UDINE - Inter produced a display of clinical finishing to crush Udinese by a 4-0 scoreline on Saturday night and reaffirm their position as Serie A leaders.
Mauro Icardi and Stevan Jovetic struck in the first half before the Argentine made it a brace and Marcelo Brozovic completed the rout late on.
Roberto Mancini managed to conjure up another surprise in his starting selection by naming Martin Montoya in the Nerazzurri line-up for the first time. Alex Telles, Jeison Murillo and Joao Miranda completed the backline while Felipe Melo and Fredy Guarin formed a double pivot in front of the defence. Adem Ljajic initially started high up on the left flank with Ivan Perisic on the opposite wing and Stevan Jovetic tucked in behind Mauro Icardi to complete an attack-minded 4-2-3-1 formation.
Inter might have opened the scoring as early as the 7th minute. Perisic skipped away down the wing and pulled back intelligently to find Jovetic in the box, the Montenegrin tried to pick his spot but Oreste Karnezis managed to get a foot to it.
The home side were playing some enterprising football too and they carved out two chances in the space of minute. Murillo did brilliantly to get back and block Antonio Di Natale's effort, then from the resulting corner Samir Handanovic reminded his former employers of what he can do when he beat away Cyril Thereau's thunderbolt. Moments later the referee unfairly booked Telles after being conned by Silvan Widmer's dive.
A defensive mix-up offered Icardi the chance to break the deadlock in the 23rd minute and the Argentine duly obliged by firing beyond Karnezis.
The Nerazzurri made it 2-0 less than ten minutes later courtesy of another blunder at the back. Maurizio Domizzi made a complete hash of his attempted backpass and handed Jovetic the chance to run clean through on goal, the Montenegrin coolly lifting his finish over the onrushing keeper.
With the half-time whistle approaching, Montoya linked up well with Guarin and put in a decent delivery that sadly found no takers in the box.
The first period came to a close with applause from the many Nerazzurri fans who had filled the newly renovated Stadio Friuli, despite the away section being closed.
The second half continued in much the same vein with Inter largely in control of proceedings.
Brozovic made his entrance midway through the half - Jo-Jo exiting to applause - while Ljajic and Perisic both squandered opportunities to add a third goal before Mancini moved to defend the clean sheet by bringing on Juan Jesus for Ljajic.
However, far from hanging on until the final whistle, Inter did quite the opposite and finished with a flourish.
Icardi doubled his tally for the night when he lashed home at the near post after Francesco Lodi's misplaced pass, then Brozovic stepped up to the table to score a real peach of a goal, skipping past two black and white shirts before curling his finish into the top corner.
Rej Manaj made a late substitute appearance in place of Icardi, who left the field amid scenes of ecstasy in the stands.
Inter thus sent out a resounding message to the chasing pack as they prepare for a San Siro double header in the final week of 2015: Cagliari visit in the cup on Tuesday followed by a league meeting with Lazio next Sunday night.
Udinese 0-4 Inter (HT 0-2)
Scorers: Icardi 23, 84, Jovetic 31, Brozovic 87.
Udinese: 31 Karnezis; 2 Wague, 11 Domizzi, 89 Piris; 27 Widmer, 16 Iturra (18 Perica 70), 20 Lodi, 8 Fernandes (23 Marquinho 66), 21 Edenilson; 77 Thereau, 10 Di Natale (74 Aguirre 81).
Subs not used: 97 Meret, 13 Insua, 19 Guilherme, 26 Pasquale, 32 Camigliano, 33 Kone, 42 Coppolaro, 53 Adnan, 95 Evangelista.
Coach: Stefano Colantuono.
Inter: 1 Handanovic; 14 Montoya, 25 Miranda, 24 Murillo, 12 Telles; 13 Guarin, 83 Melo; 22 Ljajic (5 Jesus 82), 10 Jovetic (77 Brozovic 61), 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi (97 Manaj 89).
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 46 Berni, 6 Dodò, 7 Kondogbia, 8 Palacio, 11 Biabiany, 17 Medel, 27 Gnoukouri, 55 Nagatomo, 77 Brozovic.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Booked: Perisic 8, Telles 16, Ljajic 21, Fernandes 52, Domizzi 65.
Added time: 0+3 minutes.
Referee: Massa.
Assistants: Dobosz, Pegorin.
Fourth official: Paganessi.
Additional assistants: Tagliavento, Maresca.
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LE PAROLE DI MISTER MANCINI POST UDINESE INTER
