Inter host Udinese in a game between two sides currently struggling in mid table in Serie A.

Inter sit twelfth on seventeen points in what has been a very disappointing start to the campaign. The poor start cost Walter Mazzarri his job and things haven't improved much under Roberto Mancini although the fixtures haven't been kind, starting with away games against AC Milan and Roma.

Inter have done well at home losing just one of their six games and taking eleven points. Mancini will be hoping to improve on that record in his first game back in the home dugout.

Inter will be without Jonathan and Hernanes for this game and Yuto Nagatomo and Nemanja Vidic also look unlikely to feature. One of the bigger stories this weekend will be whether Mancini starts top scorer Mauro Icardi. Icardi missed out last week against Roma and rumours suggest he will not be in the starting eleven this week either as Mancini continues to search for a winning formula.

Udinese are a point ahead of Inter in tenth place and come into this game in bad form. They have gone five games since their last league win which has saw them slide down the table. Their away form has been disappointing with just four points from their six away games and just two goals scored.

Luis Muriel is injured and Maurizio Domizzi is suspended for the trip to Milan so Udinese will be putting their hopes on the shoulders of star midfielder, Allan and legendary goal scorer, Antonio Di Natale. Di Natale has seven goals and three assists this season and has proven that he made the correct decision by changing his mind on retiring after last season.

This game could go either way but Inter look to have a better squad although Mancini doesn't appear settled on what way he wants to line up, testing different systems in his three games in charge. Udinese are a good enough side to punish any mistakes and Mancini will have to be sure to get it right on Sunday evening.

Probable Lineups

Internazionale - Handanovic; Campagnaro, Ranocchia, Jesus, Dodo; Kuzmanovic, Medel, Guarin; Palacio, Osvaldo, Kovacic.

Udinese - Karnezis; Widmer, Heurtaux, Danilo, Piris; Allan, Badu, Guilherme, Kone; di Natale, Thereau.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Gerry Johnston
Cover Spanish and Italian football for VAVEL UK.