black and white stripes, Inter in their newly-released grey third shirt, despite being at home!

It has been a very sedate start to the game with both sides enjoying some extended possession without attempting anything ambitious. Bastoni then lifts a ball in towards Thuram who can't bring it under his spell well enough to evade the covering defenders.

Barella finds some space in the final third and slides it out for Thuram on the right side of the box. The forward is stretching as he looks to cross for Esposito but the ball is overhit and goes behind for a goalkick. That's the first bit of space Inter have found and he should have done better.

Vojvoda works a yard of space on the right side and bends a searching ball in towards Davis at the back post forcing Akanji to back pedal and nod behind for a corner.

Goal James Abankwah

Assist Unai Gómez

GOOOOOALLLLL!! UDINESE LEAD! Is it happening for Bianconeri again at San Siro?? The corner is cleared at first opportunity and Gomez whips the follow-up straight onto the head of Abankwah, who has found some space on the six yard line and steers an excellent header back across goal and past Martinez. Inter 0-1 Udinese.

After a disappointing initial delivery, Gomez collected the loose ball on the corner of the box and delivered a teasing cross which had Inter's defenders caught in two minds.

Abankwah scores his first goal since returning to the club from Watford in the summer. The Irish defender has previously spent three seasons with Udinese. What a time and venue to announce your return.

INTER NEARLY LEVEL!! It's a wonderful double save from Okoye as Barella flicks a delightful cross into the box for Thuram who gets a header on target forcing the Nigerian into an initial reflex save. Thuram then reacts to prod the rebound back on target from a tight angle but Okoye is alive to it and manages to collect it. Brilliant goalkeeping.

Goal Jurgen Ekkelenkamp

Assist Keinan Davis

GOOOOOOALLLL!!! INCREDIBLE!! Ekkelenkamp doubles the visitors’ lead inside 20 minutes!!! It is horrible defending from Inter as Davis collects a fairly innocuous pass into the penalty area that is taking him away from goal. Diouf is weak in the challenge and bounces off the Englishman, who then faces up Akanki inside the box and the Swiss international just stands off and lets Davis slip the ball into the run of Ekkelenkamp who darts in and pokes the ball into the bottom corner off the foot of Martinez. Inter 0-2 Udinese.

Even when he isn't scoring, Davis is such an asset to this side with his industry and attitude. He did brilliantly to create something out of nothing.

Inter are furious with a denied penalty shout against Thuram down by the right byline and the sequence ends with the referee showing a red card to one of the Inter staff on the touchline. They need to get their heads together here and wrestle some momentum back.

You have to say that Udinese have been good value for their two goal lead. Ekkelenkamp has now scored or assisted in each of his last five away league games.

GOOOOOALLLLL!! UDINESE LEAD! Is it happening for the Bianconeri again at San Siro?? The corner is cleared at first opportunity and Gomez whips the follow-up straight onto the head of Abankwah, who has found some space on the six yard line and steers an excellent header back across goal and past Martinez. Inter 0-1 Udinese.

Mkhitaryan hits a powerful half-volley on target from the edge of the box which stings the palms of Okoye, but the Nigerian is not too troubled. Inter have barely tested the Udinese defence since falling behind.

Goal Carlos Augusto Zopolato Neves

GOOOOOAAALLLL!! There we go! Inter are back in business! And from the unlikeliest of sources. Augusto! Bastoni does well high up the pitch to win the ball back and the Brazilian wing-back collects it 35 yards out, takes a couple of touches and rifles a low left-footed strike into the far side-netting. Okoye had no chance and Inter are back in the game. What a strike. Inter 1-2 Udinese.

That is only Augusto's fifth Inter goal, entering his fourth season with the club since joining from Monza, and he will not have scored many better in his life than that. It was a saveable height for Okoye but hit so well by the Brazilian that he could not get near it.

Despite the goal, Runjaic will be delighted with his side's opening 30 minutes at San Siro. They have had 40% of the ball and created more xG (0.66) than the hosts (0.53). They have reduced them to long distance efforts apart from Okoye's double save from Thuram.

Bastoni makes a poor clearance inside the box which only falls as far as Ekkelenkamp, who sends the ball back into the area for Davis. His touch lays off Gomez who looks to have a clear strike at goal from 12 yards out but he isn't aware of Augusto who is recovering well behind him and nicks the ball from the Spaniard's toes. That was a good chance.

Goal Nicolò Barella

Assist Marcus Thuram

GOOOOOALLLLL!!! BARELLA EQUALISES!! And in the flash of an eye, Inter are level at San Siro. The Nerazzurri win the ball back in the final third and Thuram cuts it back inside the penalty area for Barella, who initially falls over his first touch but gets back up quickly, evades the challenge and lashes the ball past Okoye into the far corner. Typically tenacious play from Inter’s stand-in captain. We have a real game on our hands in Milan. Inter 2-2 Udinese.

It was good awareness from the striker to pick out his teammate inside him on the right side of the box. He repays Chivu's faith in starting him with another crucial contribution.

Chivu told the press before this game that he wanted his side to 'continue adding' things to their game. They have once again shown resilience and composure here, after going two down so early on, and now look firmly in control of this contest. Given that Roma continued their perfect start earlier today, Chivu will know they cannot afford to drop points.

Barella picks the ball up in a very similar position to the goal, this time with a crowd of bodies around him. The midfielder turns sharply and hits a vicious effort from the angle which needs Okoye to parry it over the bar and away for an Inter corner.

Inter have had the last six shots in this game. Udinese's last effort was Ekkelenkamp's 16th minute goal. It has been a masterclass of control and precision since then from Inter. Akanji wanders forward into the area and tries to guide a Bastoni cross past Okoye but it is straight at the Nigerian.

Yellow Card Keinan Davis

Davis is booked for a nasty challenge down the back of Zielinksi's leg. The midfielder goes down in agony and that was very nearly more serious. Inter have a free-kick in a good position, 30 yards out on the right side of the area.

HALF-TIME: INTER 2-2 UDINESE

GOOOOOALLLLL!!! BARELLA EQUALISES!! And in the blink of an eye, Inter are level at San Siro. The Nerazzurri win the ball back in the final third and Thuram cuts it back inside the penalty area for Barella, who initially falls over his first touch but gets back up quickly, evades the challenge and lashes the ball past Okoye into the far corner. Typically tenacious play from Inter’s stand-in captain. We have a real game on our hands in Milan. Inter 2-2 Udinese.

A scintillating half of football ends with the home side firmly in control, having woken up from a sleepy start which allowed Udinese to race into a two goal lead thanks to a ninth-minute header from Abankwah and a 16th-minute Ekkelenkamp goal after excellent work from Davis. Knowing that they need to win to keep pace with Gasperini's irresistible Roma at the top of Serie A, Chivu’s men were suddenly sparked into life after 26 minutes, when Augusto collected the ball 35 yards from goal and struck a low thunderbolt into the far corner. Nine minutes later they were level through their stand-in skipper, Barella, who received the ball from Thuram on the right side of the box, fell over his first touch and got straight back up to slam the ball past Okoye in emphatic fashion. After such a promising first 20 minutes, it now looks like a very stern test to keep Inter out in this second half for Runjaic’s Udinese. They will need to defend for their lives, and hope that they can exploit the various gaps that Inter are leaving in transitions. Diouf and Akanji especially have looked shaky in the right channel so far and Davis has been lively. Inter will want two or three in the next 45 minutes.

Udinese, 0.66 xG, did not have a shot after Ekkelenkamp's goal, while Inter had 13 first half shots with six on target, creating 0.95 xG. You expect they will have at least double that by the end of this one.

We're back underway at San Siro. Will Udinese repeat last season's heroics here and grab another or will Inter get the job done?

Inter break straight away and Barella curls a pass into the box looking for Thuram's run at the back post but Okoye reacts sharply and is out to collect.

We have a brief delay here as Kabasele receives treatment on the far side. It looks as though the former Watford man is going to be forced off here. Udinese are down to 10 men for the time being with a substitute being prepared.

More heroics from Okoye as he pushes an initial cross out to Diouf on the far side of the area. The French wide man links up nicely with Barella before laying it on a plate for Mkhitaryan on the penalty spot. The Armenian strikes it sweetly towards the near top corner and Okoye dives high and to his left to push it behind. That's his fifth save of the game.

Inter are in complete control of this game. It has been exactly the start Chivu would have asked for. They have reset after a tough first 45 minutes and look set on putting Udinese to bed here.

Udinese have made just one final third entry in this second half. They are yet to have a shot, yet to get inside the Inter box and have had just 20% of the ball.

Goal Marcus Thuram

After a minute or so of Inter pressure, Barella pulls the ball back for Mkhitaryan on the right edge of the box and the midfielder blazes his first-time effort miles over Okoye's crossbar.

Assist Andy Diouf

GOOOOOALLLLL! THURAM IS AT IT AGAIN! Well, it has been coming since the start of the half. Diouf makes up for his role in Udinese’s second goal with an excellent run down the right wing. He gets to the byline unopposed and cuts a simple pass back for Thuram who strolls onto it and just guides the ball into the far corner with style and precision. A lovely finish from a lovely footballer. Inter take the lead they have been threatening since they went two goals behind. Inter 3-2 Udinese.

Yellow Card Henrikh Mkhitaryan

It had been a disappointing performance for the 23-year-old up till now, far too weak against Davis for the second goal, but the former Lens magnets his assist with a powerful run and composed cut-back for Thuram to give Inter the lead.

Substitution Unai Gómez Idrissa Gueye

Mkhitaryan is shown a yellow card for dissent. It is not certain what the Inter midfielder was unhappy about but it did not please the referee.

Substitution Henrikh Mkhitaryan Curtis Jones

Substitution John Stones Benjamin Pavard

Udinese have made just one final-third entry in this second half. They are yet to have a shot, yet to get inside the Inter box and have had just 20% of the ball.

Gomez, who got the assist for the opener, is replaced by 19-year-old Senegalese winger, Gueye.

World Cup winner Pavard replaces Stones in the back three as Akanji moves into the central slot.

Like for like in midfield as the summer signing from Liverpool, Jones, comes on for Mkhitaryan. Jones was a key part of the second-half turnaround against Napoli, but was at fault for Mbappe's opener in the Champions League.

With his goal and assist here today, Thuram has scored 54 goals in 145 games, providing 33 assists, since he joined from Borussia Monchengladback in 2024.

Goal Francesco Pio Esposito

Assist Piotr Zielinski

OHHHH YES! IT’S A WONDERFUL INTER GOAL! The Nerazzurri just pop the ball around the edge of the box for a series of passes before moving into the area with Jones. The Englishman pops it onto the penalty spot for Zielinski who feeds Esposito first time and the 21-year-old Italian does what comes naturally to him, burying it beyond Okoye without a thought. This could be five or six now. Udinese look dead and buried. Inter 4-2 Udinese.

Substitution Alessandro Bastoni Federico Dimarco

Substitution Marcus Thuram Ange-Yoan Bonny

Now 32, Zielinski has been a pillar of consistency in Serie A for more than a decade now, and he has played possibly his best football for Inter over these past two years.

Thuram, who looks to be the match winner, is replaced by 22-year-old Ivorian Bonny, who scored five goals in his first season with the club after moving from Parma in 2025.

Dimarco replaces Bastoni for the final 20 minutes as Chivu begins to look ahead to next weekend's huge encounter with Roma.

Substitution Mërgim Vojvoda Nicolò Bertola

Substitution Lennon Miller Giorgi Chakvetadze

Substitution Lennon Miller Giorgi Chakvetadze

A thankless task in midfield for Miller today as he spent much of the last hour chasing the shadows of Barella, Zielinski and Mkhitaryan. He is replaced by the Georgian, Chakvetadze.

Vojvoda has been one of Udinese's brighter sparks, but makes way for 23-year-old Bertola.

Inter have had 10 shots, four on target, in this second half alone. Udinese meanwhile have still only had a single touch in the Inter box. It has been a masterclass in killing a game off from Chivu's champions, who look ready to go toe-to-toe with Roma this season.

Goal Ange-Yoan Bonny

Substitution Keinan Davis Vakoun Bayo

Substitution Jurgen Ekkelenkamp Sandi Lovric

Substitution Piotr Zielinski Aleksandar Stankovic

GOOOALLLL! INTER HAVE FIVE! BONNY GETS IN ON THE ACT! Barella launches a 60 yard missile onto the toes of Dimarco, leaving Udinese wide open and they work it easily to the right side of the penalty area where substitute Bonny sees his first effort saved, but follows in on the stretch and hooks the ball into an empty net with Okoye on the ground. What a display this has been from the champions. Inter 5-2 Udinese.

Davis, whose assist for the second goal feels like a different season, makes way for Bayo in the closing stages.

Scorer of the second, Ekkelenkamp, is replaced by Lovric. The Dutch midfielder is always among Udinese's better performers, but he could not prevent this domination today.

A rapturous applause erupts in San Siro, partly for the performance of Zielinski and partly for the introduction of Stankovic, son of Inter legend Dejan Stankovic. The Serbian, also a midfielder, was part of the same side Chivu won the treble with in 2010 under Jose Mourinho.

GOOOALLLL! INTER HAVE FIVE! BONNY GETS IN ON THE ACT! Barella launches a 60-yard missile onto the toes of Dimarco, leaving Udinese wide open, and they work it easily to the right side of the penalty area where substitute Bonny sees his first effort saved, but follows in on the stretch and hooks the ball into an empty net with Okoye on the ground. What a display this has been from the champions. Inter 5-2 Udinese.

This has been a perfect game for Jones to continue his introduction to Italian football. The 25-year-old has completed all of his 31 passes since coming on and his most recent action is to drive past a number of challenges in midfield and work it out to the right flank but the attack comes to nothing. Jones could be a key figure for Inter in the title race this season, offering an alternative option to the ageing legs of Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu and Zielinski.

Bayo does well to guide a stretching header on target from the penalty area to register Udinese's second shot since the 16th minute, but Martinez is not troubled. Up the other end, Stankovic whips a free-kick through the wall and narrowly past Okoye's right post.

Goal Idrissa Gueye

Assist Vakoun Bayo

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