Blue shirts successful - Lautaro gives Milan the win, Lobotka for Napoli

Inter refuse to slow down and are striding confidently through the title race, piling pressure on their direct rivals. In their last nine Serie A matches, they have recorded just one draw, against Napoli, and as many as eight victories. That means 25 points out of a possible 27 over the past month and a half.

They added three more today with a 1–0 away win over Udinese, having learned their lesson from the first half of the season when the Zebrette shocked them at San Siro. This time, the Nerazzurri allowed almost nothing to Kosta Runjaic’s side, suffocating the hosts from the opening minute until the closing stages, when Udinese finally managed a few chances and half-chances.

Young Francesco Pio Esposito once again started in attack alongside Lautaro Martinez and once again made an excellent impression. It is hard to say what was more impressive: his back-heel assist in the 20th minute or Lautaro’s finish with the toe after a brilliant feint and superb hold-up play.

Until then, Inter had been applying relentless pressure, and it was only a matter of time before Udinese cracked. Dimarco had already gone close in the fifth minute, missing out on a spectacular goal by mere centimeters after unleashing a fierce volley, and he later had another fine effort brilliantly saved by Udinese goalkeeper Okoye.

Udinese’s only real moment of danger in the first half came through a long-range effort from Piotrowski after more than half an hour, but Sommer was equal to it. Piotrowski was soon forced off through injury. Inter did not take their foot off the gas after the break either, although Okoye was sharper than usual and also denied a Mkhitaryan strike. Federico Dimarco finally found the back of the net just after the hour mark, but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside, as Esposito had been ahead of the line in the buildup.

It was only when Cristian Chivu began making changes in the final quarter of the match, looking to keep some key players fresh for the upcoming clash with Arsenal, that Udinese found a bit of balance and managed to threaten. The hosts created some dangerous moments through Keinan Davis, but Inter defenders Akanji, Acerbi, and Carlos Augusto were always on hand to protect Sommer’s goal. It should be noted that Udinese were without their best player, Nicolo Zaniolo, due to injury, while Chivu also chose to rest Bastoni and Thuram with the Champions League in mind.

Inter ultimately collected exactly the points they came for and once again moved six points clear of city rivals Milan, who host Lecce tomorrow.

Napoli - Sassuolo 1-0 (1-0)

Napoli secured a 1–0 victory over Sassuolo in a match dominated by early drama and a spectacular opening goal. The first real chance came in the 3rd minute when Giovanni Di Lorenzo met a corner with a header, but his effort sailed well over the bar. Napoli soon made the breakthrough in the 7th minute: the ball fell to Stanislav Lobotka just outside the box, and without hesitation, he unleashed a powerful shot under the crossbar. Arijanet Muric had no chance, and Napoli took a 1–0 lead.

Sassuolo tried to respond, with Armand Lauriente firing low toward the center of goal in the 10th minute, only to see his shot comfortably saved. Di Lorenzo went close again in the 17th minute, meeting a cross from Spinazzola, but his header was off target. Luca Lipani also tested Napoli in the 19th minute, shooting from distance just wide of the left post.

The rest of the first half saw both sides create opportunities but fail to convert. Alieu Fadera had a golden chance for Sassuolo in the 34th minute but shot wide from close range. Napoli almost doubled their lead in the 42nd minute when Scott McTominay unleashed a powerful long-range strike, only for the ball to fly narrowly past the left post.

In the second half, chances continued to come sporadically. Lipani again went close for Sassuolo in the 49th minute, but the Napoli goalkeeper was alert to make a strong save. McTominay tested the keeper from distance in the 74th minute, but his effort went just wide. In stoppage time, Matteo Politano produced a brilliant solo run and shot from the edge of the box, but the ball again went wide.

Despite Sassuolo’s late efforts, Napoli held on for the 1–0 win, with Lobotka’s early strike proving decisive.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 21

Friday

Pisa - Atalanta 1-1 (0-0)

/Durosinmi 87 - Krstovic 83/

Saturday

Udinese - Inter 0-1 (0-1)

/Martinez 20/

Napoli - Sassuolo 1-0 (1-0)

/Lobotka 7/

22.45: (6.75) Cagliari (3.90) Juventus (1.55)

Sunday

14.30: (2.90) Parma (2.75) Genoa (2.95)

17.00: (2.25) Bologna (3.50) Fiorentina (3.40)

20.00: (3.60) Torino (3.35) Roma (2.20)

22.45: (1.30) Milan (5.80) Lecce (12.0)

Monday

20.30: (2.60) Cremonese (3.10) Verona (2.90)

22.45: (2.75) Lazio (2.95) Como (2.85)

***odds are subject to change***