Inter net four in Udine to hang in there

UDINE - It was the best possible result following the defeat and controversy after Inter vs. Juventus. In the lunchtime kick-off on matchday 36 of Serie A TIM, the Nerazzurri dominated in Udine and won 4-0 at the Dacia Arena thanks to an excellent performance and goals scored by Ranocchia, Rafinha, Icardi (his 28th of the season) and Borja Valero. Spalletti’s team move to within one point of fourth in the table while waiting to see the results of the Lazio and Roma matches as the team remains in the running to qualify for the Champions League. 

A small physical issue for Miranda in the warm-up saw him move to the bench while Ranocchia started. The sudden change didn’t cause any issues for Inter who were on the attack from the off. In the fifth minute, Perisic went extremely close to scoring with a perfect header but he was denied by Danilo’s goal-line clearance. The Nerazzurri broke the deadlock in the twelfth minute. From a Brozovic corner on the left, it was Ranocchia himself who leapt highest to head beyond Bizzarri. Having gone ahead, Inter continued to press. In the 18th minute, Bizzarri came out to challenge with his feet. The clearance inadvertently fell to Perisic whose left-foot strike was cleared off the line by that man Danilo again. Spalletti’s team remained in complete control and missed a further two chances. In the 33rd minute, a Cancelo volley went narrowly wide before Candreva then played a shot/cross from an excellent position that Icardi couldn’t reach. There was a clear chance for the home side out of the blue in the 36th minute. De Paul played in Lasagna but Handanovic made a great save from his low strike. Having survived the danger, Inter extend the lead. In the 44th minute, Rafinha cut in from the right, made his way into the box and left Bizzarri with no chance with his shot to the near post as he scored his first Inter goal. The referee gave one minute of additional time which Icardi made the most of as he beat the goalkeeper with a powerful low strike to make it 3-0 just before the break. 

Udinese began the second half instantly looking for a goal, with a strike from Lasagna just missing the target. However, their morale was dented in the 49th minute, as Fofana left a late challenge on Perisic and he was duly sent off after Mazzoleni went to VAR. With a three-goal advantage and a player advantage, Inter began to control the match comfortably.

The 59th minute saw Cancelo play in Rafinha, although Bizzarri came out to intercept. Four minutes later, Bulic tried to test Handanovic from long range but failed to threaten. Spalletti soon made his first change of the game, with Santon coming on for Dalbert who was suffering with cramp. Not long after, Inter scored a fourth, with Borja Valero receiving possession from Perisic in the 71st minute and comfortably placing the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. Just moments later Balic tried his luck once again, although he couldn’t find the target.

As the game entered its latter stages, Spalletti brought on Karamoh and Eder for Candreva and Rafinha. The two substitutions linked up well in the 87th minute, with the striker finding the Frenchman in space, whose close-range effort crashed off the crossbar. This was the game’s final chance, with no added time to be played. Udinese vs. Inter finished 4-0, with the Nerazzurri still in the race for Champions League qualification.

#ForzaInter forever!

UDINESE 0-4 INTER 

Goalscorers: 12' Ranocchia (I), 44' Rafinha (I), 46' Icardi (I), 71' B. Valero (I)

UDINESE: 1 Bizzarri; 19 Larsen, 5 Danilo, 3 Samir; 27 Widmer, 99 Balic, 85 Behrami (74' 14 Jankto), 6 Fofana, 53 Ali Adnan; 10 De Paul (51' 72 Barak); 15 Lasagna (79' 18 Perica)

Substitutes: 22 Scuffet, 25 Borsellini, 11 Zampano, 13 Ingelsson, 17 Nuytinck, 20 Maxi Lopez, 21 Pontisso, 23 Hallfredsson, 97 Pezzella

Coach: Igor Tudor

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 7 Cancelo, 37 Skriniar, 13 Ranocchia, 29 Dalbert (69' 21 Santon); 20 B. Valero, 77 Brozovic; 87 Candreva (79' 17 Karamoh), 8 Rafinha (84' 23 Eder), 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi

Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 2 Lisandro, 25 Miranda, 99 Pinamonti

Coach: Luciano Spalletti

Bookings: Danilo (U)

Red card: 49' Fofana (U)

Added time: 1' + 0'

Referee: Mazzoleni

Assistants: Giallatini, Valeriani

Fourth Official: Di Paolo

VAR operators: Giacomelli, Paganessi