Inter ended a four-match winless streak as Mauro Icardi's late penalty saw off Udinese in Serie A.
2018/2019 Serie A
1-0
Player Ratings
Match Events
22' Icardi's header wide out
Politano swings the resulting corner into the box and Icardi rises highest in the area to flick the ball on at the near post. His header travels towards goal, but goes inches wide of the target.
42' Keita's shot saved by Musso
Inter come close to taking the lead as Keita takes on a strike on the half-volley. He bursts past two challenges before taking on the shot, only to see his powerful attempt turned over the bar by the Udinese keeper.
50' What a miss from Mandragora
Fofana raids down the right and fires a low ball across the face of goal. Mandragora meets the ball at the back post and has the goal gaping, only to fire his effort over the bar.
54' CHANCE! Ter Avest's shot wide out
Fofana continues to pull the strings for the visitors and from the right inside channel he cuts the ball back for Ter Avest to strike, only for the full-back to clip his strike wide of the target.
76' Penalty Goal! Inter 1-0 Udinese (Icardi)
Inter appeal for a penalty from the resulting corner as Perisic's delivery appears to strike the hand of Fofana as he clears the ball.
The referee awards the penalty after looking at the video screen. Icardi will take the spot-kick.
Cheeky as you like from Icardi as he waits for Musso to dive before chipping the ball down the middle of the net. Utter composure from the Argentine to put his team ahead.
89' OFFSIDE! Icardi's goal disallowed
Icardi was flagged for offside as he found the net again with a late header.
Match Report
VAR came to Inter's rescue as Mauro Icardi's penalty ensured Luciano Spalletti's side bounced back from their Champions League exit with a 1-0 win over Serie A strugglers Udinese.
Spalletti was in bullish mood ahead of Saturday's clash, insisting that his side would not suffer the same mid-season crisis that beset them last term.
But his side failed to live up to expectations at San Siro, with a poor miss from Icardi seemingly summing up a dismal performance.
Icardi turned from zero to hero with 14 minutes remaining, however, as he lifted a delicate finish home from 12 yards after VAR was used to deem that Seko Fofana had handled in the area.
Line-ups
Inter XI: Handanovic; Vrsaljko, De Vrij, Skriniar, Asamoah; Valero, Brozovic, Mario, Politano; Icardi (C), Balde.
Subs: Padelli, Miranda, Ranocchia, D'Ambrosio, Gagliardini, Perisic, Candreva, Nainggolan, Martinez.
Udinese XI: Musso; Ter Avest, Stryger, Ekong, Nuytinck; D'Alessandro, Fofana, Behrami (C), Mandragora; De Paul, Pussetto.
Subs: Nicolas, Scuffet, Wague, Machis, Barak, Balic, Lasagna, Pontisso, Pezzella, Vizeu, Opoku, Micin.