Barcelona will continue their preparations for the 2026–27 season by taking part in the first Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine on Saturday, 8 August.
The unusual three-team event will feature Barcelona, Udinese and Nottingham Forest in a compact format designed to give every club competitive minutes before the start of its domestic campaign.
Unlike a traditional friendly tournament, the competition consists of three matches lasting 45 minutes each.
Udinese will first face Nottingham Forest at 8:00pm Central European Summer Time, followed by Barcelona against Nottingham Forest and then Udinese against Barcelona. If a game is level after 45 minutes, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout.
The points system also gives the event a competitive edge. A victory in normal time is worth three points, a shootout win earns two, and the team losing the shootout receives one.
This means Barcelona must adapt quickly, as there will be little time to recover from a slow start or an early tactical mistake.
For UAE viewers, the opening match begins at 10:00pm, while Barcelona’s closing meeting with Udinese is expected around midnight UAE time. Kooora listed the Udinese vs Barcelona game for 12:00am UAE time, making it a late-night option for supporters across the Emirates.
Barcelona have confirmed that live coverage will be available through Barça Play and the club’s official YouTube channel for eligible premium subscribers. Commentary on Barça Play is available in Catalan, Spanish and English, while YouTube coverage is offered in English.
From a sporting perspective, the tournament gives Barcelona’s coaching staff an opportunity to test different combinations within a short period. Players may have to manage two intense 45-minute appearances with limited recovery time, creating a useful test of fitness and concentration.
For supporters in the UAE, the event offers something different from a standard friendly. Three major European clubs, a fast tournament format and the possibility of penalty shootouts should make it an entertaining part of the weekend football schedule.Barcelona will continue their preparations for the 2026–27 season by taking part in the first Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine on Saturday, 8 August.
The unusual three-team event will feature Barcelona, Udinese and Nottingham Forest in a compact format designed to give every club competitive minutes before the start of its domestic campaign.
Unlike a traditional friendly tournament, the competition consists of three matches lasting 45 minutes each.
Udinese will first face Nottingham Forest at 8:00pm Central European Summer Time, followed by Barcelona against Nottingham Forest and then Udinese against Barcelona. If a game is level after 45 minutes, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout.
The points system also gives the event a competitive edge. A victory in normal time is worth three points, a shootout win earns two, and the team losing the shootout receives one.
This means Barcelona must adapt quickly, as there will be little time to recover from a slow start or an early tactical mistake.
For UAE viewers, the opening match begins at 10:00pm, while Barcelona’s closing meeting with Udinese is expected around midnight UAE time. Kooora listed the Udinese vs Barcelona game for 12:00am UAE time, making it a late-night option for supporters across the Emirates.
Barcelona have confirmed that live coverage will be available through Barça Play and the club’s official YouTube channel for eligible premium subscribers. Commentary on Barça Play is available in Catalan, Spanish and English, while YouTube coverage is offered in English.
From a sporting perspective, the tournament gives Barcelona’s coaching staff an opportunity to test different combinations within a short period. Players may have to manage two intense 45-minute appearances with limited recovery time, creating a useful test of fitness and concentration.
For supporters in the UAE, the event offers something different from a standard friendly. Three major European clubs, a fast tournament format and the possibility of penalty shootouts should make it an entertaining part of the weekend football schedule.
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