Inter host Udinese without Lautaro and Calhanoglu as Chivu seeks response after Champions League loss

Match context

On Monday, 14 September at 20:45, San Siro in Milan hosts the Serie A round-four clash between Inter Milan and Udinese. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the match is broadcast live on DAZN and Sky Sport, with Luca Pairetto of Nichelino as referee.

Inter have won all three of their league matches so far this season, beating Monza and Cagliari and completing a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to defeat Napoli 3-2. However, the team arrives on the back of a Champions League defeat, having lost 2-1 to Real Madrid, managed by former Inter boss Jose Mourinho, last week.

Udinese made an unbeaten start to the campaign, drawing with Como and beating Monza, but lost 1-2 to Lazio in their most recent outing. As beIN Sports notes, Udinese won the corresponding fixture last season 2-1.

Managers' comments

Inter manager Cristian Chivu said he was unconcerned by criticism following the Madrid defeat. "We're calm, as always. Our objective is to keep growing, improving and adding more to our game," Chivu said, stressing it was still early in the season and that he was seeing encouraging signs from the team. He recalled that a year earlier Inter lost at home in their second league game, yet have since become Italian champions and Coppa Italia winners.

Udinese manager Kosta Runjaic told a press conference that Inter are the best team in Serie A and strengthened further over the summer. "In Madrid, against a team of Real's level, Inter dominated in some phases of the match, so we know what to expect," Runjaic said, as reported by Goal.com. He acknowledged the squad has several injured players but said the team was not complaining and would try to get the best possible result.

Line-ups and on-pitch notes

According to Fantacalcio and Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez was surprisingly left out of the starting eleven, rested by Chivu ahead of the upcoming match against Roma, while Hakan Calhanoglu was ruled out with adductor muscle fatigue. Pio Esposito and Mkhitaryan, making his first league start of the season, took their places.

Inter lined up in a 3-5-2: J. Martinez; Akanji, Stones, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto; Thuram, Esposito. Udinese set up in a 3-4-2-1: Okoye; Abankwah, Kabasele, Ebosse; Vojvoda, Miller, Karlstrom, Kamara; Ekkelenkamp, Gomez; Davis.

According to match statistics compiled by the BBC, Udinese held a slight edge in early possession (51.9% to 48.1%) and had the only shot of the opening minutes, while Inter won more aerial duels.