Chapter 106: Revenge at Meazza

During the week, Udinese traveled to the seaside town of Mahachkala on the western coast of the Caspian Sea to face Anzhi. However, it was noted that key players including Dina Tale and Bruno were not part of Udinese's lineup. Given the commanding 5:0 victory in the first leg, Guidolin took the opportunity to rest his players extensively.

From April, Udinese faces a daunting schedule. Should they advance to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, they will have at least four Serie A matches and two Europa League quarter-final matches in April. Although Udinese has unified its focus primarily on the Europa League, Guidolin is still keen on competing for a spot in the Champions League if possible.

In the previous two seasons, due to the team's limitations, Udinese was quickly eliminated from the Champions League, failing even to reach the group stages. Now, with improved team strength, Guidolin hopes to compete on European football's most prestigious stage.

Indeed, even before April, Udinese's schedule for late March is challenging. March 20th is the second leg of the Europa League round of 16, followed quickly by a home match against Sassuolo for Serie A's 29th round just three days later. With the World Cup in Brazil influencing a tighter schedule this season, Serie A's 30th round kicks off midweek, with Udinese visiting Meazza Stadium to challenge Inter Milan. The month ends with the 31st round of Serie A.

In total, Udinese will play eight matches in March. Seizing every possible opportunity to rest key players is essential for the team to maintain its performance.

The return leg against Anzhi offered a perfect chance for the main squad to rest. With a virtually second-string team, Udinese set up a defensive "iron barrel" formation in the away match on the night of the 20th, facing a tough challenge. Despite not scoring, the reserve players held their ground without conceding, resulting in a 0:0 draw at Anzhi Arena. Thus, Udinese advanced to the Europa League quarter-finals with an aggregate score of 5:0.

Among the eight teams advancing, only four are from the top European leagues, including Sevilla and Valencia from La Liga, and Juventus and Udinese from Serie A, with the Premier League and Bundesliga teams entirely knocked out. The remaining spots were claimed by Porto and Benfica from Portugal's Primeira Liga, who eliminated Napoli and Tottenham respectively, Lyon from Ligue 1, and Basel from Switzerland.

The next day, at 1 PM on March 21st, following the Champions League quarter-final draw, UEFA continued the draw for the Europa League quarter-finals at their headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The draw, without any seedings or avoidance rules, determined that the first team drawn would play the first leg at home. Udinese drew last season's Europa League runners-up, Portuguese giants Benfica, with Bruno returning to play in Portugal. Other matches include Juventus against Lyon, Porto facing Sevilla, and Valencia meeting Basel. Udinese's matches are scheduled for the nights of April 3rd and April 10th, starting at home.

With their advancement to the Europa League quarter-finals secured, Udinese can temporarily shift focus back to Serie A.

On the afternoon of the 23rd, Udinese hosts Sassuolo at home. Sassuolo, currently 18th in Serie A, is under intense pressure to avoid relegation. This match marks Dina Tale's 324th appearance in Serie A, setting a new club record.

Udinese took the lead in the 26th minute with a free-kick from Bruno into the box, which Dina Tale converted. This goal was Dina Tale's 20th of the season, making him the first player in Serie A history to score 20 goals in five consecutive seasons.

On the day he became Udinese's record appearance holder, Dina Tale also became the first player to achieve this scoring feat in Serie A history, doubling the celebration. An excited Dina Tale ran to celebrate with Bruno, who assisted the goal.

The Friuli Stadium erupted in applause, with over 40,000 Udinese fans standing to honor the decade-long service of their legend. The club captain's special day was marked with new records, and the fans gave him the warmest of congratulations.

Ten minutes later, Udinese won a penalty when Sassuolo's striker Farias elbowed Dina Tale in the box during an aerial duel. The referee did not hesitate to award the penalty. Dina Tale handed the penalty-taking duties to Bruno.

Just the day before, Fiorentina's striker Immobile had scored a hat-trick, taking his league tally to 16 goals and surpassing Bruno, who had 15, to rise to second in the Serie A scoring chart.

Clearly, Dina Tale wanted to return the favor and help Bruno reclaim the second spot on the scorer's list. However, Bruno declined Dina Tale's offer, saying, "Antonio, scoring one more or one less goal doesn't matter to me, but I have said that I want to help you become the greatest striker in Serie A history, so you should take it."

Touched by Bruno's words, Dina Tale was moved. He had thought that Bruno's earlier comments were just public pleasantries, but Bruno was genuinely committed to that promise.

Then, Dina Tale solemnly approached the penalty spot and faced Sassuolo's goalkeeper Pegolo, scoring with ease to take his season tally to 21 goals and his career Serie A total to 197.

Ultimately, Udinese won 2:0 at home against Sassuolo. With Napoli losing 0:1 at home to Fiorentina later, Udinese moved up to third place, three points ahead.

...

On the evening of March 27th, Udinese visited Meazza Stadium to face the "Black and Blue Army" of Inter Milan. In the historical context of Serie A, Inter Milan had a clear advantage over Udinese, with 38 wins, 24 draws, and 19 losses. At Meazza Stadium, Inter's record was even more dominant, with 22 wins, 10 draws, and 8 losses.

In this season's first meeting at the Friuli Stadium, Udinese suffered their heaviest defeat, losing 0:3. Now, five months later, a fully-strength Udinese hoped for revenge.

In the 12th minute, Udinese took the lead with a rapid counter-attack involving Bruno and Dina Tale, culminating in Bruno scoring from just outside the box to break the deadlock.

As the second half began, trailing Inter intensified their attacks but repeatedly missed opportunities.

In the 58th minute, Hernanes attempted a direct free kick from 28 meters; his right-footed curler just missed the left post. In the 63rd minute, Yuto Nagatomo's pass found Palacio, who shot low from 15 meters on the left, but it was saved by Udinese's goalkeeper, Scuffet. In the 65th minute, Hernanes again shot from 22 meters, forcing Scuffet to make a diving save; the ensuing corner saw Samuel head just wide from 15 meters.

In the 66th minute, Nagatomo's cross was headed over by Palacio from close range. In the 71st minute, Nagatomo fired a powerful cross into the box, which Icardi met with a bafflingly high flick from 6 meters.

Frustrated by the missed chances, Inter's coach Mazzarri was seen furiously throwing a water bottle on the sidelines.

The old adage "he who does not seize opportunity invites trouble" rang true for Inter, who suffered a critical blow in the 78th minute. Bruno initiated an attack from the backfield, passing to Dina Tale who headed the ball to Muriel. Instead of going alone, Muriel passed to Lopez on the right flank. Lopez's skill and speed helped him break past Inter's left-back Nagatomo before shooting powerfully. The goalkeeper Handanovic got a hand to it, but Dina Tale was on hand to poke the ball into the net.

2:0 – a goal that almost certainly secured the victory.

As silence fell over the stands filled with Inter fans, commentators from around the world described the unfolding events in varying speeds.

"In the first leg, Inter mercilessly thrashed Udinese 3:0 at the Friuli Stadium, and now, returning to Meazza Stadium, Udinese leads by two goals! Who could have predicted this, haha!"

Cornered, Inter launched a fierce counter-attack, forcing Bruno to retreat near his own penalty area to assist in defense.

Bruno's main opponent was Cambiasso. The veteran Argentine still had the skills but not the physicality of his younger days. Bruno showed no respect for age, pressing Cambiasso closely, not allowing him comfortable passes or dribbles, and constantly engaging in physical contact.

This strategy was effective. As a nearly 34-year-old, Cambiasso feared injury, and each of Bruno's defensive moves seemed potentially injurious, prompting him at times to relinquish control of the ball to avoid getting hurt.

This limited Cambiasso's effectiveness significantly.

Finally, when the referee blew the final whistle, the score remained 0:2.

Udinese had successfully avenged their home defeat!

(End of Chapter)

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