Inter Milan have cruised to a 3-0 win over Udinese this afternoon to go fourth in Serie A, with strikes from Rodrigo Palacio and Andrea Ranocchia in the space of five first-half minutes proving decisive.

Walter Mazzarri's side started brightly as Esteban Cambiasso hammered an early shot on target that needed to be tipped over by Zeljko Brkic.

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Udinese conceded possession cheaply throughout the first period and were punished by conceding the opener on 25 minutes, as Palacio headed home Saphir Taider's precise free kick.

Four minutes later the Nerazzurri doubled their advantage from another set piece, with Ranocchia volleying into an empty net after Brkic came off his line but failed to collect a looping corner kick.

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Inter lost Walter Samuel through injury just before the break but were still able to maintain their advantage, as Emmanuel Badu's cutback just evaded Antonio Di Natale.

The hosts nearly slipped further behind early in the second half as Fredy Guarin struck the upright, with Di Natale then limping out of play with a muscle problem.

Mazzarri's men controlled the closing stages and Ricky Alvarez added a third in stoppage time following fine approach play from Palacio, condemning Udinese to a second successive home defeat.