August’s Supercoppa Italiana between Juventus” data-scaytid=”3″>Juventus and Napoli will be the third Italian season-opener to be held in Beijing, it has been confirmed.
August’s Supercoppa Italiana between Juventus and Napoli will be the third Italian season-opener to be held in Beijing, it has been confirmed.
The traditional curtain raiser to Serie A will be played on August 11 at the Beijing National Stadium, also known at the ‘Bird’s Nest’. This is the same venue that hosted both the 2009 and 2011 editions of the match that is played between the previous season’s League and Cup winners.
This year’s encounter will be played between 2011-12 League champions Juventus and 2012 Coppa Italia winners Napoli, who actually beat the Bianconeri in the final to deprive them of an unbeaten double.
Respective Presidents to the clubs, Andrea Agnelli and Aurelio De Laurentiis, were reportedly at odds over the idea of returning to the East for the game, with Agnelli reluctant to move the fixture from its original August 19 fixture but De Laurentiis keen for the marketing opportunity.
In order to accommodate both Presidents’ wishes, the game has subsequently been brought forward eight days.