After derby defeat stopped them topping the Serie A standings, Inter Milan will attempt to bounce back immediately when they visit Udinese on Saturday.
Last week, Inter were beaten by old foes AC Milan at San Siro, while their high-flying hosts saw an unbeaten record ended in Rome.
Match preview
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Seeking a record seventh straight win over their city rivals, Serie A champions Inter met an ailing Milan side last Sunday, expecting to claim three points and move top of the table.
However, the season's first Derby della Madonnina did not work out as planned from a Nerazzurri point of view, with the Rossoneri taking an early lead - later levelled by boyhood Inter fan Federico Dimarco - and then snatching a last-gasp winner.
A painful derby defeat left Simone Inzaghi's side seventh, on eight points, also inflicting their first loss of the 2024-25 season.
Inter have not won any of their last three matches - including a Champions League draw with Manchester City - and such have been their high standards, that represents their longest winless streak since April 2023.
Yet to win on the road this term, the Nerazzurri have drawn their first three away games across all competitions, so a certain amount of pressure will be on Inzaghi to produce an overdue victory this weekend.
As Inter have at least avoided defeat in all but one of their last 11 league games in Udine - winning on eight occasions - precedent certainly suggests they should expect to put more points on the board.
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Udinese have lost six of their last seven matches against Inter in Serie A - conceding 19 goals at an ugly rate of 2.7 per game - and their sole success during that period came just over two years ago, with a surprise 3-1 home win.
When the clubs meet this time, though, the Fruilani will have a rare chance to look down upon their illustrious visitors in the Serie A standings, as they occupy fourth place on 10 points - just one behind joint-leaders Torino and Milan.
They could have held top spot themselves, but Kosta Runjaic's side recently lost for the first time this season, going down 3-0 to Roma at Stadio Olimpico last weekend.
That abruptly ended a nine-match unbeaten streak in Serie A, but they showed no ill effects three days later, when booking a place in the Coppa Italia's last 16 by beating Salernitana 3-1, despite fielding a much-changed team.
Including two cup ties, Udinese have now won all four of their home games so far this season, and there may be confidence in the camp that an inconsistent Inter side might be ripe for an upset.
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Team News
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Simone Inzaghi is expected to make changes to his Inter lineup, following their sub-par display in the derby, but Marcus Thuram and captain Lautaro Martinez are set to be given another chance up front.
The latter has yet to open his account for the season and has now scored just one goal in his last 15 club appearances, but Medhi Taremi may again be consigned to the bench.
One midfield switch will be enforced by a thigh injury for Nicolo Barella, meaning either Piotr Zielinski or Davide Frattesi should deputise this weekend; incidentally, Zielinski has scored four goals against Udinese since leaving his first Serie A club over 10 years ago.
The hosts' only confirmed absentee is ex-Inter star Alexis Sanchez, who has yet to play a minute since returning to Udine this summer.
Meanwhile, midfielder Martin Payero and centre-back Lautaro Giannetti both hope to overcome minor injuries to make the matchday squad.
Kosta Runjaic will revert to his strongest side after making numerous changes in midweek, with Florian Thauvin - who has been directly involved in four goals from five league matches this term - being restored alongside Lorenzo Lucca up front.
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Kabasele, Bijol, Toure; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp, Zemura; Thauvin; Lucca
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Frattesi, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
We say: Udinese 1-2 Inter Milan
Even though Udinese have become a tougher proposition since the back end of last season, Inter must surely post their first away win of the current campaign on Saturday.
The Scudetto holders are going through a sticky patch at the moment, but their class will shine through and prove sufficient to secure maximum points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
