After setting a milestone in the Serie A title race, Inter Milan will aim to achieve that Coppa Italia Quarterfinals when they host Udinese on Thursday.

Inter is within reach Top spot After their big win over Lazio, they now start another cup campaign with the aim of lifting the trophy for the tenth time.

Game preview

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After entering Monday’s game level on points with potential Scudetto rivals Lazio, the reigning Italian champions wreaked havoc on their hosts at the Stadio Olimpico and made it clear they will not be easily dethroned as kings of calcio.

Inter may have been lucky to lead by two goals at half-time, but it was a nice mistake Nicolo Barella ensured a dominant second half for the Milanese giants: wandering full-backs Carlos Augusto And Denzel Dumfries I’ve already found the net once Marcus Thuram given the finishing touches.

As a result of their statement 6-0 win in the capital, Simone Inzaghi‘s team is in third place the Serie A table – three points behind unrelenting leaders Atalanta BC, with a game to play.

The Nerazzurri have already equaled their club record for most top-flight away wins in a calendar year, and an annual away goals tally of 47 in 2024 is also an all-time record.

Before Inzaghi conquered his former club in Rome, his side suffered a rare setback last week when they were knocked out by a last-minute goal in a thrilling clash between the German and Italian league champions.

They lose against Bayer Leverkusen – and concede their first goal this season’s Champions League – did little to derail Inter on their way to the last 16, however, and they will soon be competing in the Supercoppa Italiana.

As such, an unprecedented quadrupling is still underway as the nine-time winners begin their latest Coppa Italia season given their participation in European competitions at this stage.

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Udinese, a club of more modest size, have never won the Coppa before and started this season’s journey in the first round, back in early August.

The Bianconeri moved past Avellino with strikers Lorenzo Lucca, Noan Davis, burner And Florian Thauvin On this occasion, everyone found the net and Lucca scored again in September’s second round win over Salernitana.

That of the Friuli Club best goalscorer This season, Lucca also thrived in a 3-2 league defeat against Inter in the same month, making it four consecutive defeats against the Nerazzurri.

If they can end that run in the round of 16 at San Siro on Thursday, Udinese would host Lazio in the quarter-finals in February – but their priority is to avoid another close relegation clash.

After barely surviving last season, Kosta Runjaic took command and led his team to ninth place the table – although Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Napoli means they have won just one of their last seven games.

Inter Milan form (all competitions):

Form of the Udinese Coppa Italia:

Udinese form (all competitions):

Team news

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With games taking place every few days, Inter boss Simone Inzaghi will certainly rest a few regular players on Thursday evening when regular strikers Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez can be placed on a bench.

While Mehdi Taremi, Marko Arnautovic And Joaquin Correa With everyone vying to replace them, Inzaghi has fewer options in defense due to the continued absence of both Benjamin Pavard And Francesco Acerbi.

Stefan de Vrij And Yann Bisseck should therefore join Alessandro Bastoni in the hosts’ back three, while Carlos Augusto represents him Federico DimarcoAnd Davide Frattesi replaces the injured Nicolo Barella.

Udinese have a much less intense schedule but Kosta Runjaic is still expected to rotate his squad at San Siro, according to the veteran striker Alexis Sanchez could even make a delayed first appearance of the season against his old club.

Sandi Lovric suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s league defeat to Napoli, so the Slovenian midfielder is moving on Oier Zarraga, Martin PayeroKeinan Davis and number one goalkeeper Maduka Okoye on the edge.

Possible Inter Milan starting lineup:
Martinez; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Buchanan, Frattesi, Asllani, Zielinski, Augusto; Taremi, Arnautovic

Udinese possible starting lineup:
Save; Kabasele, Bijol, Toure; Modesto, Karlstrom, Atta, Ekkelenkamp, ​​Kamara; Bravo, Lucca

We say: Inter Milan – Udinese 4:1

Whichever team they field, Inter are virtually untouchable on home soil, so Simone Inzaghi’s second team should have no problem knocking out Udinese.

The hosts have enough depth to compete on four fronts, while the visitors have a significant injury list and the trophy is not their priority.

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