Defending champions Inter Milan produced another rousing comeback to beat Udinese 5-3 at San Siro and continue their perfect start to the new Serie A campaign.
Udinese had taken a shock 2-0 lead through James Abankwah’s early header and then a close-range strike from Jurgen Ekkelenkamp.
The Nerazzurri — who had came from 2-0 down to beat Napoli late on in their last Serie A game — fought back as Carlos Augusto drilled in a long range effort and Nicolò Barella equalised before halftime.
Marcus Thuram’s sweeping finish completed the turnaround in the 57th minute, before England defender John Stones — making a first start since his free transfer move from Manchester City – limped off having pulled up after chasing an Udinese breakaway.
Pio Esposito and substitute Ange-Yoan Bonny then wrapped things up, with Idrissa Gueye scoring a late consolation for the visitors.
Read more:Inter Miami’s Mateo Silvetti has season-ending shoulder surgery
The win means Cristian Chivu‘s side kept pace with leaders Roma, who won 2-0 over Torino earlier on Monday, on a 100 percent record from four league games.
Udinese had earlier stunned the San Siro faithful when Republic of Ireland defender Abankwah sent a looping header over Inter keeper Josep Martínez from a short corner after nine minutes.
Inter were almost swiftly back on level terms when Thuram’s downward header was saved at the near post by Udinese keeper Maduka Okoye, who also showed great reactions to block the striker’s follow-up effort.
Udinese then doubled their lead in the 16th minute when Ekkelenkamp slotted in from close range past Martinez after being picked out by Keinan Davis.
Read more:Kylian Mbappé: Want Champions League win ‘more than anything,’ more important than Ballon d’Or
Inter — beaten at Real Madrid in their opening Champions League match last week — reduced the deficit in the 26th minute through Augusto’s fine long-range effort into the far corner.
Barella had the home side level 10 minutes before half-time when he picked up Thuram’s lay-off in the right side of the box, stumbled back to his feet and fired in an angled strike.
Inter’s relentless second-half pressure eventually told when Andy Diouf broke down the right and into the Udinese penalty area before cutting the ball back for Thuram to roll a low shot into the far corner.
Stones was then replaced by Benjamin Pavard in the 62nd minute after he went down, clutching the back of his thigh, having chased an Udinese breakaway.
Inter added a fourth in the 67th minute when Piotr Zielinski’s quick pass found Esposito to dispatch a low finish after a clever sequence in tight space.
With 10 minutes left, Inter broke down the left and Bonny reacted quickest to lash home a loose ball after his initial shot had been saved by Okoye, before Gueye grabbed a late consolation for Udinese in stoppage time.
Information from PA was used in this report.
