MILANO — For Simone Inzaghi, the Italian Cup is a zen exercise. He always asked his teams, first Lazio and then Inter, to honor their commitment as if it were the only tournament of the season, in the belief that to be strong in the magical nights of the Champions League and in the difficult moments of the championship it is necessary to be always concentrate. Even with massive doses of turnover, with the debutant Martinez in goal and Asllani as director, against Udinese he fielded a real team and above all his own, in spirit and in play.
«The match report»
An act of respect for those who see the pitch less and for the 55 thousand spectators at San Siro, lashed by a slanting rain, which slipped under the covers like the blows of an incorrect boxer. It paid off. The Albanian boy, a promise never truly fulfilled until now, made it 2-0 with a very classy goal, a precise right-footed shot to the far post directly from a corner.
Arnautovic, continuity with the past
The first was scored by another outsider, Arnautovic, too young to make a difference in Mourinho’s Inter and very determined to demonstrate that he is not too old for it. In the balance in the locker room he has carved out the role of mother hen, and Asllani is one of the guys in whom he instils confidence. His goal was born from an error by the disoriented Ekkelenkamp, who shortly before had let Frattesi escape, risking the patatrac. Udinese’s Dutch midfielder involuntarily served Taremi, who brought the ball to the edge of the area to serve the cut to the 35-year-old from Floriddorf, who found a precise left-footed shot. It is his second goal of the season. Much more is not asked of him, but who knows whether the confidence found in the December quagmire could come in handy when the temperature rises, in every sense.
The illness of a fan, Bastoni’s gesture
The only pathos for the Inter players was the illness of a fan in the stands, which rekindled the fears experienced on the pitch in Florence, when it was Edoardo Bove who collapsed on the ground. Bastoni, looking at the stands, asked that the game be stopped out of respect while waiting for help. Now the Nerazzurri, who will meet Lazio in the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup, must beat Como at home in the championship on Monday to complete 2024, keeping pace with Atalanta while controlling Napoli. Then, the long trip to the Arab Super Cup, which they arrived as Italian champions, but which can also be accessed from the final of the national cup. When in doubt, Zen aside, it’s better not to overlook anything.
Inter-Udinese 2-0 (2-0).
Inter (3-5-2): J. Martinez; Darmian (44′ st Aidoo), Bisseck, Bastoni (18′ st Dumfries); Buchanan (29′ st Palacios), Frattesi, Asllani (18′ st Calhanoglu), Zielinski, Carlos Augusto; Taremi, Arnautovic (18′ st Lautaro) All.: S.Inzaghi.
Udinese (3-5-2): Piana; Kabasele, Bjiol (1′ st Abankwah), Touré; Rui Modesto, Atta (30′ st Zemura), Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp (26′ st Brenner), Kamara; Sanchez (1′ st Bravo), Lucca (30′ st Pizarro). All.: Runjaic.
Referee: Massimi of Termoli.
Rarely: nel pt 30′ Arnautovic, 47′ Asllani.
Angles: 3 a 2 per l’Inter.
Recovery: 6′ e 4′.
Warned: Asllani for foul play.
Spectators: 53,756 (of which 147 in the guest sector).
