Inter turned a troubled Monday night at San Siro into a five-goal response, recovering from two goals down to beat Udinese 5-3 in Serie A’s fourth round. Udinese’s early authority put the home side under real pressure, but Inter found their way back before half-time and then took control through Marcus Thuram, Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny.
SEO Title: Inter 5-3 Udinese: Nerazzurri recover from early setback at San Siro
SEO Description: Inter came from 2-0 down to defeat Udinese 5-3 at the Giuseppe Meazza in Serie A Round 4, with Thuram, Barella, Esposito and Bonny on target.
Inter 5-3 Udinese: a comeback with the weight of a season
The match at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Monday 14 September 2026 began with Udinese asking difficult questions of Inter. The visitors had an effort blocked inside the opening minute and earned a corner soon afterwards, setting the tone for a sharp opening phase.
James Abankwah gave Udinese the lead in the ninth minute, rising in the middle to head Unai Gómez’s corner into the top-right corner. Inter had already seen Marcus Thuram denied twice by Maduka Okoye, first from close range and then with a header supplied by Nicolò Barella.
Udinese extended their advantage on 16 minutes. Keinan Davis provided the assist for Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, who finished low from close range on the left. At 2-0, Inter were facing a night that threatened to leave an early mark on their league campaign.
- 9th minute: Abankwah headed Udinese ahead from Unai Gómez’s corner.
- 16th minute: Ekkelenkamp made it 2-0 after Davis created the chance.
- 26th minute: Carlos Augusto struck from outside the area to begin Inter’s recovery.
- 35th minute: Barella levelled with a low finish after Thuram’s pass.
Carlos Augusto’s goal in the 26th minute altered the atmosphere. His left-footed effort from distance found the right side of the net, and Inter’s pressure steadily grew. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Barella both went close before Barella brought the score to 2-2 ten minutes before the interval, driving a right-footed shot inside the left post from the right of the box after Thuram’s assist.
Inter continued to make territory before the break, with Manuel Akanji heading straight at Okoye and Francesco Pio Esposito seeing a strike blocked. Udinese reached half-time level, but their opening advantage had been removed.
Thuram and Esposito settle the contest after the interval
Inter emerged from the restart with greater control. Christian Kabasele required treatment shortly after the second half began, while the home side created a sequence of chances: Mkhitaryan was denied, John Stones had a header blocked, and Carlos Augusto’s close-range header was saved.
The decisive third goal arrived in the 57th minute. Andy Diouf supplied Thuram, who finished low into the left corner from the centre of the area. It was Thuram’s second assist or goal contribution in a match where his link play helped Inter repair the damage from the first 16 minutes.
There was a further concern for Inter in the 62nd minute when Stones was forced off injured and replaced by Benjamin Pavard. Curtis Jones also entered for Mkhitaryan, who had been booked after conceding a foul against Unai Gómez.
- 57th minute: Thuram put Inter ahead for the first time, assisted by Diouf.
- 62nd minute: Pavard replaced the injured Stones; Jones came on for Mkhitaryan.
- 67th minute: Esposito finished Zielinski’s pass to make the score 4-2.
- 70th minute: Federico Dimarco and Bonny were introduced for Alessandro Bastoni and Thuram.
Esposito supplied Inter’s fourth in the 67th minute, meeting Piotr Zielinski’s pass with a low right-footed finish inside the left post. The goal gave Inter daylight after a contest that had been level at the interval.
Bonny adds a fifth before Udinese’s late reply
Udinese refreshed their side in stages, introducing Idrissa Gueye for Unai Gómez on 61 minutes, then Nicolò Bertola, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Vakoun Bayo and Sandi Lovric later in the half. Inter, meanwhile, continued to threaten from set pieces and second balls. Zielinski had a long-range shot blocked, Akanji headed wide, and Diouf saw an effort charged down.
Bonny completed Inter’s scoring in the 79th minute. After his first close-range attempt was stopped, the forward converted the rebound with his left foot from the centre of the box to make it 5-2.
Udinese did not leave quietly. Bayo tested the goalkeeper with a header from Lovric’s delivery in the 87th minute, while Jesper Karlström also forced a low save. In the 90th minute, Bayo set up Gueye, who struck a right-footed finish into the right side of the goal to reduce the deficit.
- Udinese led 2-0 through Abankwah and Ekkelenkamp.
- Inter restored parity before half-time through Carlos Augusto and Barella.
- Thuram, Esposito and Bonny carried Inter to a 5-2 lead.
- Gueye’s 90th-minute goal made the final score 5-3.
The final whistle came after four minutes of added time, closing an eight-goal match that asked Inter to show more than comfort at home. Udinese had exposed them early, but the response was sustained and emphatic: a comeback shaped by Inter’s senior figures, with Esposito and Bonny adding decisive chapters from the bench and starting group around them.
