· 2 min readIn this Inter vs Udinese match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
Inter came into the fourth round of Serie A with three wins from three games and, at home, had a duty to beat a limited Udinese side. The team were coming off a chaotic defeat against Real Madrid, but continued to show a worrying problem: in three league games they had already conceded four goals.
And the game started in the worst possible way.
In the 9th minute, Unai Gómez crossed and Abankwah appeared with far too much freedom. The defender got away from his marker, headed with plenty of freedom and put the ball right into the corner. Josep Martínez had no chance. 0-1.
Inter tried to respond and Barella found Thuram with a run in behind. The Frenchman headed and forced a great save from Okoye. But, in the 16th minute, another blow came. Davis controlled badly on the left, Diouf won the ball back and put it near the six-yard box, where there was a huge gap. Zieliński arrived very slowly and Ekkelenkamp took advantage. The shot still hit Josep Martínez and went in. 0-2. An Inter defence with absolutely no desire.
Udinese dropped deeper after the second goal and accepted defending. But that did not work. In the 26th minute, Abankwah cleared a cross as best he could and Carlos Augusto received it with space. The Brazilian advanced and shot from a very long way out. Unstoppable. 1-2.
In the 35th minute, the equaliser arrived. Barella won the ball back in the attacking half, Thuram received it in the box and returned it. The pass was not perfect, but Barella controlled, carried the ball and shot. Okoye was caught off guard and the ball went in. 2-2.
Inter continued to create and Barella still forced Okoye into another save shortly afterwards. Pio Esposito, the forward who pins the centre-backs and allows Thuram to drift, was completely absent, with just six touches of the ball in the 44th minute.
At half-time, Inter had 57% possession, 13 shots and 0.95 expected goals, compared to just 0.66 for Udinese. The difference was already clear.
In the second half, Inter stepped up the pace. In the 57th minute, Barella found Diouf running down the right. He carried the ball to the byline and put it across, where Thuram appeared to finish. 3-2 and the comeback was complete.
Udinese disappeared. They had not had a shot since the 16th minute and, in the 67th minute, Pio Esposito finally appeared. Zieliński received the ball on the edge of the box with far too much space and found the forward in a gap inside the box. He would not miss from there. 4-2.
In the 79th minute, Bonny took part in a one-touch combination, received the ball in the box and shot. Okoye saved, but the ball remained loose and Bonny got there first to tap it in. 5-2. Inter were already scoring without needing to force it.
Udinese still pulled one back in the 90th minute. Two players appeared together in the box, Inter’s defence once again stood still and Gueye shot to make it 5-3. Josep Martínez could have done better.
Post-match
It was a great win for Inter, even without Lautaro Martínez, rested by the manager’s choice. After conceding two early goals, the team reacted very well and showed character, but the defensive problems remain obvious. If they want to dominate in Italy again, they cannot defend like this.
