Serie A Week 30 - 5/4/09 (17.00 UK)
Udinese - Inter
Stadio Friuli
The hosts have not lost at home since a 1-0 defeat to Chievo back in November. That run has seen Juventus, Bologna and Lecce defeated and points shared with Lazio and Sampdoria. After a terrible mid-season that saw just two points collected from a possible 30, the last two months have seen a marked improvement in the north-east. Only Genoa and Torino have defeated Pasquale Marino’s side in their last nine matches.
However, the visitors in Week 30 are the equivalent of a Serie A juggernaut. Jose Mourinho’s Inter side have won eight of their last ten games. With Champions League elimination occurring within this streak there was a chance the Nerazzurri may take their eyes off the domestic road but if anything that heartache has spurred them on as they look to lock down a fourth straight championship.
The first meeting this season saw Udinese leave San Siro absolutely heartbroken after a 92nd minute Julio Cruz effort undid all their hard work keeping the Nerazzurri at bay. At the time both sides were level on points near the top of the table and an evenly balanced match could have gone either way until Cruz’s diving header in stoppages.
Historically, this tie is evenly balanced. Six of the last seven trips Inter have made to face the Zebrette have ended level. That record covers Serie A and Coppa Italia matches. The one game that shakes up that streak – a 1-0 win for the Milan giants in 2005 – is Inter’s only triumph on Udine soil in 12 attempts, dating back to 1998.
The corresponding fixture in 2007-08 was a goalless draw, but that piece of information doesn’t reveal the full story. The Serpenti were reduced to 10 men after just 20 minutes when Cesar Aparecido was amazingly given two yellow cards in the space of 30 seconds for two late tackles on Giandomenico Mesto. Nevertheless, the Bianconeri could not take advantage of the situation and Inter left with a point.
The loss of Antonio Di Natale to injury is a real body blow for the Friuli outfit. He joins defenders Damiano Ferronetti, Andrea Coda, Aleksandar Lukovic, midfielder Fernando Tissone and goalkeeper Samir Handanovic on the crocked list. Handanovic’s absence means that Slovenian ‘keeper Jan Koprivec makes his debut. Meanwhile, defender Maurizio Domizzi and striker Alexis Sanchez are suspended.
Over in the Nerazzurri camp they are reeling from the loss of fullback Douglas Maicon, whose thigh injury means that he joins fellow defender Nicolas Burdisso and midfielders Luis Jimenez and Amantino Mancini on the benched list. It is feared that Maicon may be out for the rest of the campaign, so want-away right-back Maxwell may suddenly fall back in love with the black and blue shirt.
Watch out for Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) – Five goals in his last three games have gone some way to silence the critics who were on his back after he drew another Champions League blank against Manchester United. Rumoured to be considering his Inter future, if this is his swansong he is going out with a bang.
Last five Udinese (L W D D L) Inter (W D W W W)
Last season Udinese 0-0 Inter
Udinese (probable): Koprivec; Pasquale, Felipe, Sala, Zapata; Asamoah, D’Agostino, Isla; Floro Flores, Quagliarella, Pepe
Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Maxwell, Chivu, Samuel, Santon; Muntari, Cambiasso, Zanetti; Stankovic; Ibrahimovic, Balotelli
Udinese - Inter
Stadio Friuli
The hosts have not lost at home since a 1-0 defeat to Chievo back in November. That run has seen Juventus, Bologna and Lecce defeated and points shared with Lazio and Sampdoria. After a terrible mid-season that saw just two points collected from a possible 30, the last two months have seen a marked improvement in the north-east. Only Genoa and Torino have defeated Pasquale Marino’s side in their last nine matches.
However, the visitors in Week 30 are the equivalent of a Serie A juggernaut. Jose Mourinho’s Inter side have won eight of their last ten games. With Champions League elimination occurring within this streak there was a chance the Nerazzurri may take their eyes off the domestic road but if anything that heartache has spurred them on as they look to lock down a fourth straight championship.
The first meeting this season saw Udinese leave San Siro absolutely heartbroken after a 92nd minute Julio Cruz effort undid all their hard work keeping the Nerazzurri at bay. At the time both sides were level on points near the top of the table and an evenly balanced match could have gone either way until Cruz’s diving header in stoppages.
Historically, this tie is evenly balanced. Six of the last seven trips Inter have made to face the Zebrette have ended level. That record covers Serie A and Coppa Italia matches. The one game that shakes up that streak – a 1-0 win for the Milan giants in 2005 – is Inter’s only triumph on Udine soil in 12 attempts, dating back to 1998.
The corresponding fixture in 2007-08 was a goalless draw, but that piece of information doesn’t reveal the full story. The Serpenti were reduced to 10 men after just 20 minutes when Cesar Aparecido was amazingly given two yellow cards in the space of 30 seconds for two late tackles on Giandomenico Mesto. Nevertheless, the Bianconeri could not take advantage of the situation and Inter left with a point.
The loss of Antonio Di Natale to injury is a real body blow for the Friuli outfit. He joins defenders Damiano Ferronetti, Andrea Coda, Aleksandar Lukovic, midfielder Fernando Tissone and goalkeeper Samir Handanovic on the crocked list. Handanovic’s absence means that Slovenian ‘keeper Jan Koprivec makes his debut. Meanwhile, defender Maurizio Domizzi and striker Alexis Sanchez are suspended.
Over in the Nerazzurri camp they are reeling from the loss of fullback Douglas Maicon, whose thigh injury means that he joins fellow defender Nicolas Burdisso and midfielders Luis Jimenez and Amantino Mancini on the benched list. It is feared that Maicon may be out for the rest of the campaign, so want-away right-back Maxwell may suddenly fall back in love with the black and blue shirt.
Watch out for Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) – Five goals in his last three games have gone some way to silence the critics who were on his back after he drew another Champions League blank against Manchester United. Rumoured to be considering his Inter future, if this is his swansong he is going out with a bang.
Last five Udinese (L W D D L) Inter (W D W W W)
Last season Udinese 0-0 Inter
Udinese (probable): Koprivec; Pasquale, Felipe, Sala, Zapata; Asamoah, D’Agostino, Isla; Floro Flores, Quagliarella, Pepe
Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Maxwell, Chivu, Samuel, Santon; Muntari, Cambiasso, Zanetti; Stankovic; Ibrahimovic, Balotelli
Last edited by Mahdiano on Sat Apr 11, 2009 4:58 am; edited 1 time in total
