Marko Arnautovic and Davide Frattesi both scored on Federico Dimarco assists to give Inter a surprisingly hard-fought win over Udinese, as Yann Sommer made huge saves.
The Nerazzurri had the opportunity to consolidate their Serie A leadership, but Lautaro Martinez, Mehdi Taremi, Denzel Dumfries and Piotr Zielinski were injured, with Alessandro Bastoni suspended, though Federico Dimarco and Matteo Darmian returned. The Friulani’s run of four wins and two draws was ended by a shock home defeat to Verona. Alexis Sanchez, Florian Thauvin, Razvan Sava and Isaak Toure were out of action.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
Hakan Calhanoglu drilled inches wide after 45 seconds, then Henrikh Mkhitaryan pulled back from the by-line for Davide Frattesi, who saw his first attempt at a tap-in charged down by Oumar Solet, the second clipping the upright.
Inter did break the deadlock with a well-worked team move going right to left including Marcus Thuram, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco, the latter pulling back for Arnautovic to sweep home first-time from 12 yards.
Frattesi just failed to get on the end of a cheeky Arnautovic pass nutmegging a defender, while Dimarco was decisive at the other end intercepting a dangerous Hassane Kamara pull-back from the by-line.
It was only a warning, as Dimarco again went down the left on a Mkhitaryan pass, this time his cross finding Frattesi to fire in relatively undisturbed from 12 yards, as Arnautovic had drawn defenders away to create the space.
Lorenzo Lucca’s header was straight at Yann Sommer, Iker Bravo fired wide after dribbling past two, while Dimarco’s powerful left-foot effort skimmed the crossbar from the edge of the area.
Udinese pulled one back with a spectacular solo effort, as Oumar Solet rode a tackle in midfield, surged forward and unleashed a screamer from 20 metres out to surprise Sommer.
Moments later, it was very nearly 2-2, because Lucca was allowed a free header that Sommer flew to palm out from the near top corner with a stunning save.
Sommer made another big save in stoppages on Solet’s tap-in from a Simone Pafundi corner, then Simone Inzaghi was sent off for wandering onto the pitch to protest, his second yellow card.
Inter 2-1 Udinese
Arnautovic 12 (I), Frattesi 29 (I), Solet 71 (U)
Player statistic
| Marko Arnautovic (Assist: Federico Dimarco) |
 |
12' | ||
| Davide Frattesi (Assist: Federico Dimarco) |
|
29' |
| 71' | |
Oumar Solet | ||
| Kristjan Asllani |  |
90+1' | ||
| Nicolò Barella | |
90+4' |
Match statistic
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