Udinese will stage a new pre-season tournament at the Bluenergy Stadium on August 8, welcoming European heavyweights Barcelona and Nottingham Forest for the inaugural Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup. The Italian club confirmed the fixture this week, setting the scene for a rare single-day competition that brings together three clubs from different leagues.
The event marks Nottingham Forest’s first visit to the Udine venue, while Barcelona return to a ground they last graced nearly two decades ago. The Catalans faced Udinese at this stadium during a Champions League group stage match in December 2005.
Format and Fixtures
The competition adopts an unusual structure designed to accommodate three matches in one evening. Each game will last 45 minutes, with the opening fixture seeing Udinese face Nottingham Forest at 20:00 local time (19:00 BST). Barcelona then meet Nottingham Forest in the middle match, before the hosts conclude the evening against the Spanish side.
Should any match finish level, it will proceed immediately to a penalty shoot-out. The scoring system awards three points for a victory within regulation time, two points for a shoot-out win, and one point for losing on penalties. This method ensures every fixture produces a decisive outcome and maintains competitive balance across the mini-tournament.
Venue and Timing
The Bluenergy Stadium has established itself as one of Italy’s most advanced football arenas. The venue is already designated to host the 2025 UEFA Super Cup, underlining its status as a site capable of staging major continental fixtures.
For all three clubs, the August 8 tournament represents a final competitive examination before their respective domestic campaigns commence. With the 2025-26 season approaching, the shortened matches offer managers a concentrated test of their squads against high-calibre opposition in a format that demands quick tactical adjustments.
The single-day event offers supporters a unique opportunity to witness three distinct footballing cultures compete on Italian soil. Barcelona bring their technical pedigree, Nottingham Forest offer Premier League physicality, and Udinese provide the Serie A perspective as hosts seeking home advantage.