With leaders Napoli running away with the league title, Inter Milan were looking to consolidate their status as the ‘best of the rest’ in Serie A and the 2020/21 champions took the lead against Udinese midway through the half. In a bizarre two-minute sequence that saw Romelu Lukaku miss from 12-yards, before netting his first goal since August from the spot moments later, the Belgian forward had seen his initial penalty saved by goalkeeper Marco Silvestri, before a VAR check concluded he’d encroached before the ball was kicked. Lukaku made no mistake the second time around, tucking home a left-footed effort into the bottom right-hand corner.
While somewhat fortunate, it had looked as if that Lukaku goal would be the difference between the two sides. Instead, as has been the case plenty of times this season, Inter’s self-implosion would end up costing them, with Udinese snatching an equaliser on the brink of HT. It came via Sandi Lovric, who capitalised on a lapse in concentration from the Inter defence to waltz in behind and loft a composed strike into the roof of the net.
Critics will say it’s such carelessness that has allowed Napoli to build such an extensive lead at the top of Serie A table, but having recovered from their late blip in the first half, the home side would strike back in the second. With a moment of brilliance in a game that on the whole lacked quality, Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s first-time side-footed half-volley sailed beyond Silvestri in the Udinese goal, while restoring Inter’s lead in the process. Udinese failed to muster a second comeback of the evening, with a late flurry not able to yield an equalising goal. Instead, having missed a glaring chance to seal the game just minutes before, Lautaro Martínez wrapped the points up for Inter, rifling home a bullet-like effort from inside the penalty area.
On balance, it’s hard to argue against the final result, with Inter creating better opportunities throughout the 90 minutes. Still, with Porto to come in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, manager Inzaghi will be aware his side still need to show improvements, should they wish to go deep in the competition. As for Udinese, continental football remains a possibility, but with one win in their last 16 matches across all competitions, the Bianconeri need a swift change in fortunes, should they wish to compete in Europe next season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Inter Milan)
