Inter Milan manager Walter Mazzarri has said that his team need to improve if they are to beat Udinese in their Serie A match on Thursday evening.

The Nerazzurri suffered a 2-1 defeat against Atalanta at the weekend, and fell 11 points behind Napoli in the race to claim the final Champions League qualifying spot.

"Our match with Udinese is laden with pitfalls - just like the Atalanta game was," Mazzarri told reporters. "It's tough against certain teams and certain coaches because they're very good and because they know how to make things difficult for you, being able to play for two out of three results.

"Inter are used to facing games like that. We'll have to be better, and a bit more lucky, at taking the game to them from the off and trying to get an early goal."

Inter are currently fifth in the Serie A table, level on 47 points with sixth-place Parma.