Inter strengthened their grip on top spot in Serie A with a hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Udinese, thanks to a moment of quality from captain Lautaro Martínez at the Bluenergy Stadium.
The Nerazzurri, led by Cristian Chivu, controlled large spells of the contest and were rewarded after 20 minutes. A clever back heel assist from young striker Pio Esposito opened up the Udinese defence, allowing Lautaro to beat his marker before finishing with a delicate outside of the foot to score the only goal of the match.
Inter had chances to double their advantage before the break, with Federico Dimarco going close on two occasions and later seeing a goal ruled out. The visitors continued to dictate the tempo for much of the game, limiting Udinese’s attacking threat and showing composure in possession.
However, the Friulani pushed hard in the closing stages, pinning Inter back and applying sustained pressure in search of an equaliser. Chivu responded by shoring up his midfield and defence, ensuring his side held firm during a tense final spell.
The win lifts Inter to 49 points after 21 matches, keeping their closest challengers at arm’s length and reinforcing their title credentials. For Udinese, it was a spirited performance late on, but ultimately not enough to deny the league leaders another crucial three points.
