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

Following a five-star showing on the opening matchday, Inter Milan's quest to regain the Serie A crown continues this Sunday, when they welcome Udinese to San Siro.

Inter shook off an awful end to last season by blowing Torino away, and they will stay on home turf for a visit from the Friulani.

Match preview

Laying down a statement of intent, Inter kicked off the 2025-26 campaign in spectacular style, as new coach Cristian Chivu enjoyed a dream start in Serie A.

The Nerazzurri were totally ruthless in Monday's 5-0 win over Torino: after Alessandro Bastoni set the ball rolling, Marcus Thuram bagged a brace either side of a customary strike by captain Lautaro Martinez, before new boy Ange-Yoan Bonny placed the cherry on top.

One of the club's 2010 treble-winners and a former youth coach who guided Parma to safety last season, Chivu was surprisingly appointed to succeed Simone Inzaghi, and he had the chance to evaluate his squad during the recent Club World Cup.

While Inter were far from impressive in the USA, they may have healed some psychological scars, and an emphatic win on their return to league action raises hopes of reclaiming the Scudetto.

Set to welcome English sides Arsenal and Liverpool to San Siro during the Champions League's expanded league phase, the Milan giants already have one eye on a Derby d'Italia against Juventus, which will come straight after the international break.

First, though, Chivu's men must seek a seventh straight victory over Udinese, following three wins against the Friulani last season.

After a 2-0 Coppa Italia defeat there in December, Udinese were beaten again at San Siro three months later, and they have lost their last eight away matches against Inter.

So, expectations may be low this weekend, when Kosta Runjaic and co aim to defy the odds and claim their first Serie A success of the new season.

Entering his second year as Udinese's head coach, Runjaic saw his side finish with three straight wins in pre-season before beating Carrarese in the Coppa Italia.

They then took the lead in Monday's league opener at home to Hellas Verona, but Thomas Kristensen's headed goal only proved enough for a 1-1 draw.

As a result - following a dismal end to their 2024-25 campaign - the Bianconeri have won only one of their last dozen Serie A matches, which suggests it will be tough to take even a point away from Milan.

Inter Milan Serie A form: W

Udinese Serie A form: D

Udinese form (all competitions): W D

Team News

Inter boss Cristian Chivu should now have a full squad available, after Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Pio Esposito both missed out on the five-goal crushing of Torino through suspension.

Summer buys Luiz Henrique, Andy Diouf, Petar Sucic and Ange Bonny - the latter of whom followed Cristian Chivu from Parma - have arrived to rejuvenate an ageing squad and are all in contention.

With Chivu seeking evolution rather than revolution, Sucic was the only one to start on Monday, though Calhanoglu's return puts the Croatian's place at risk.

While Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram will team up in the hosts' attack, Udinese are expected to pair Keinan Davis with Iker Bravo. Recent arrival Adam Buksa should join ex-Inter man Alexis Sanchez on the bench.

Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is serving a two-month ban for illegal betting - so Razvan Sava starts between the posts - and Matteo Palma may join him on the sidelines with a muscular problem.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez

Udinese possible starting lineup: Sava; Bertola, Kristensen, Solet; Ehizibue, Atta, Karlstrom, Lovric, Zemura; Bravo, Davis

We say: Inter Milan 2-0 Udinese

Perhaps with a slightly less explosive performance than on Monday, Inter should ease into the break with maximum points from their first two matches.

Udinese are well-drilled under Kosta Runjaic - one of just a few Serie A coaches to keep their job this summer - but they lack enough firepower to seriously trouble the Nerazzurri.

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