Nottingham Forest face Barcelona on Saturday as part of the Friuli Venezia Giulia triangular tournament, a competition also featuring Udinese and structured around three 45-minute matches. It represents a significant test for Oliver Glasner's side as they continue rebuilding after a turbulent campaign. Barcelona use the tie to sharpen their own preparations for the new La Liga season.
Forest are working to restore stability following a season that featured four managerial changes, a relegation battle and an unexpected run to the Europa League semi-finals. Glasner, who arrives with a strong record in knockout competitions, has overseen wins over Notts County, Blackburn Rovers and Portimonense, though a 4-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon exposed remaining issues. Four friendlies remain before the Premier League opener at Leeds United on August 22.
Barcelona enter off the back of a comfortable title win last season but face upheaval of their own, having lost on penalties following a 2-2 draw with Birmingham City in their last outing. Robert Lewandowski has departed, with Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi arriving as Hansi Flick reshapes his squad. The Catalans open their La Liga campaign against Elche on August 23.
Nottingham Forest vs Barcelona: Key Stats
Nottingham Forest have won 3 of their last 5 pre-season matches
Barcelona have played 2 pre-season fixtures, winning 1 and losing 1 on penalties
Barcelona are without Frenkie de Jong, ruled out for around 4 months with a ligament injury
Forest were beaten 4-1 by Sporting Lisbon in their most recent defeat
Both sides open their domestic seasons on August 22 and 23 respectively
Photo Credit (Sky Sports)
What to Expect
Forest will be without at least three first-team players, with Murillo still recovering from a thigh problem and Nicolo Savona not yet ready to feature. Callum Hudson-Odoi is nearing a return from a lengthy muscle injury but is expected to be available for the Premier League opener rather than this match. Glasner is using the tournament to continue assessing his squad's structure under a condensed match format.
Barcelona's preparations have been complicated by the injury to captain Frenkie de Jong, whose absence leaves a significant gap in midfield. Marc Casado, despite being linked with a move away, may retain his place given the squad's reduced numbers. With several new faces still bedding in, cohesion remains a work in progress for Flick's side.
The short 45-minute format is likely to produce an open, high-tempo contest, with both managers using the occasion to test combinations rather than prioritise the result. Forest's recent home-friendly form offers encouragement, while Barcelona's individual quality remains considerable even amid their disruption.
Predicted Lineups
Nottingham Forest (4-3-3) 🔴⚪
Sels; Abbott, Milenkovic, Cunha; Williams, Dominguez, Gibbs-White, Mcatee, Aina; Jesus, Wood
Barcelona (4-3-3) 🔵🔴
Szczesny; Torrents, Martin, Christensen, Espart; Casado, Bernal, Tunkara; Kluivert, Abdelkarim, Adeyemi
Players to Watch
Morgan Gibbs-White remains Forest's most influential creative presence and will look to dictate tempo against a Barcelona side still finding its rhythm. His ability to find pockets of space between the lines could prove decisive in a shortened format.
Igor Jesus offers Forest a focal point in attack and has shown promise throughout pre-season. His hold-up play and movement give Forest a platform to build from against a reshaped Barcelona defence.
Karim Adeyemi arrives with pace and directness that could unsettle Forest's back line in transition. As one of Barcelona's most notable new additions, his early performances carry added significance.
Marc Casado steps into a more prominent role following De Jong's injury and offers control in midfield. His performance will be an early indicator of how Barcelona cope without their captain.
Prediction
Prediction: Both teams to score @ 1.70
The condensed 45-minute format and the attacking talent on both sides point towards goals. Forest have scored in four of their last five friendlies, while Barcelona's individual quality, even without De Jong, should be enough to trouble a Forest defence still integrating new signings.
Barcelona's disrupted preparation and Forest's home-friendly momentum make the outcome difficult to predict with confidence, but both attacks look capable of finding the net. An open, competitive contest with chances at both ends appears the most likely outcome in Udine.
