Barcelona to play two 45-minute matches in Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup

Barcelona will play two 45-minute preseason matches on the same day when they take part in the inaugural Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup in Udine, Italy, on Saturday, August 8. The Spanish champions will face Nottingham Forest and tournament hosts Udinese in a unique triangular format at the Bluenergy Stadium.

The event, organized by Udinese in partnership with the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, features three consecutive 45-minute matches. The schedule begins with Udinese vs. Nottingham Forest, followed by Barcelona vs. Nottingham Forest, and concludes with Udinese vs. Barcelona. The tournament kicks off at 8:00 PM CEST.

The format uses a points system to determine the winner. A regulation-time victory earns three points. If a match is level after 45 minutes, it proceeds directly to a penalty shootout, with the winner receiving two points and the loser one.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick can use the unusual schedule to distribute playing time across his squad. With two matches in quick succession, the coach is expected to give opportunities to both established first-team players and younger squad members. Barcelona are preparing for their La Liga title defense, which begins with an away...