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Supercup of Italy, innovation in Saudi Arabia

2024-12-31 18:49:00, Sport CNA

The Italian Super Cup, which will take place in Saudi Arabia, is expected to be one of the most special so far, not only for the new format with four participating teams, but also for the venue and the excellent organization that promises a spectacle real football. The tournament will be held in Riyadh, where the participating teams, Inter, Atalanta, Juventus and Milan, will compete for the prestigious trophy.

Inter were the first to arrive in the Saudi capital, landing on Monday and providing a slight advantage in adapting to the climatic conditions, where the temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Atalanta, Juventus and Milan arrived a day later, immediately starting preparations for the semi-finals to be played in the following days. All the teams have been placed in separate training bases, with Inter preparing on the field of the "Al Riad" stadium, Juventus in the technical center of Al Shabab, Milan in a field near this center and Atalanta in the "Prince Faisal" stadium.

The Supercup starts on Thursday, January 2, with the first semi-final match between Inter and Atalanta, which will be played at the Al Naser stadium at 20:00 with the Albanian one. The second semi-final, between Juventus and Milan, will take place a day later, while the grand final is scheduled for Monday, January 6. In the event of a tie after 90 minutes, the winner will be determined directly by penalty kicks, without extra time.

The Italian Federation and the Serie A League have made important changes to the regulations for this tournament. Players who have suspensions for cards in the championship will be free to play in the Super Cup, guaranteeing the spectators a high level of play. However, if a player at risk for Serie A receives a yellow card in the semi-finals, the suspension will apply to the championship and not the final. Red cards, on the other hand, will have immediate effect, penalizing players in the possible final.

The tournament has a world-class television production, being broadcast in over 160 countries. The match ball, created by the "Puma" company, is another element that emphasizes the importance of this event, while the participating clubs have been given the opportunity to use their first jerseys for the matches where they are "hosts".

Part of the organization are also legendary names of Italian football such as Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo, Alesandro Del Piero, Zambrotta and others, who will be ambassadors of the event, adding charm and prestige. The trophy was transported by an Italian company known for its luxury, underlining the elegance of the event.

Participants will benefit from substantial financial rewards, with each team receiving €4 million for their presence. The finalist will win 5 million euros, while the champion will receive 8 million. These sums not only motivate the teams, but also reinforce the commercial importance of the Italian Super Cup.