Inter travel to Udinese’s Dacia Arena for a Serie A meeting on Sunday afternoon.

The Nerazzurri had their defence of the Scudetto hampered by a surprise midweek defeat to Bologna. Going into the weekend’s fixtures, Inter trail their league-leading city rivals Milan by two points with just four matches left to play.

Here’s the XI Simone Inzaghi may deploy to keep the Rossoneri on their toes for the run-in.

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Ionut Radu (GK) – A contentious pick right from the off. Radu’s howler gifted Bologna their winner but first-choice Samir Handanovic was only fit enough for the bench on Wednesday and will be assessed on a day-to-day basis.

Milan Skriniar (CB) – No Inter outfielder has racked up more Serie A minutes than the reliable Slovakia international.

Stefan de Vrij (CB) – A niggling calf injury has ensured that De Vrij hasn’t started a Serie A victory away from San Siro since mid-December.

Federico Dimarco (CB) – The boyhood Nerazzurri supporter has nudged himself ahead of Alessandro Bastoni – however temporarily – while the young centre-back battles injury.

Denzel Dumfries (RWB) – While Handanovic offered his fellow goalkeeper no support, Dumfries shielded a sobbing Radu from the TV cameras as Inter left Bologna’s pitch.

Nicolo Barella (CM) – Ten Serie A assists this season sees Barella become the first Italian at Inter to break double digits for goals created since Antonio Candreva in 2017.

Marcelo Brozovic (CM) – Inter’s number 77 is the latest person to become embroiled in the real-life soap opera that is the existence of former Nerazzurri forward Mauro Icardi and his agent and wife Wanda Nara. Nara has taken the journalist that accused her of having an affair with Brozovic to court, strenuously denying the allegations.

Roberto Gagliardini (CM) – With Hakan Calhanoglu sidelined by suspension, the 28-year-old Italian may be ushered in as a functional replacement.

Ivan Perisic (LWB) – Within an hour and a half, Perisic went from the astounding – his superb opener against Bologna – to the absurd, as he took the throw-in which Radu air-kicked, presenting Nicola Sansone with an open goal.

Lautaro Martinez (ST) – He couldn’t find the target on Wednesday but Lautaro has scored four goals across his last four appearances for Inter.

Edin Dzeko (ST) – Starting on the bench in midweek, Inter suffered their first Serie A defeat since a February loss to Sassuolo – when Dzeko was also among the substitutes. Coincidence? Well, maybe, as Dzeko played the full 90 when Inter lost the Derby della Madonnina that same month.