Inter Milan arrives in Udine with a clear mission: protect that slender lead at the top of the table. Cristian Chivu has his men humming at the moment, having won seven of their last eight matches. That midweek victory over Lecce was not exactly a masterpiece, but it showed the grit required to win a Scudetto. Even with rotation, they found a way. Can they really keep this pace up with the Champions League looming? It is hard to say how this will end, but their away form of five straight wins suggests they are ready for the fight. Still, the memory of that August defeat to Udinese must be lingering in the back of their minds. It was a rare slip up that they cannot afford to repeat now that Napoli is breathing down their necks.

The Nerazzurri will likely welcome back Lautaro Martinez to the starting lineup, which is terrifying news for any defender. Federico Dimarco should also return to provide that elite service from the flank. That said, missing Hakan Calhanoglu is a massive blow for their set piece efficiency. Without their Turkish maestro, the midfield dynamic shifts a bit. Inter has a Serie A Predictions profile that usually screams “efficiency,” and they will need every bit of it on Saturday. They have averaged 1.78 goals on their travels, and given that Udinese concedes 1.5 per home game, the opportunities will be there. It’s just a matter of whether Esposito or Bonny can step up and support Martinez effectively in the final third.

Udinese is a strange team to figure out this year. They sit in 10th place, seemingly safe from the drop but not quite consistent enough to knock on the door of Europe. Kosta Runjaic has built a side that is tough to beat but often settles for draws, much like their 2-2 result against Pisa last weekend. They actually shocked the world by beating Inter 2-1 back in August, which remains their crowning achievement this term. Can they do the double? That’s a bold move, but maybe the right tactical setup can frustrate the leaders again. However, they will have to do it without Nicolo Zaniolo, who is suspended. That is a lot of creativity and “bite” missing from their attacking transition.

Defensively, the Bianconeri have been a bit leaky at home, conceding 1.5 goals on average. Facing an Inter side that dominates the ball and wins nearly six corners per away game will be a physical grind for Kabasele and Solet. Udinese does manage 4.4 corners of their own at home, showing they aren’t afraid to push forward when the chance arises. With Arthur Atta likely supporting Keinan Davis, the plan will be to hit Inter on the break, just like they did in Milan. Even so, the talent gap is noticeable. It will take a monumental effort to keep a clean sheet against a team that has already won 33 of the last 61 meetings between these two historic clubs.