Internazionale v Udinese Live Commentary & Result, 15/12/2018, Serie A

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	JUV Juventus	38	28	6	4	70	30	+40	90	L D L D D
2	NAP Napoli	38	24	7	7	74	36	+38	79	L W W W W
3	ATA Atalanta	38	20	9	9	77	46	+31	69	W D W W W
4	INT Internazionale	38	20	9	9	57	33	+24	69	W L W D D
5	MIL Milan	38	19	11	8	55	36	+19	68	W W W W L
6	ROM Roma	38	18	12	8	66	48	+18	66	W D W D W
7	TOR Torino	38	16	15	7	52	37	+15	63	W L W D W
8	LAZ Lazio	38	17	8	13	56	46	+10	59	L D W L W
9	SAM Sampdoria	38	15	8	15	60	51	+9	53	W D L D L
10	BOL Bologna	38	11	11	16	48	56	-8	44	W D W L W
11	SAS Sassuolo	38	9	16	13	53	60	-7	43	L D L D W
12	UDI Udinese	38	11	10	17	39	53	-14	43	W W W D L
13	SPA SPAL	38	11	9	18	44	56	-12	42	L L L W D
14	PAR Parma	38	10	11	17	41	61	-20	41	L W L D D
15	CAG Cagliari	38	10	11	17	36	54	-18	41	L D L L L
16	FIO Fiorentina	38	8	17	13	47	45	+2	41	D L L L L
17	GEN Genoa	38	8	14	16	39	57	-18	38	D D L D D
18	EMP Empoli	38	10	8	20	51	70	-19	38	L W W W L
19	FRO Frosinone	38	5	10	23	29	69	-40	25	D L L D L
20	CHI Chievo	38	2	14	22	25	75	-50	17	D D L L D

Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.

Inter are next in action in Serie A against Chievo on the road next week, while Udinese are at home to Frosinone.

Inter end their run of four games without a win in all competitions with a 1-0 triumph over Udinese this evening. It was looking like a frustrating night at San Siro for the Nerazzurri, missing a host of chances in front of the net. However, Seko Fofana's handball was spotted by the television replay, allowing the referee to award a penalty to the home side. Mauro Icardi used a Panenka to find the net from 12 yards, which was enough to secure the three points, keeping Luciano Spalletti's men on course for a top-four finish. Udinese slip to their second defeat on the bounce and remain just outside of the relegation zone. Davide Nicola's men played well at times and look capable of keeping themselves out of trouble.

90' + 4' FULL-TIME: INTER 1-0 UDINESE

90' + 4' Udinese earn one final chance to knock the ball into the box. D'Alessandro pumps the ball long, but the Nerazzurri hold firm and clear their lines.

90' + 3' WIDE! Pussetto comes close to an equaliser in the dying stages. He collects Mandragora's cross on the turn and shoots on his right foot, only to place his effort just wide of the target.

Felipe Vizeu

H. ter Avest

90' + 2' Ter Avest makes way for Vizeu for the visitors.

90' + 1' OVER! Perisic probes down the left and digs out a cross into the middle. Musso tries to palm the ball away from danger, but only succeeds in directing it towards Icardi. The striker goes for goal first time from a tight angle, only to guide his effort inches over the bar.

90' There will be four minutes of added time.

89' DISALLOWED GOAL! Icardi belives that he has put the game to bed, but his close-range header from Martinez's cross is chalked off for offside. The Argentine just moved a fraction too early.

88' Inter are looking to take the pace out of the game in the closing stages. They have to be careful at the back as they've not been sound defensively today.

86' De Paul lifts a brilliant ball over the top of the Inter defence for the run of Pussetto. However, the striker takes an awful first touch, which sees the ball smack off his right foot and head out for a goal-kick.

D. Machís

S. Fofana

85' Fofana had a good game bar conceding the penalty and he makes way for Machis for the last five minutes.

R. Nainggolan

M. Politano

85' Nainggolan replaces Politano for the closing stages of the match.

83' Inter have the opportunity to kill the game off, but Politano, Icardi and Perisic all try to be too intricate with their passes in the final third, failing to fire at goal.

82' Perisic goes on the charge down the left flank and he drills his effort across the face of goal. Nuytinck slides to make the clearance before Musso gathers the loose ball.

81' De Paul lines up an effort from distance on his left foot, but he fires his tame effort straight at Handanovic.

79' De Vrij is fouled in the air by Troost-Ekong from the free-kick, allowing Inter to clear their lines from the Udinese spell of pressure.

Lautaro Martínez

Yellow Card

78' Martinez is booked for his poor challenge.

78' Martinez gives away a free-kick on the right flank for a lunge on Ter Avest. It wasn't a great challenge from the Argentine.

M. Icardi

Penalty Goal

76' GOALLLLLLLL!!!! ICARDI SCORES WITH A PANENKA!! 1-0!! Cheeky as you like from Icardi as he waits for Musso to dive before chipping the ball down the middle of the net. Utter composure from the Argentine to put his team ahead.

74' PENALTY TO INTER! The referee awards the penalty after looking at the video screen. Icardi will take the spot-kick.

73' Inter appeal for a penalty from the resulting corner as Perisic's delivery appears to strike the hand of Fofana as he clears the ball.

72' Martinez attempts to weave his way through a number of challenges on the edge of the box, but he goes down under pressure in the penalty area. Perisic takes over the attack and wins a corner for the home side.

J. Musso

Yellow Card

70' Musso wastes time from the goal-kick and goes into the book.

I. Perišić

K. Baldé

70' Spalletti calls for Perisic to replace Keita on the flank.

69' Spalletti appears to be growing concerned on the Inter bench. His side cannot afford to drop two points here.

67' It has been a great half of football between both teams. There have been chances at both ends of the pitch, although neither side has been able to find their clinical edge.

65' ICARDI MISSES A SITTER! The Argentine should put Inter ahead as he rises in the box to head Keita's cross towards goal. Icardi is unmarked and makes a solid connection with his attempt, but he places it past the post.

63' Nuytinck takes a gamble as he slides to stop Icardi on the charge in the box, but he wins possession with a fine challenge.

61' Politano and Martinez combine on the edge of the box, but he sees his effort diverted behind by Troost-Ekong.

60' Politano works the ball into the path of Icardi in the middle, but he just cannot bring the ball under control amid a crowd of Udinese defenders.

M. Politano

Yellow Card

58' Politano goes into the book.

58' Politano makes a surge down the left flank and he sends a dangerous cross into the box. Icardi tries to get there ahead of Musso, but the keeper does well to punch clear under pressure.

56' Asamoah is exposed down his flank once again as De Paul breaks in behind him. However, De Vrij is well placed in the middle to cut out the cross.

Lautaro Martínez

Borja Valero

55' Valero has been underwhelming today and he makes way for Martinez.

54' Udinese may come to rue those missed opportunities later in the game. What a spell for them and Fofana down the right.

53' CLOSE! Udinese are all over the home side now. Fofana continues to pull the strings for the visitors and from the right inside channel he cuts the ball back for Ter Avest to strike, only for the full-back to clip his strike wide of the target.

52' WIDE! Fofana again bursts into acres of room down the right flank. He cuts the ball back for De Paul to strike on this occasion, who fires his effort wide of the post.

50' CHANCE! UDINESE SHOULD BE AHEAD Fofana raids down the right and fires a low ball across the face of goal. Mandragora meets the ball at the back post and has the goal gaping, only to fire his effort over the bar.

49' Inter put the pressure and win a corner down the left flank. Valero whips the set-piece into the box, but De Vrij on the climb can only head his effort wide of the post.

48' Inter are on the attack again to begin the second period, but once again the visitors are holding firm.

46' We're back underway at San Siro.

Udinese have barely had a kick in the Inter half and Davide Nicola will be concerned that his side are hanging on barely. They can only improve in th second period.

It's goalless at the break between Inter and Udinese at San Siro. The home side have had several chances at goal, but have not been clinical enough in the final third. Keita Balde has had their best opening, although he saw his drive well saved by Juan Musso before half time. Borja Valero should have done better with at least three opportunities. Luciano Spalletti will be pleased with his team's performance, but will be demanding composure for the second half.

45' HALF-TIME: INTER 0-0 UDINESE

43' SAVE! MUSSO DENIES KEITA! Inter come close to taking the lead as Keita takes on a strike on the half-volley. He bursts past two challenges before taking on the shot, only to see his powerful attempt turned over the bar by the Udinese keeper.

41' Udinese will be counting down the minutes until half time. They've managed to hold Inter at bay, although the home side have not had their shooting boots on.

39' Vrsaljko bursts down the right flank and whips a dangerous cross into the middle. Icardi gets ahead of his man, but cannot make contact with his outstretched boot. Frustration builds for the home side.

38' Fofana makes a surge down the right flank and he cuts inside into the inside channel. The midfielder has support, but he cannot pick out either Pussetto nor De Paul in the box with his cutback as Brozovic makes the interception.

36' Mandragora makes his way back on the pitch to retake his place in the Udinese midfield.

35' Mandragora falls to the deck in a tangle with Vrsaljko and looks to be in discomfort. He needs treatment off the field before he can continue.

34' Asamoah lifts a cross into the middle after opening up space down the left. Valero drifts into the area unmarked, but can only guide a tame effort with his head wide of the target.

32' Udinese are desperately trying to get their foot on the ball to stem the tide. They've barely been out of their own half in the opening 32 minutes.

30' Space opens up for a drive from Brozovic from the edge of the box. However, he fails to generate any power on his strike, allowing Musso to make a comfortable stop.

29' SAVE! Asamoah surges down the left flank towards the byline. He tries to force the ball into the middle and it takes a deflection off Stryger Larsen towards the net. Musso manages to make the stop with his outstretched boot.

27' WIDE! Inter do not have their shooting boots on today as Valero guides an offload towards Politano. He goes for the strike, but he places his attempt wide of the target.

26' Inter keep the pressure on the visitors as Icardi rolls his marker and offloads towards Valero. The veteran midfielder takes a touch before going for goal on his left foot, only to pull his effort past the post.

25' Politano gets brought down on the charge, but the referee plays advantage. Valero goes for the first-time strike, only to plant his effort well over the bar.

24' Joao Mario and Vrsaljko combine with a neat one-two down the right flank to release the Portuguese into the right inside channel. He cuts the ball back across the face of goal, only to find Fofana, who brings it away for Udinese.

23' Ter Avest loses out to Keita down the flank and the Inter winger drives forward. He tries to offload towards Icardi in the middle, but the Argentine fails to take the ball in stride.

22' CLOSE! Politano swings the resulting corner into the box and Icardi rises highest in the area to flick the ball on at the near post. His header travels towards goal, but goes inches wide of the target.

21' Keita drives forward for the home side before being halted on the edge of the box by Troost-Ekong. Joao Mario seizes on the ball and goes for the strike, only to see his effort deflected over the bar.

K. Asamoah

Yellow Card

20' Asamoah brings down Fofana on the charge and goes into the book. He's not happy with the decision.

19' Vrsaljko offers an outlet down the right flank and he swings a cross into the box. Asamoah tries to connect with a strike on the half-volley in the left inside channel, but he scuffs his strike before Udinese clear the danger.

18' Joao Mario swings a cross into the box from the right flank and Skriniar rises highest to head at goal, but his effort is tame and straight at Musso.

16' Pussetto in turn is late on Brozovic in the middle of the park. It has been a niggly game thus far.

15' Vrsaljko catches De Paul late down the right flank and Udinese have an opportunity to clear their lines from deep in their own half.

14' Udinese have given Inter very little space in the final third in the opening stages of the contest. Only Joao Mario has had an attempt at goal.

12' The home side probe on the edge of the box through Joao Mario and Politano, but the visitors hold firm with a solid defensive line.

10' Inter attempt to build down the right flank through Brozovic, but they're forced backwards by stout defending from the visitors.

8' A sloppy touch from Hidde ter Avest gives Joao Mario an opportunity on the edge of the Udinese box, but the midfielder drags a low shot wide.

7' Inter are certainly on top in the opening stages, penning Udinese back in their own half. No clear-cut chances to speak of as yet but you would not be surprised if one arrived soon.

5' A promising Inter move comes to an end thanks to a needless foul from Politano, who pushes D'Alessandro in the back as the Udinese man tracks back to cover a pass down the hosts' right flank.

3' Vrsaljko puts the pressure on Nuytinck at the back, winning a corner for the home side. However, the visitors are able to clear the danger from Valero's delivery.

2' Inter begin the contest by knocking the ball around at the back to build a passing rhythm.

1' We're underway at San Siro.

Inter have won six of their last seven league meetings against Udinese (L1); however they lost their most recent home match against them (1-3 in December 2017).

Udinese have made two changes from their defeat at the hands of Atlanta last week. Pezzella and Lasagna make way from the starting line-up and are replaced by Behrami and Pussetto, who bolster the midfield and forward line respectively.

Inter have made three changes from their draw against PSV during the week. Vrsaljko, Joao Mario and Keita all come into the fold as D'Ambrosio, Candreva and Perisic drop to the bench.

SUBS: Molla Wague, Nicholas Opuku, Giuseppe Pezzella, Felipe Vizeu, Petar Micin, Kevin Lasagna, Darwin Machis, Simone Pontisso, Simone Scuffet, Antonin Barak, Nicolas, Andrija Balic.

UDINESE (3-5-2): Juan Musso; William Troost-Ekong, Jens Stryger Larsen, Bram Nuytinck; Hidde ter Avest, Seko Fofana, Valon Behrami, Rolando Mandragora, Marco D'Alessandro; Ignacio Pussetto, Rodrigo de Paul.

SUBS: Roberto Gagaliardini, Lautaro Martinez, Andrea Ranocchia, Radja Nainggolan, Joao Miranda, Daniele Padelli, Danilo D'Ambrosio, Ivan Perisic, Antonio Candreva.

INTER (4-3-3): Samir Handanovic; Sime Vrsaljko, Stefan de Vrij, Milan Skriniar, Kwadwo Asamoah; Borja Valero, Marcelo Brozovic, Joao Mario; Matteo Politano, Mauro Icardi, Keita Balde.

Udinese are sitting just outside of the relegation zone on 13 points from their 16 matches. New manager Davide Nicolas has claimed four points from his three matches in charge, although his side fell to their first defeat under his reign, losing 3-1 at home to a Daniel Zapata hat-trick. The club are also in need of a response this afternoon to regain their momentum.

Inter suffered a disappointing result during the week as their inability to defeat PSV Eindhoven eliminated them from the Champions League. Luciano Spalletti's men had to settle for a place in the Europa League due to Tottenham's draw against Barcelona at the Camp Nou. The Nerazzurri also were on the receiving end of a setback in their Serie A campaign losing to Juventus on the road, falling 14 points off the pace of the league leaders. Inter need a victory this afternoon to bring back positive vibes ahead of Christmas.

Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Serie A clash between Inter and Udinese at San Siro.

Internazionale v Udinese Live Commentary, 15/12/2018

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