Sensi strikes as Inter beat Udinese 1 - 0

MILAN - Three games. Three wins. Inter continue to impress in the league and temporarily sit on top with nine points as they wait for this round of league fixtures to come to an end. The Nerazzurri have started off on the right foot and will therefore be enthusiastic going into their upcoming games, starting from Tuesday’s Champions League showdown against Slavia Prague at the Meazza. Against Udinese, Stefano Sensi’s second goal in the Inter shirt proved decisive. It was a difficult match, as Antonio Conte had predicted. Despite the away side being reduced to ten men after 35 minutes following De Paul’s sending off, the Nerazzurri weren’t able to score a second. But this isn’t too important: what counts are the three points, and they were very much deserved.

With Inter’s schedule including seven matches in 23 days, Antonio Conte opted to make four changes to the side which started against Lecce and Cagliari. However, it didn’t change the way the Nerazzurri went about things as they looked to dominate early on. With four minutes on the clock, Politano surged through the middle at speed before striking the post with his left foot. The Nerazzurri were looking to come forward, while Udinese were happy to try to hit their opponents on the break. In the 15th minute, Inter came close to taking the lead but Sensi’s ferocious volley from the edge of the box was beaten away by an outstretched Musso. Udinese responded after 24 minutes with a Walace effort following a free kick, but Handanovic was able to comfortably gather. Ten minutes before half-time, the Bianconeri were reduced to ten men: Mariani showed De Paul a red card for lashing out at Candreva following an on-field review. Inter then looked to make their advantage count, with Politano testing Musso with a low free kick shortly afterwards. In the 43rd minute, Sensi had an effort with his left foot but it came to nothing. However, the Italian midfielder wasn’t going to be denied: just a minute later, Godin produced a fantastic cross and Sensi headed home to make it 1-0. This was his second goal in three games for his new side and the first time he'd ever scored with a header in Serie A.

The second half began with a change for Inter as Barella made way and Gagliardini came on. Udinese persevered despite being a man down and Lasagna kept Handanovic busy in the 51st minute, when the Inter captain had to turn a powerful left-footed shot behind for a corner. Politano was very lively and forced Musso into a save before Gagliardini went close on the hour with a great shot from range. In the 64th minute, it was time for Lautaro Martinez to join the action fresh from his hat-trick for Argentina and he was dangerous straight away with two runs into the box. Gagliardini kept trying with another left-footed effort from outside the area. Sensi was in inspired form and Musso had to scramble to claw his free kick away from under the bar in the 76th minute. After 80 minutes, Alexis Sanchez made his Inter debut and first appearance in Serie A, eight years after he left Udinese. He almost scored four minutes after going on: the ball fell for the Chilean after Candreva had gone on a great run up the right and crossed it in, but Musso made a great save when a goal seemed certain. In the end, Udinese tired and Inter were able to claim a deserved win. 

After three league wins from three in Serie A, it’s time to focus on the Champions League with the match against Slavia Prague up next at 18:55 CEST on Tuesday. #ForzaInter! 

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 2 Godin, 6 De Vrij, 37 Skriniar; 87 Candreva, 23 Barella (5 Gagliardini 46'), 77 Brozovic, 12 Sensi, 18 Asamoah; 16 Politano (7 Sanchez 80'), 9 Lukaku (10 Lautaro 64').Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 13 Ranocchia, 21 Dimarco, 33 D'Ambrosio, 34 Biraghi, 95 Bastoni, 8 Vecino, 19 Lazaro, 20 Borja Valero.Coach: Antonio Conte

UDINESE (3-5-2): 1 Musso; 50 Becao, 87 De Maio, 4 Opoku; 19 Stryger Larsen, 8 Jajalo (72 Barak 70'), 11 Walace (38 Mandragora 81'), 6 Fofana, 12 Sema (23 Pussetto 81'); 10 De Paul, 15 Lasagna.Substitutes: 88 Nicolas, 27 Perisan, 2 Sierralta, 3 Samir, 17 Nuytinck, 30 Nestorovski, 60 Kubala, 91 Teodorczyk.  Coach: Igor Tudor

Goals: 44' SensiBookings: Barella (I), Becao (U), Candreva (I)Red card: De Paul (U) 35'Stoppage time: 3'- 4'

Referee: MarianiAssistants: Liberti, Cecconi Fourth official: AbissoVar and Assistant Var: Guida, Fiorito