Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest, 0–1 Udinese | Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup 2026
Barcelona defeated Nottingham Forest 1–0 before suffering a late 1–0 defeat to Udinese in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup. Relive the two 45-minute matches and how Udinese lifted the trophy.
Barcelona Win One, Lose One as Late Udinese Goal Seals Trophy in Udine
Pre-season football is often about preparation rather than trophies, but Saturday's unusual triangular tournament in Udine still produced enough drama to keep supporters watching until the final whistle.
FC Barcelona arrived at the Bluenergy Stadium for the inaugural Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup, sharing the stage with Nottingham Forest and hosts Udinese. The format was unusual: each game lasted just 45 minutes, turning every minute into a concentrated test for the three teams preparing for the new season. Barcelona's official preview confirmed the special format and the meeting with both English and Italian opposition.
For Barcelona, the evening produced mixed emotions.
They began with a narrow victory over Nottingham Forest, but the second match ended in disappointment when Udinese scored a late winner to claim the trophy on home soil.
⚽ Tournament Overview
Competition: Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup 2026
Venue: Bluenergy Stadium, Udine, Italy
Format: Three-team pre-season triangular tournament
Match Duration: 45 minutes per game
Barcelona vs Nottingham Forest: Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest
Barcelona vs Udinese: Barcelona 0–1 Udinese
Tournament Winner: Udinese
🔥 Barcelona Start With a Narrow Victory
Barcelona's opening game against Nottingham Forest was a compact and competitive contest.
With only 45 minutes available, there was little time for either side to settle into a traditional rhythm. Barcelona attempted to establish control through possession, while Forest looked for opportunities to exploit spaces behind the Catalan defence.
The decisive moment arrived late.
After a handball inside the penalty area, Barcelona were awarded a spot kick, and Raphinha stepped forward to take responsibility.
The Brazilian made no mistake.
His penalty found the net and gave Barcelona a 1–0 victory, allowing Hansi Flick's team to begin the tournament with three points.
It was not necessarily a dominant performance, but in a 45-minute match, efficiency matters.
Barcelona had done what they needed to do.
🇮🇹 Then Came the Hosts
After beating Nottingham Forest, Barcelona faced Udinese, knowing that another positive result would put them in a strong position to win the tournament.
Flick made several changes, giving opportunities to younger players and squad members looking to make an impression during pre-season.
Barcelona continued to show their ability to control possession and build patiently from the back.
But Udinese defended with discipline.
The Italian hosts were prepared to wait for their opportunity rather than committing too many players forward.
As the clock moved toward the final whistle, the match appeared destined to finish without a goal.
Then everything changed.
⚡ Bayo's Last-Minute Winner
Just when Barcelona supporters were beginning to accept a goalless draw, Vakoun Bayo delivered the decisive moment.
Udinese broke forward in the closing stages, and Bayo finished the move with a delicate touch over the goalkeeper to make it 1–0.
The Bluenergy Stadium erupted.
For Barcelona, there was barely enough time to respond.
The final whistle followed shortly afterwards, confirming a painful defeat for Flick's side and giving Udinese the result they needed to lift the inaugural trophy.
🧠 What Did Barcelona Learn?
The result was not what Barcelona wanted, but the unusual tournament offered Hansi Flick an opportunity that a normal friendly would not necessarily provide.
The short format forced players to adapt immediately.
There was no time for a slow opening 15 minutes. Every possession mattered, every defensive mistake carried greater danger, and every attacking opportunity could potentially decide the match.
Barcelona also used the tournament to give minutes to several younger players, making the event particularly valuable from a squad-development perspective.
The club's official report confirmed that Barcelona finished second in the triangular tournament, while Udinese claimed the trophy.
⭐ Raphinha Provides the Highlight
For Barcelona, the clearest individual highlight came from Raphinha.
His late penalty against Nottingham Forest proved decisive and gave Barça the perfect start to the evening.
However, the tournament was also about evaluating players beyond the established stars.
Young talents were given opportunities, while members of the first-team squad continued their preparation for the 2026/27 campaign.
That is ultimately the purpose of pre-season.
The trophy may have escaped Barcelona, but the minutes gained by developing players could prove far more valuable when competitive football begins.
🏆 Udinese Steal the Show
For the hosts, however, this was a night to remember.
Udinese defeated both Nottingham Forest and Barcelona, finishing the tournament with a perfect record and lifting the Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup in front of their home supporters.
The decisive victory over Barcelona was particularly memorable because it came with virtually the final meaningful attacking moment of the match.
Bayo's late finish transformed what had looked like a quiet draw into a trophy-winning goal.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Barcelona's evening in Udine offered a little bit of everything.
A narrow victory over Nottingham Forest.
A frustrating defeat against Udinese.
Young players gaining valuable minutes.
And a dramatic late goal that decided the trophy.
For Hansi Flick, the most important takeaway will not be the final position in a pre-season tournament. It will be what his players learned from two very different 45-minute tests.
For Udinese, meanwhile, the night belonged entirely to them.
They beat two major European clubs and lifted the inaugural trophy on home soil.
And for the supporters inside the Bluenergy Stadium, Bayo's late goal against Barcelona provided the perfect ending to a memorable night of pre-season football.
Official Sources
FC Barcelona – Official Tournament Preview: FC Barcelona official preview
FC Barcelona – Official Match Report: Barcelona finish second in the triangular tournament
ESPN – Udinese win the triangular tournament: ESPN match report
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