Serie A 2025-26: Inter strengthens title race with victory at Udinese

Inter Milan continued to set the pace at the top of the Serie A standings with a 1-0 win away to Udinese on Saturday, where Lautaro Martinez’s goal gave his side their eighth win in a nine-match unbeaten league run.

Inter move to 49 points, six ahead of AC Milan, who play Lecce at home on Sunday, while third-placed Napoli have 40 points before hosting Sassuolo later on Saturday. Udinese remains 10th in the standings with 26 points.

The visitor was on the attack from the start. Martinez had an early chance, turned his marker over but failed to trouble the keeper with his finish, and Federico Dimarco’s volley shot flashed across the goal.

The visitor continued to press and the opener came in the 20th minute.

Piotr Zielinski’s ball in the penalty area was deflected to Martinez by Francesco Pio Esposito, and the Inter striker twisted and turned, opening up enough space to drive his shot into the bottom corner.

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There was little resistance from Inter after the goal, with Manuel Akanji heading wide from a corner and Udinese keeper Maduka Okoye making a fingertip save from Dimarco’s strike from the edge of the penalty area.

Inter keeper Yann Sommer was called into action and parried away Jakub Piotrowski’s shot after a rare Udinese strike, and the tempo dropped for the rest of the first half.

Udinese gave the ball away cheaply shortly after the break, allowing Henrikh Mkhitaryan to fire in, while Okoye parried.

Inter were much hungrier, first to every loose ball, more aggressive in their tackles and never really allowed the hosts to gain a foothold in the match, but without creating any further clear chances.

The match, like all Serie A games this weekend, was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso, whose death was announced earlier on Saturday.

Inter now turn their attention to the Champions League with a home match against league leaders Arsenal on Tuesday, as the Italians will look to bounce back from two successive defeats in the competition.

Published on January 17, 2026