Inter Milan Win 8-Goal Thriller Against Udinese to Maintain Perfect Start

A title defense only survives if a team can outscore its own defensive lapses. For Inter Milan, that condition is currently holding by the most spectacular of margins. The reigning Serie A champions maintained their perfect start to the 2026-27 campaign on Monday night, but only after surviving a disastrous opening sequence to overwhelm Udinese 5-3 in a breathless encounter at San Siro.[1][2][3][4]

The victory keeps Inter level on 12 points with Roma at the summit of the league table, setting up a massive top-of-the-table clash between the two sides this coming weekend. But the three points required a massive exertion of attacking will after the hosts found themselves trailing by two goals inside the first 16 minutes.[2][4]

Udinese, arriving in Milan with a clear counter-attacking mandate, stunned the home crowd almost immediately. James Abankwah opened the scoring in the ninth minute, rising to meet an Unai Gomez cross and heading past the goalkeeper for his first-ever Serie A goal.[2][4]

Before Inter could recalibrate, the visitors struck again. A sharp move ended with Jurgen Ekkelenkamp toe-poking a close-range finish into the net in the 16th minute, leaving the champions staring at a 2-0 deficit and a restless San Siro.[4]

The response, however, was overwhelming. Inter halved the deficit in the 26th minute when Carlos Augusto unleashed a long-range rocket that squeezed into the bottom corner. The momentum entirely shifted, and nine minutes later, Nicolò Barella leveled the match at 2-2, guiding the ball home from inside the box.[2][4]

Emerging from the halftime interval, Inter relentlessly pressed their physical and technical advantage. Marcus Thuram completed the turnaround in the 57th minute, sweeping a composed finish into the net to put the hosts in front for the first time.[4]

With Udinese forced to open up and chase the game, Inter ruthlessly exploited the spaces left behind. Francesco Pio Esposito extended the lead to 4-2, finishing off a sweeping team move that carved through the center of the pitch.[4]

Substitute Ange-Yoan Bonny effectively ended the contest with ten minutes remaining in regulation. After his initial shot was parried by Maduka Okoye, Bonny slammed the rebound into the net to make it 5-2, capping a run of five unanswered goals for the hosts.[2][4]

Idrissa Gueye managed to scramble a stoppage-time consolation goal for Udinese, bringing the final tally to 5-3. The late concession underscored the defensive vulnerabilities that Inter will need to address, but the sheer firepower of the squad ultimately dictated the result. Initial match reports did not carry direct post-match quotations from either dugout regarding the defensive lapses.[2][4]

Inter now turn their attention to Saturday’s trip to face Roma. If they are to separate themselves at the top of the table and take outright control of the Scudetto race, they will need to ensure their backline matches the ruthless efficiency of their attack.[2]