As Inter Milan prepares to face Udinese in the Coppa Italia on Thursday evening, manager Simone Inzaghi faces a balancing act with his squad selection. The demanding fixture schedule may prompt Inzaghi to rest key players, particularly in the attacking department. Star strikers Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez could find themselves on the bench, with Mehdi Taremi, Marko Arnautovic, and Joaquin Correa all contending for starting roles. This rotation strategy aims to keep the squad fresh amidst a congested calendar.
Inzaghi’s choices are more limited in defence due to ongoing injuries. Benjamin Pavard and Francesco Acerbi remain sidelined, likely resulting in a back three of Stefan de Vrij, Yann Bisseck, and Alessandro Bastoni. Carlos Augusto is expected to fill in for Federico Dimarco as left wing-back.
Despite a less hectic schedule, Udinese manager Kosta Runjaic is also anticipated to make changes. A notable possibility is the potential debut of veteran striker Alexis Sanchez against his former club.
Udinese faces its own injury woes. Midfielder Sandi Lovric is the latest casualty with a thigh injury from their recent match against Napoli. He joins a list of unavailable players including Oier Zarraga, Martin Payero, Keinan Davis, and first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.
Inter Milan (3-5-2): Martinez; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Buchanan, Frattesi, Asllani, Zielinski, Augusto; Correa, Arnautovic
Udinese (3-5-2): Sava; Abankwah, Kabasele, Toure; Modesto, Karlstrom, Atta, Ekkelenkamp, Kamara; Bravo, Lucca
