Inter Milan, the defending champions, will strive for three points against Udinese in Serie A to keep the pressure on arch-rivals AC Milan. Inter Milan has slid to second place in the Italian Serie A table for 2021-22, behind rival AC Milan, following a crushing loss to Bologna last week. Inter Milan can’t afford to drop points with only four games remaining as it tries to close the two-point difference and win its second consecutive Scudetto and 20th overall.
Ivan scores an Inter goal from a corner during the match against Udinese. The score at halftime is 0-2 in favor of Udinese. He has played as a winger, an attacking midfielder, a second striker, and a wing-back. Ivan grew up in the town of Omi, although being born in Split. He worked on his father’s chicken farm as a child. Ivan earned a name for himself while playing with Club Brugge when he was voted Belgian Footballer of the Year in 2011 and was the top striker in the Belgian Pro League.
Ivan made his Croatian debut in 2011 and went on to represent his country at Euro 2012, 2016, and 2020, as well as the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, where he reached the final of the latter. He was a key member of Croatia’s second “golden generation,” scoring the most goals in major tournaments and being the first Croatian player to score in a World Cup final.
Ivan was hailed for his performance in the 2–0 Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, where he assisted Edin Deko’s second goal, even though his goal and that of Lautaro Martnez, whom he also assisted, were both ruled off. For the first time since the 2011–12 season, Inter qualified for the Round of 16 with this victory. While Inter had been in command, a defeat to Bologna on April 27 gave AC Milan the upper hand, and they now lead by two points with four games remaining.
