Inter looks for answers against Udinese after Champions League setback

Three wins in three Serie A matches and a cold shower in the Champions League. That's how Inter arrives at matchday four of the Italian league, needing to shake off its European hangover before it turns into a bigger problem. Up next is Udinese, a mid-table side that, oddly enough, hasn't won a single home match so far this season.

The match kicks off this Monday, September 14 at San Siro, with a start time of 3:45 p.m. (Argentina, Uruguay and Chile time) and 1:45 p.m. (Colombia, Peru and Ecuador). Fans in South America can catch the live broadcast through Disney+'s Premium Plan.

Why is this match worth watching? Because Inter, the defending Serie A champion, is coming off a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in its Champions League league phase debut, and needs to respond quickly to keep pace in the race for the top of the Italian table. The good news is that domestically, Inter hasn't put a foot wrong: it won its first three matches, the most recent a true roller coaster against Napoli, which it ended up beating 3-2 at home after trailing by two goals.

How both teams arrive

Udinese, meanwhile, has four points through three matchdays and arrives bruised after a 2-1 home loss to Lazio. The club has shown a quirk that's carried over from last season: it performs far better on the road than at home. In fact, its only win so far this campaign was a 3-2 result away to Monza.

For Inter, the focus, as always, is on captain and top scorer Lautaro Martinez, joined by Marcus Thuram, Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu, the engine of the Nerazzurri midfield. On Udinese's side, the names to watch are Bayo Youssouf, Jesper Karlstrom, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp and Hassane Kamara.

The most recent meeting between the two clubs clearly favors the Milan side: on January 17 of this year, Inter won 1-0 on the road, with a goal from Lautaro Martinez himself. Recent history, then, points toward another home win for Inter, though Udinese has already shown it can trouble anyone away from its own stadium.

For Inter, winning isn't just about collecting three points. It's also a way to quickly put the rough European night behind it and reaffirm that, within Italy's borders, it remains the team to beat.