How are matches scored in this tournament?

A win in regular 45 minutes earns three points, a win on penalties earns two points, and a loss in the shootout earns one point.

How many minutes will Barcelona play against Nottingham Forest and Udinese?

Barcelona will play 90 minutes straight, first 45 minutes against Nottingham Forest, then immediately 45 minutes against Udinese.

Has Barcelona played this kind of three-sided tournament before?

The last time they played a three-sided tournament was in 2002 in Amsterdam against Ajax and Parma, but back then full matches were played, not halves.

Where is the tournament being held?

The tournament is being held in Udine, Italy.

Football

Barcelona in Bizarre Tournament: Three Clubs, 90 Minutes, and Penalties

A.R. · Prije 3h | 2 min

The Catalans will play a friendly mini-tournament in Udine against Udinese and Nottingham Forest in a completely new format never seen before in football.

Summary

Barcelona, Udinese, and Nottingham Forest play a three-sided tournament on Saturday in Udine.
Each team plays 45 minutes against the other two, with Barcelona and Forest playing 90 minutes straight.
A win in 45 minutes earns three points, a win on penalties earns two, and a loss in the shootout earns one point.
Barcelona last played a similar tournament in 2002 in Amsterdam, but with full matches.

Barcelona's players are preparing for the upcoming season in which they will defend their Spanish league title, and while most of the core squad rests after winning the World Cup, the rest of the team, led by coach Hansi Flick, is playing friendly matches. Saturday's match will be particularly unusual.

Namely, Barcelona will participate in a triangular tournament in Udine alongside hosts Udinese and England's Nottingham Forest. The format is completely new and unprecedented in football.

How Does the Three-Sided Tournament Work?

Instead of classic matches, each team will play one 45-minute half against each of the other two. The first 45 minutes will feature Udinese and Nottingham Forest, after which Barcelona plays Forest and then Udinese. The Catalans and the English side will thus play 90 minutes straight against two different opponents, while Udinese will have a short break between their two appearances.

The entire mini-tournament will last three hours, and the scoring system is also interesting. A win in regular 45 minutes earns three points, a win on penalties (which are taken if the half ends in a draw) is worth two points, while a loss in the shootout leaves the team with one point.

A Return to 2002

This is not the first time Barcelona has played a triangular tournament. The last time was in 2002 in Amsterdam, when the opponents were Ajax and Parma. However, back then, full matches were played between each pair. The format where everything happens within three hours, with halves, practically like one match with three opponents, is an absolute novelty.

For coach Flick, this will be only his second preparatory match since taking charge of the team. After this unusual test, Barcelona will also face Basel.