Paris Saint-Germain won, and so did Udine. The French side lifted the UEFA Super Cup, beating Tottenham on penalties, with Italy’s Guglielmo Vicario in goal for the English team (while fellow Italian Destiny Udogie watched from the stands). But for all the fans at the Stadio Friuli and for all the people of Udine, who have had an exhilarating few days, it was an evening of celebration. Months of joint work between UEFA, FIGC, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the Municipality of Udine, Udinese Calcio, and all the stakeholders involved brought about a result that put Udine into the spotlight.

There were 21,025 fans at the Friuli, with the majority being English and French fans, yet there were also Italian supporters keen to experience the anticipation of the match, gathering from the morning at the fan meeting points in Piazza Primo Maggio (the Spurs fans’ meeting point) and Parco Moretti, the designated area for PSG fans. Both groups of supporters then travelled to the stadium via a bus service, which later in the evening took them back to their parking areas or the train station, ensuring a quick and orderly departure.

In addition to the areas reserved for the teams’ supporters, complete with entertainment, DJ sets, and a large food and drinks zone, long queues formed in Piazza Libertà, where on both Tuesday and matchday the UEFA Fan Festival was held. This marked the final stop of the “Trophy Experience,” which had visited several locations across Friuli Venezia Giulia: Gorizia, Trieste, Grado, Lignano Sabbiadoro, and Lignano Pineta. Nobody wanted to miss out on the chance to be photographed next to the Champions League, Europa League, and Super Cup trophies, with the Super Cup being lifted by captain Marquinhos into the Udine night sky after a thrilling final.