Champions Inter Milan will finally get their hands on the Serie A trophy after they lock horns with Udinese on Sunday afternoon.

The Nerazzurri will become the first team in Italian top-flight history to reach 3000 games in the division and will be looking to claim their 1496th victory on the final day of what has been a very successful 2020-21 campaign.

Match preview

Inter may have ended the nine-year dominance of Juventus at the Serie A summit by clinching the Scudetto earlier this month, but they were unable to claim any points from their encounter against the Old Lady last weekend, as Juve came out on top to win the enthralling contest 3-2 in Turin.

In a game which saw both Rodrigo Bentancur and Marcelo Brozovic sent off, a Romelu Lukaku penalty and a Giorgio Chiellini own goal cancelled out strikes from Cristiano Ronaldo and Juan Cuadrado, which had twice given Juve the lead.

However, the hosts put themselves in front for a third time when Cuadrado scored his second of the game in the 88th minute from the spot, with Andrea Pirlo's side eventually holding on for all three points.

That defeat, which ended a 20-game unbeaten run, was just the Nerazzurri's third in Serie A this season but nothing can be taken away from Antonio Conte's side who have been head and shoulders above all of their rivals this campaign.

Inter are already guaranteed their best points return since accumulating 97 back in 2006-07, and could end the season 13 points clear at the summit, which would be the biggest title winning margin since Juve won the league in 2014-15 with a 17-point gap to second place.

The Nerazzurri have lost only one of their last 12 Serie A matches against Udinese, collecting nine wins in this period, and have also kept a clean sheet in each of their last six league games against them.

Conte's side have transformed the San Siro into a fortress and could finish the campaign with a 16th straight home league victory on Sunday, before they get their hands on the Serie A trophy for the first time in a decade.

Udinese's winless run was extended to four matches when they lost 1-0 at home to Sampdoria last weekend.

The game was level until the 88th minute when the visitors were awarded a late penalty, which Fabio Quagliarella converted to snatch all three points from Luca Gotti's side.

The Friulians have now conceded 13 goals from penalties in Serie A this term, the most by any team in a single Italian top-flight campaign since Opta statistics were first recorded in 1994-95.

A poor run of seven defeats from their last 10 league matches has seen Udinese's hopes of a top-10 finish fade away.

The Friulians have not finished higher than 12th in Serie A for the last eight years, but could end the 2020-21 campaign in 11th place if they were to cause an upset on Sunday and if Bologna fail to beat Juventus.

With the futures of both Gotti and key midfielder Rodrigo De Paul uncertain, Udinese are hoping to end the season on a high, although that may prove challenging against an Inter outfit who have the best defensive record in the division, conceding just 34 goals and keeping 14 clean sheets.

Team News

Inter will be without the suspended Brozovic, which is likely to see Stefano Sensi start in central midfield alongside Nicolo Barella and Christian Eriksen.

Experienced pair Alexander Kolarov (hernia) and Arturo Vidal (knee) both remain out with injuries and Alexis Sanchez is doubtful with an ankle sprain.

Either Ivan Perisic or Ashley Young could be handed a start at left wing-back at the expense of Matteo Darmian, while Samir Handanovic is set to overtake Walter Zenga to become the goalkeeper with the most appearances for Inter in Serie A with 329.

Strikers Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez, who have scored 39 Serie A goals combined this season, are set to lead the line for Conte's side once again on Sunday.

Udinese have a long list of absentees with Tolgay Arslan, Jayden Braaf, Ignacio Pussetto, Ilija Nestorovski, Mato Jajalo and Gerard Deulofeu all ruled out with knee injuries.

Defenders Bram Nuytinck and Sebastien De Maio are also unavailable for selection due to minor muscle problems.

Gotti may decide to name the same starring lineup that narrowly lost to Sampdoria, which would see former Watford pair Roberto Pereyra and Stefano Okaka lead the line.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Hakimi, Barella, Sensi, Eriksen, Perisic; Lukaku, Martinez

Udinese possible starting lineup:
Musso; Becao, Bonifazi, Zeegelaar; Molina, De Paul, Walace, Makengo, Larsen; Pereyra; Okaka

We say: Inter Milan 3-0 Udinese

Nothing is riding on the final game of the season for Inter and Udinese, but both teams will be keen to end the campaign on a high with a victory.

The Nerazzurri will be the favourites for Sunday's game and even if Conte decides to rotate his starting lineup, we think that the hosts will be strong enough to secure a comfortable win at the San Siro.

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