When Francesco Guidolin left Parma to manage Udinese, I was disappointed. Guidolin had united a set of strong individuals, managing Parma all the way up to eighth in the table last season. Udinese finished 15th this past season, yet Guidolin saw something in the club and decided to join them.
After a disappointing start of four losses in their first four matches, Guidolin’s decision to join Udinese seemed ridiculous. Given time, Udinese began to play more attacking football, ultimately cruising their way up to eighth in the table, where they are currently situated. With the highest average of goals per match (2.95 goals per match) in the Serie A, Udinese has become a scintillating team, fearing no opponent with their attacking playing style.
Their latest victory came against Inter Milan, an exciting 3-1 victory at the Stadio Communale Friuli. While Udinese conceded first with Stankovic scoring for Inter in the 17th minute, Guidolin’s team quickly made up the lost ground. Zapata took advantage of Inter’s poor defending, smashing the ball into the roof of the goal. While Castellazzi should have done better, Zapata’s shot was powerful and precise.
Di Natale scored Udinese’s second in the 25th minute, a wonderful free kick which looped over the wall, nestling into the bottom corner of the goal. The comeback was complete, but Udinese didn’t stop there. Inter tried to slow the tempo of the game down, doing their best to keep possession and slowly build from the back. Yet Udinese’s relentless pressure was a constant obstacle. Guidolin taught his men well: give the opponent no time on the ball, and once you have it, strike quickly.
Inter suffered for the rest of the first haf, and well into the second. Udinese eventually found the third goal, with Domizzi anticipating everyone, flicking the ball over Castellazzi with his outstretched toe. Leonardo could do nothing to inspire the Inter Milan players against Udinese. Guidolin on the other hand never had to say much, with his players giving everything for the home win.
It was a fantastic victory for Udinese. When Guidolin first joined the club, I feared that the underrated manager would have trouble, but he has shown his worth. Udinese’s next match is away from home, against Juventus. While Udinese seems very strong right now, their away record doesn’t compliment them. Out of eleven matches, Udinese have only three victories away from home. We’ll see if this exciting team will be able to win away from home, and maybe aim for a European spot for the end of the season.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments, share them below!

Udinese Have No Fear Under Guidolin - World Soccer Talk

Udinese Have No Fear Under Guidolin

While <a href="http:\/\/www.serieatalk.com/ghost-of-jose-mourinho-haunts-milan/3268">AC Milan and Roma were both humiliated</a> in their Champions League matches yesterday, Inter Milan put on a good show for any people who watched the European champions. Both sides were equal on points at the top of the group, but with Inter’s win, the nerazzurri go top of Group A. Twente and Werder Bremen played out a 1-1 draw at Twente, leaving them both tied with two points at the bottom, Tottenham in second with four points, and Inter Milan first with seven points.
Rafael Benitez decided to start with the same team which defeated Cagliari this past weekend, this is mainly due to injuries spread around the starting 11. So Eto’o playing as a lone forward with the trio of Coutinho, Sneijder, and Biabiany supporting him. And then Stankovic and Zanetti in front of the defence comprised of Maicon, Samuel, Lucio, and Chivu. Tottenham also played with a weakened side, the English side was missing their key player Rafael Van der Vaart who was sent off last game against Werder Bremen.
The match began with instant action, while some might’ve expected a dull game from Inter, they went out to win from the first minute. It took them just two minutes to find the back of Tottenham’s net, a great move on the left wing which released Zanetti in the box to side foot past Gomes. So right away Inter find themselves leading at the San Siro, with captain fantastic the scorer.
About ten minutes later Inter were given a penalty when Gomes slashed through Biabiany at the top of the penalty box, a direct red for the Brazilian goalkeeper, and a chance for Inter to double the scoreline. Tottenham replaced Modric to put on their second keeper, Carlo Cudicini who would face Samuel Eto’o from the penalty spot. The Cameroon striker made his stuttering run up and powered the ball into the top left hand corner.
Things were going perfectly for Inter, and when Stankovic scored a third in the 14th after a well worked move, Tottenham were steadily sinking. The fourth goal was created by Coutinho in the 35th minute, a pinpoint through pass which Eto’o leaped on and finished past Cudicini.
Possession was left for Inter, and although Eto’o wasn’t as dangerous as he usually is, Coutinho and Sneijder often combined wonderfully to create chances for themselves and their teammates. The Brazilian Philippe Coutinho was arguably the man of the match, some great individual skill and perfect composure enured that his side kept the ball and were constantly dangerous.
In the second half we saw more of the same with continuos possession from Interas Tottenham offered sprints of attacking flair. And in the 51st minute one of these sprints paid off for Tottenham, a great run by Bale who squeezed through Inter defenders to move into the penalty box and drill the ball into the bottom corner. Julio Cesar didn’t even try to save the unstoppable shot.
The next two goals came at the end of the match, Bale copied his previous run to drill it again past Julio Cesar to make the score 4-2. And then the final goal came about thirty seconds later, same player, same corner. Bale received the ball at the top of the box and smacked it past Julio Cesar for a third time, completing his epic hat trick.
So what are your thoughts regarding this wild match which happened at the San Siro? Inter Milan will be travelling to White Heart Lane in the next Champions League matchday to replay Tottenham, what will happen there? Share your thoughts below!

Inter Milan Defeat Tottenham 4-3 - World Soccer Talk

Inter Milan Defeat Tottenham 4-3

Latest news from Stankovic. Find out about all the news related to Stankovic on worldsoccertalk.com

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Stankovic"

Francesco Guidolin

Udinese Have No Fear Under Guidolin

Inter Milan

Inter Milan Defeat Tottenham 4-3