Udinese Vs Inter Milan
Sunday 2nd February 2020 – 19:45 Kick-Off
Italian Serie A
Pick: Inter Milan to WIN
Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds displayed in this article were correct at time of writing: 29th January 2020 at 13:45)
Preview: Stadio Friuli is a daunting venue for any team in Italy at this precise moment. Inter Milan, who arrive in Udine having drawn three consecutive Serie A fixtures, must be wary on Sunday then, as they attempt to become only the fourth team in 2019/20 to inflict defeat on Udinese in front of their own fans.
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Table of Contents
Udinese Preview – Can Zebrette finally end Inter hoodoo?
Back-to-back defeats for Udinese has dropped them down to fourteenth in the league table. Still some eight points clear of the relegation places, which is a reasonable enough buffer at this stage. It could be better, of course, and a return to winning ways is desirable at the weekend as they finally return home for the first time in nearly three weeks. Le Zebrette have not beaten their next opponents at home since 2013, though, losing five of six encounters at Stadio Friuli ever since.
Losing a San Siro epic with AC Milan was possibly the most difficult of those recent back-to-back losses to accept. In an end-to-end contest which featured them both taking a 1-0 lead and levelling at 2-2 with only five minutes remaining, to then lose 3-2 with a goal conceded in the dying moments was harsh. Though perhaps not quite as harsh as somehow losing 2-0 at Parma in their very next fixture, despite creating sufficient chances to deserve more (xG: PAR 1.37 – 2.01 UDI).
A better time than any for them to be heading home. In 2019/20 so far, Udinese boast the seventh-strongest figures on home soil (W5 D2 L3). Luca Gotti’s team are extremely well-drilled, with only two sides boasting better defensive numbers at home than their 10 conceded from as many games, having restricted all but two visitors to no more than a single goal. Moreover, they are targeting a third consecutive win in said games after recent successes over Cagliari (2-1) and Sassuolo (3-0).
Inter Milan Preview – Winning imperative to sustaining title pressure?
Antonio Conte’s side were handed a big reprieve last weekend when, after drawing a third successive league game by a 1-1 scoreline, leaders Juventus surprisingly lost in Naples against Napoli. That result actually meant Inter Milan (2nd – W14 D6 L1) made up ground on the Serie A pacesetters, with the deficit reduced to three points despite being held at home by Cagliari last time out.
Ashley Young made his debut in that fixture, featuring from the start and laying on Inter’s opening goal for Lautaro Martinez. Chances to increase their lead came and went although, in truth, there wasn’t a huge amount between the teams at the San Siro (xG: INT 1.24 – 0.88 CAG). If conceding an equaliser with less than a quarter of the game remaining wasn’t frustrating enough for Conte, he was himself involved in messy scenes on the sideline when his goalscorer was shown a red card in the closing moments.
Inter put some of this pent-up hostility to good use in midweek as they secured a place in the Coppa Italia semi-final with a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in Milan. Conte named a strong line-up, though, meaning a quick turnaround for a team that is expected to expend a lot of energy most games. Christian Eriksen, newly signed from Tottenham, could start from the outset then, with his fresh legs and eye for a key pass a useful weapon as Inter try to unlock one of the meanest home defences in Serie A.
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Betting Summary
This is undoubtedly one of the more intriguing match-ups in Serie A this weekend. Title chasing Inter Milan need to win in order to maintain pressure on leaders Juventus, however, three straight drawn encounters in the league doesn’t necessarily bode well ahead of facing a Udinese side who are tough to overcome at Stadio Friuli. The latter have been beaten only three times in ten home outings thus far, winning the latest two.
Udinese Vs Inter Milan – Key Facts:
- Udinese are without defeat at home for four Serie A games (W2 D2).
- No team has won more games (8) or registered more points (26) than Inter Milan this season from away fixtures.
- Inter Milan are unbeaten versus their next opponents across the past two campaigns (W3 D1), though were held to a goalless draw in Udine during the last term.
Inter Milan, who are unbeaten for fourteen rounds in Serie A, are the favourites though. Which isn’t overly surprising considering the quality of the team at Conte’s disposal now, not least the firepower. Moreover, the Nerazzurri’s record on the road remains the best in the league, with Conte’s charges still to suffer defeat (W8 D2). A lot of their victories in said fixtures were tight, though, with precisely half via a one-goal margin. Inter Milan to Win by One Goal is 13/5 with Bet365.
Best Betting Odds for Udinese Vs Inter Milan
Udinese – 9/2 Betfair
Draw – 27/10 Ladbrokes
Inter Milan – 8/11 Betway
