Inter-Udinese: the precedents at Christmas

Simone Inzaghi knows that the match against Udinese can be a trap for Inter for at least three reasons: 1) he knows the value of the opponent and the anger he has inside for the last draw against Verona (3-3) and for a not good ranking; 2) despite having had recent and important signs of maturity against the small-medium teams, he never fully trusts when his team faces an opponent on the inferior card; 3) he knows the negative tradition that the Nerazzurri have against the Bianconeri. Particularly before and after the Christmas holidays.

Christmas without gifts

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Inter fans still remember 16 December 2017: Icardi and his teammates were top of the table and, in a festively colored San Siro, complete with a Christmas song sung by the entire stadium, they challenged the Bianconeri. It was supposed to be a festive afternoon and instead it ended with the success of Oddo’s men over Spalletti’s (3-1). From that moment the crisis began which however did not prevent, also thanks to the victory in the return match in Udine (4-0), from conquering fourth place and returning to the Champions League after 6 years of waiting. Leafing back through the pages of Inter history we arrive at 7 December 2014, with Roberto Mancini recently returning to the bench to replace Walter Mazzarri.

Udinese won 2-1 at the Meazza with goals from a certain Bruno Fernandes (from 2020 at United) and Thereau. Mancio’s dreams of a comeback were thus drastically reduced. Who sat on the Udinese bench? Andrea Stramaccioni who, when he was at Inter, did not have good results in matches with the Bianconeri. On 6 January 2013, therefore the day of the Epiphany, Strama’s Nerazzurri lost to Friuli (3-0) thanks to Di Natale’s brace and Muriel’s goal, but the return defeat was also very tough, a 5-2 last day at San Siro, which swept away the last doubts about Stramaccioni’s confirmation. In his place Moratti, on the verge of giving up the majority to Thohir, wanted Mazzarri and he too respected the negative tradition against Udinese… at Christmas and around: 9 January 2014 Inter defeated in Friuli with Maicosuel’s goal . Leonardo, however, also has a negative memory against the Friulians, defeated 3-1 on 23 January 2011 (first disappointment as Inter coach), and Ranieri, beaten 1-0 at the Meazza by Isla’s goal on 3 December 2011.

SIMONE’S PRECEDENT

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Beyond the past, however, Inzaghi remembers well above all what happened a year ago, to be precise on 18 September 2022 when his men were defeated 3-1 by Sottil’s men: ahead with Barella after 5′, the the Nerazzurri sank thanks to Skriniar’s own goal and shots from Bijol and Arslan. Third defeat in seven days for a team that would have collected 12 setbacks at the end of the season, finishing -18 behind Italian champions Napoli. Given the precedents, more or less recent, Simone knows well that tomorrow evening it will be forbidden to distract himself. Even more so with Christmas just around the corner…