Inter Milan will hope to keep their strong start to the season going when Udinese come calling this Sunday.

Inter Milan will look to build on their explosive start to the Serie A campaign when they host Udinese at San Siro on Sunday. After a spectacular opening-day victory, Cristian Chivu’s side will be aiming to underline their title credentials against a team that has historically struggled in this fixture.

The Nerazzurri began their 2025/26 season with a ruthless display, dismantling Torino 5-0 in front of their home supporters. Alessandro Bastoni set the tone with an early goal, Marcus Thuram struck twice, captain Lautaro Martínez delivered his trademark finish, and new signing Ange-Yoan Bonny capped the rout with his debut strike.

For new head coach Cristian Chivu, it was a perfect introduction to Serie A management. The former treble-winning defender, who made his mark as a youth coach before steering Parma to safety last term, was given the daunting task of succeeding Simone Inzaghi. After an indifferent showing in the summer’s Club World Cup, doubts lingered about whether Inter could shake off last season’s late collapse, when they lost the Scudetto and fell short in Europe. But Monday’s emphatic win has already lifted expectations that Chivu’s Inter can reclaim the title.

The Nerazzurri will soon turn their focus to sterner challenges, with both Arsenal and Liverpool visiting San Siro during the UEFA Champions League’s new league phase, followed by a Derby d’Italia showdown with Juventus after the international break. For now, though, they will be determined to continue their domestic momentum by extending a dominant record against Udinese.

For Udinese, the task could hardly be more difficult. The Friulani arrive in Milan seeking their first win of the new season and their first away victory over Inter in almost a decade. They lost all three meetings with Inter last season,  including a 2-0 Coppa Italia defeat and a 2-0 league loss at San Siro, and have now been beaten in their last eight visits to the Nerazzurri’s home ground.

Head coach Kosta Runjaic, now entering his second campaign in charge, saw his team build some momentum in pre-season with three straight wins before easing past Carrarese in the Coppa Italia. Their Serie A opener against Hellas Verona began promisingly, with Thomas Kristensen heading them into the lead, but they ultimately settled for a 1-1 draw.

That result means Udinese have now won just one of their last 12 Serie A fixtures, a concerning run that underlines the scale of the challenge at San Siro. While their defensive organisation can make them awkward opponents, their lack of cutting edge in attack continues to hold them back, and against Inter’s firepower, they risk being overpowered once again. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Inter Milan

Cristian Chivu heads into Sunday’s clash with the welcome boost of having a full squad available. Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Pio Esposito both missed the opening-day 5-0 victory over Torino through suspension, but the pair are now eligible to return. Calhanoglu’s availability in particular gives Chivu greater flexibility in midfield and could see him displace Petar Sucic, who started in his absence on Monday.

This summer, Inter added fresh faces to their squad in an effort to rejuvenate the core of an experienced team. Luiz Henrique, Andy Diouf, Petar Sucic, and Ange-Yoan Bonny, who followed Chivu from Parma, have all been brought in and are pushing for opportunities. Bonny made an immediate impact by scoring against Torino, while Sucic was handed a starting berth, though his role may change with Calhanoglu back in contention.

Inter are expected to line up in their familiar 3-5-2 system. Yann Sommer will start in goal, shielded by a back three of Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni. On the flanks, Denzel Dumfries will operate as the right wing-back, with Federico Dimarco providing width on the left.

The midfield will likely feature Nicolo Barella alongside Henrikh Mkhitaryan, with Hakan Calhanoglu restored to the central playmaking role. Up front, captain Lautaro Martinez will once again partner Marcus Thuram, who opened his account last weekend with a brace. Together, they provide the cutting edge that underpins Inter’s title ambitions.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez

Udinese Calcio

Udinese head into their trip to San Siro to take on Inter Milan with some selection concerns. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye will be unavailable for the next two months as he serves a suspension for illegal betting, leaving Razvan Sava to take his place between the posts. Meanwhile, Matteo Palma is at risk of missing out after suffering a muscular problem, which further reduces Kosta Runjaic’s options in midfield.

In attack, Udinese are expected to pair Keinan Davis with young forward Iker Bravo, hoping their combination of physical presence and movement can trouble Inter’s back three. Newly arrived striker Adam Buksa should be available from the bench, as should Alexis Sanchez, who will be returning to face his former club.

Udinese are likely to line up in a 3-5-2 formation. Razvan Sava will start in goal, behind a defensive trio of Nicolo Bertola, Thomas Kristensen, and Oumar Solet. Kingsley Ehizibue should operate as the right wing-back, while Jordan Zemura pushes forward on the left flank.

In central midfield, Runjaic may opt for a blend of energy and steel, with Arthur Atta, Jesper Karlstrom, and Sandi Lovric forming the trio tasked with disrupting Inter’s rhythm and linking play to the forwards. Up front, Iker Bravo will support Keinan Davis, with the duo charged with carrying Udinese’s attacking threat.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sava; Bertola, Kristensen, Solet; Ehizibue, Atta, Karlstrom, Lovric, Zemura; Bravo, Davis

Key Stats

• Inter Milan have won their last five league meetings against Udinese, scoring 14 goals in the process (an average of 2.8 per game). Victory on Sunday would mark the first time in Serie A history that the Nerazzurri have beaten Udinese six times in a row.

• Udinese have lost their last seven league visits to San Siro against Inter Milan. The Friulani have only endured longer away losing streaks against Fiorentina (12 between 2008-2020) and Napoli (10 between 2015-2023).

• Cristian Chivu became the first Inter Milan manager in Serie A history to win his debut match in charge by at least five goals. If the Nerazzurri beat Udinese without conceding, Chivu will become only the fifth coach in club history to win his first two Serie A games with consecutive clean sheets.

• Inter Milan have kept four clean sheets in their last five league matches, as many as they managed in their first 17 Serie A fixtures of the 2025 calendar year.

• Inter Milan could record clean sheets in their opening two Serie A home fixtures for the first time since last season, when they shut out both Lecce and Atalanta in August 2024.

Player to Watch

Lautaro Martinez

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Inter Milan’s captain and talisman Lautaro Martinez will once again be the focal point when the Nerazzurri take on Udinese. The Argentine striker has already opened his account for the new campaign with a typically clinical finish against Torino, underlining his importance to Cristian Chivu’s system.

Martinez thrives in high-pressure games, and his combination of relentless work rate, clever movement, and lethal finishing makes him one of the most feared forwards in Serie A. His understanding with Marcus Thuram continues to blossom, and together they give Inter Milan a strike partnership that can punish defences in a variety of ways.

The 27-year-old also has a strong record against Udinese, having scored in previous encounters, and he will be eager to extend that streak as Inter chase a sixth successive league win over the Friulani. With Chivu ushering in a new era at San Siro, Martinez’s leadership and goalscoring touch will be vital if Inter are to mount a sustained title challenge this season.

Prediction

Inter Milan 3-0 Udinese Calcio

Inter Milan’s form, squad depth, and historical dominance in this fixture leave little doubt about the likely outcome. Udinese will attempt to frustrate the hosts with a compact shape, but given Inter’s quality in the final third, particularly with Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram in top form, it is hard to see anything other than another convincing win for the Nerazzurri.