inter vs udinese: Stones set for first Inter start
Closes Serie A Matchday 4 at San Siro, where John Stones is set to start for the first time and Inter are chasing three points to stay near the top.
MILAN — inter vs udinese closes Serie A Matchday 4 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Monday, September 14, with Inter Milan looking to keep pace near the top after their comeback win over Napoli. Udinese arrive after a late 2-1 loss to Lazio, and both sides head into the match with changes in mind.
The game kicks off at 20:45 CET [19:45 BST], and it matters for both teams for different reasons. Inter want three key points at home. Udinese need a response after letting a lead slip in their last league outing.
Inter vs Udinese and Stones' first start
John Stones is set to make his first start for Inter in a home match against Udinese, according to the source material. He is expected to line up with Manuel Akanji and Alessandro Bastoni in a back three.
Inter’s projected XI also includes Josep Martínez in goal, with Diouf, Barella, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan and Carlos Augusto in midfield. Marcus Thuram and Francesco Pio Esposito are listed up front in one reported setup, while another version of the lineup has Lautaro Martínez starting with Thuram or Esposito.
Federico Dimarco is available after recovering from a mild knee injury, but he is expected to begin on the bench. The only unavailable player for the defending Serie A champions is Djed Spence, who is training to regain match fitness.
Chivu keeps focus on progress
Inter coach Cristian Chivu has tried to keep the noise down around the squad. He said: “We’re calm and focused on our progress”.
That line matters because Inter are still in the early part of the campaign, and rotation already appears to be part of the plan. Sky Sport reported that Curtis Jones could start in place of Hakan Calhanoglu, with Chivu considering changes ahead of next Saturday’s match away at Roma. Gazzetta dello Sport, meanwhile, reported that Chivu would pick Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolò Barella and Piotr Zielinski in midfield.
Udinese, for their part, have traveled to Milan without Nicolò Zaniolo and Oumar Solet. Another report also says the Friuli side are missing six players, including Solet, Zaniolo, Matteo Palma and Jakub Piotrowski. Lennon Miller is expected to start in central midfield, alongside Jesper Karlström.
Udinese’s likely structure is a low block with counterattacks. Jesper Karlström and Keinan Davis are among the names cited as the main outlets when they break forward, while Inter are expected to lean on control through Çalhanoğlu and Barella from the start.
The confirmed lineups posted in the live coverage list Inter with Josep Martínez; Akanji, Stones, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto; Thuram, Esposito. The same feed places Udinese in a 3-4-2-1 shape with Okoye; Abankwah, Kabasele, Ebosse; Vojvoda, Karlstrom, Miller, Kamara; Gomez, Ekkelenkamp; Davis.
Inter’s home crowd at San Siro gets a Monday night fixture with real weight at the top end of the table. For Stones, it is a first chance to start from the opening whistle in black and blue.
Source: bbc.com
