Inter rightly wary of Udinese jinx

FC Internazionale Milano's unbeaten record in Serie A will come under threat on Sunday when the Nerazzurri visit Udinese Calcio, Roberto Mancini's bogey team over the last two years.

Udinese threat
Udinese were the only Italian side not to lose to Inter last season, drawing 0-0 at home and 1-1 in Milan during a campaign which saw Inter win 30 of their 38 matches. Pasquale Marino's men are one of only four teams to have avoided defeat against Inter this term and are enjoying a fine season.

'Inter superior'
The Bianconeri, in fifth, are just two points off fourth position and have earned nine points more than this stage last year. "Physically and technically Inter are clearly superior to any team in Italy," admitted Udinese midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino. "There is no special formula to play against them, but we will do our very best to give our fans a treat."

Ibrahimović return
Mancini, whose side hold a seven-point lead over second-placed AS Roma, welcome the return of Serie A's leading scorer Zlatan Ibrahimović who was rested for the 2-2 draw with Juventus in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday. The Swedish international struck twice in the last few minutes of Inter's 3-2 victory over Parma FC last Sunday to take his league tally to 13.

Zapata praise
D'Agostino, however, believes Udinese have a player capable of stopping the prolific marksman: 21-year-old Colombian centre-back Cristian Zapata. "We call him 'Il Mago' [the wizard] and I think, for his age, he's the best defender in the world at one-to-one marking. If he plays to his potential, he will stop Ibrahimović."