Romelu Lukaku’s penalty – at the second attempt – a Henrikh Mkhitaryan moment of quality and Lautaro Martinez strike allowed a much-changed Inter to beat Udinese.
With the Champions League Round of 16 against FC Porto coming up, Simone Inzaghi rotated the squad with Marcelo Brozovic and Samir Handanovic back in the starting XI after circa five months. The Friulani beat Inter 3-1 in September, during their run of six consecutive victories, but had just one win, eight draws and five defeats since then. Florian Thauvin had his first start, with Gerard Deulofeu and Ilija Nestorovski injured.
Nicolò Barella had an early volley charged down, then ran onto a Romelu Lukaku flick-on and went over under pressure from Destiny Udogie, but it did not seem sufficient for a penalty.
There was a spot-kick later on, as Lukaku pulled back from the by-line for Edin Dzeko, the shot was blocked by Rodrigo Becao in the six-yard box and Walace then dived in with Denzel Dumfries on the rebound. Following a VAR on-field review, the referee awarded a penalty for that Walace challenge.
Lukaku had a stuttering run-up and weak finish parried by Marco Silvestri, but VAR again intervened to order it retaken for encroachment. At the second attempt, Lukaku put his foot through it and converted into the near bottom corner. It was only his third goal of the season for Inter, the second in Serie A after the opening round against Lecce.
Udinese lost Ebosse to a knee sprain and Federico Dimarco made a crucial block on Sandi Lovric after a well-worked move, but the visitors equalised just before half-time.
Lukaku lost the ball cheaply, sparking a Roberto Pereyra counter-attack and Lovric saw his strike go into the roof of the net with a slight deflection off Matteo Darmian.
Silvestri smothered the Francesco Acerbi glancing header from a Federico Dimarco free kick, then Dumfries accidentally charged down a ferocious Barella strike.
Jakub Bijol made an important interception to stop Dzeko meeting the Dimarco cross from six yards, while Silvestri got away with fumbling a cross.
The goalkeeper did far better on 63 minutes when having to beat away a Henrikh Mkhitaryan screamer from just inside the penalty area.
There was a chaotic period of the game with end-to-end moves in the space of a couple of minutes. First Dzeko was sent clear on goal only to fire straight at Silvestri, then Udinese countered five against three until Isaac Success had his shot charged down by Dumfries.
Inter countered in return and Dimarco laid it off for Mkhitaryan to sweep in with the inside of his right-foot, a splendid first-time strike from the edge of the box.
Mkhitaryan hobbled off after a knock soon after and Festy Ebosele’s strike was deflected over by Alessandro Bastoni.
Lautaro Martinez really should’ve sealed it in the final minute when clear on goal only to attempt a lob that flew over the bar.
However, he made up for it moments later when holding off Bijol to again go one-on-one and this time smashed it into the roof of the net.
Udinese still could’ve got one back in stoppages, Success scuffing wide after getting away from Acerbi.
Inter 3-1 Udinese
Lukaku pen 20 (I), Lovric 43 (U), Mkhitaryan 73 (I), Lautaro Martinez 89 (I)
Player statistic
| Romelu Lukaku |  |
20' | ||
| Romelu Lukaku |  |
22' | ||
| 22' | |
Adam Masina | ||
| Matteo Darmian | |
39' | ||
| 43' |  |
Sandi Lovric (Assist: Roberto Pereyra) |
| 47' | |
Jaka Bijol | ||
| Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Assist: Federico Dimarco) |
|
73' | ||
| Lautaro Martínez (Assist: Danilo D’Ambrosio) |
|
89' |
Match statistic
