Barcelona missed out on the Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup after a late goal from Ivorian forward Bayo gave Udinese a 1-0 victory in the three-team tournament in Udine.
The match began with players from both sides observing a minute’s silence in tribute to Lionel Messi’s father, who had died after a battle with illness.
Barcelona controlled much of the contest but struggled to turn their possession into clear chances. They were eventually punished in the final minute, when a mistake by Cortes allowed Udinese to launch a counter-attack that Bayo finished to decide the match.
The result denied Hans Flick’s side the trophy despite a performance in which they largely dictated the tempo. Barcelona circulated the ball calmly and forced Udinese to spend long periods chasing possession, in contrast to the approach they had taken in their opening match of the tournament.
However, the Catalan side found it difficult to play through the Italian club’s well-organised defence. Udinese closed down the spaces effectively and restricted Barcelona’s attacking options, leaving them without the depth or penetration needed to create sustained pressure in the final third.
For much of the opening period, Barcelona’s only meaningful threat came from set-pieces. Christensen went closest when he rose to meet a delivery, but his header flew narrowly wide of the goal.
Flick attempted to alter the balance of the game after 15 minutes by introducing five players at once. Among those entering the match was Bissewo, who made his first appearance for Barcelona, while Balde also featured for the first time during the club’s pre-season preparations.
The changes did little to alter the overall pattern. Barcelona continued to dominate possession, but genuine opportunities remained scarce. The team finished the match with a line-up made up largely of reserve-team players.
Those younger players produced one of Barcelona’s strongest spells of the evening. They pressed Udinese with intensity and offered encouraging signs, but they could not provide the finishing touch required to break the deadlock.
Barcelona’s greatest success was their defensive control. They prevented Udinese from creating regular danger and kept the Italian side away from clear scoring opportunities. That was a marked contrast to the previous match, in which Nottingham Forest had managed to create several chances.
Udinese, by comparison, barely threatened Szczesny before the closing stages. With the game appearing likely to go to a penalty shootout, Barcelona’s defensive error changed the outcome.
Cortes lost possession at a crucial moment, giving Udinese the chance to break forward quickly. Bayo completed the move with a composed finish into the net, securing victory for the hosts and leaving Barcelona without the Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup.
