Udinese Claims Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup With Victories Over Barcelona and Nottingham Forest
Italian club Udinese secured the inaugural Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup by defeating both Barcelona and Nottingham Forest in a series of 45-minute matches. A late goal from Vakoun Issouf Bayo against the Spanish champions decided the triangular tournament.
Key takeaways
- Udinese secured the Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup title by winning two consecutive 45-minute matches.
- A late counter-attack goal by Vakoun Issouf Bayo gave Udinese a 1-0 victory over a shorthanded Barcelona squad.
- Barcelona competed without ten key senior players, including eight Spanish World Cup winners.
- Nottingham Forest ended the triangular tournament with two 1-0 losses against Udinese and Barcelona.
What Happened
Udinese emerged victorious in the inaugural Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup held at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine. The tournament utilized an unconventional round-robin format consisting of three back-to-back 45-minute matches. Udinese secured two 1-0 victories to win the title, first defeating Premier League club Nottingham Forest and subsequently overcoming Barcelona.
In the opening match, Udinese defender Oumar Solet scored the decisive goal against Nottingham Forest with a header in the 28th minute. The second match saw Barcelona defeat Nottingham Forest 1-0 via a stoppage-time penalty converted by Raphinha, following a handball by Nikola Milenković. The final 45-minute period served as a tournament decider between Udinese and Barcelona. Despite Barcelona controlling possession, Udinese forward Vakoun Issouf Bayo scored in the final minute on a counter-attack to secure the cup for the hosts.
Background
Barcelona entered the tournament with a depleted roster. The squad was missing eight Spanish internationals who were still on holiday following a World Cup victory, along with Jules Koundé and Anthony Gordon. This led to the inclusion of younger players, such as 16-year-old Ebrima Tunkara and Brian Fariñas. The Italian side, meanwhile, used the fixture as their final preparation before beginning competitive play in the Coppa Italia against Padova.
What Happens Next
Udinese transitions to competitive fixtures next weekend against Padova. Barcelona continues their preseason schedule with a match against Basel in Switzerland before hosting Al Ahly for the Joan Gamper Trophy on August 19. Nottingham Forest has remaining friendlies scheduled against Bayer Leverkusen and Brest prior to their Premier League season opener against Leeds United.
Key Facts
- Udinese won the triangular tournament by winning both of their 45-minute matches 1-0.
- The Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup matches were held at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy.
- Vakoun Issouf Bayo scored the winning goal for Udinese against Barcelona in the final minute of their match.
- Barcelona's squad lacked ten senior players, including eight World Cup winners, due to post-tournament breaks.
- Raphinha scored Barcelona's only goal of the tournament through a penalty against Nottingham Forest.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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