Nottingham Forest faced Barcelona in a club friendly match as part of the inaugural Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup in Udine, Italy. The match marked the start of a unique pre-season triangular tournament that also featured Udinese Calcio. Played at the Bluenergy Stadium, the contest followed a 45-minute format, with any drawn match going directly to a penalty shootout. Both clubs viewed the encounter as an important opportunity to build match fitness, integrate returning players, and give valuable minutes to younger talents ahead of the 2026–27 season.
What happened?
The Barcelona vs Nottingham Forest clash offered both managers an opportunity to rotate their squads under the tournament’s shortened format. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick remained without Frenkie de Jong, who continues to recover from a serious ligament injury. However, Gavi and Fermín López were expected to feature alongside several academy prospects as Flick balanced youth and experience.
Why it matters for Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest, led by Oliver Glasner, were still without defender Murillo because of a thigh injury. Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi continued his recovery and moved closer to full fitness before the Premier League season. The match was an important opportunity for the team to build match fitness and integrate returning players.
What comes next?
The Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup features three clubs competing in 45-minute matches, with tied games decided by penalties instead of ending in a draw. The Barcelona vs Nottingham Forest match kicked off at 20:00 BST (21:00 CEST). Supporters could watch live through Forest TV for subscribers, while Sporty TV streamed the match on YouTube in selected regions.
As of 09 Aug 2026, Nottingham Forest are 16th in the Premier League, with 44 points from 38 games, recent form DLDWW. They have scored 48 goals and conceded 51, with a goal difference of -3. They are 41 points behind leaders Arsenal in the title race. Their last result was a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on 2026-05-24. Their recent form is 0W-3D-2L (DDLLD, most recent first). Their next fixture is against Coventry at home on 2026-09-19.
