Barça take part in a triangular tournament this Saturday, playing 45-minute matches against Udinese Calcio and Nottingham Forest. Hansi Flick's side, fresh from their preseason training camp in Birmingham, will compete in the inaugural Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup, which is being held in Udine.

Familiar hosts: Udinese

Throughout their history, Barça have faced Udinese on two occasions. After an impressive fourth-place finish in Serie A, the Italian side qualified for the group stage of the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League, the only time they have ever reached the competition proper.

Barça, who went on to lift their second Champions League title that season, were drawn alongside them. The Blaugrana won both meetings. The first ended in a 4–1 home victory, with Ronaldinho scoring a hat-trick (he would finish the competition as its second-highest scorer) and Deco adding the other goal. In the return fixture in Italy, Frank Rijkaard's side won 2–0 thanks to goals from Santi Ezquerro and Andrés Iniesta. Barça went unbeaten throughout the group stage, recording five wins and one draw.

Udinese, managed by Luciano Spalletti, finished third in Group C with seven points and failed to qualify for the round of 16.

Notts Forest: Super Cup and Gamper

Barça first faced Nottingham Forest in the 1979/80 UEFA Super Cup. The Catalans had qualified as holders of the now-defunct European Cup Winners' Cup after defeating Fortuna Düsseldorf in the previous season's final. Forest, meanwhile, arrived as reigning European champions.

The tie was played over two legs, beginning in England. Barça lost the first leg 1–0 at the City Ground before drawing 1–1 in the return match, meaning the English side claimed the trophy.

Three seasons later, Barça invited Nottingham Forest to the Joan Gamper Trophy. In August 1983, with César Luis Menotti on the bench and Diego Maradona on the pitch, Barça defeated the English club 2–0 in the semi-finals of the traditional preseason tournament, in those days featuring four teams. In all three meetings between the clubs, Nottingham Forest were managed by the legendary Brian Clough.

Current form

Today, both Udinese and Nottingham Forest compete in the top flight of their respective countries. Udinese have now spent 30 consecutive seasons in Serie A and have established themselves as a regular mid-table side. Nicolò Zaniolo and Oumar Solet are among the standout names in the squad, which is coached by German manager Kosta Runjaić.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, returned to the Premier League for the 2022/23 season after a 23-year absence. Since earning promotion, they have re-established themselves in England's top flight. Attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and central defender Murillo are among the team's key players.

 

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