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The Supercoppa Italiana begins later this week in Saudi Arabia, and AC Milan will be backed by a strong presence in the stands again.
TMW report that the heat is building for the Italian Super Cup in Riyadh. The 38th edition of the competition – the sixth in Saudi Arabia and the third consecutive at Al-Awwal Park – kicks off on Thursday with a final four format.
One in demand, the other not so much
According to what is circulating, tickets for the first semi-final – which will be played on Thursday evening (20:00 CET, 22:00 local time) between Italian champions Napoli and last year’s Coppa Italia finalists Milan – are already sold out.
Ticket sales for Bologna vs. Inter – the second semi-final scheduled for Friday (the competition is a Mediaset TV exclusive in Italy) – are lower, at least for now. That being said, the situation will likely remain the same, as was the case in the last edition in which sales for Juventus-Milan dwarfed those of Inter-Atalanta.
Stadium capacity has always been a concern in past editions of the competition, due to the relative interest in football and the habits of local fans. The participating clubs also plays a significant role: Milan remain by far the most supported Italian team abroad, and specifically in the Middle East.
It’s visible, it’s felt in the streets of Riyadh, and could also influence the final’s attendance: the Milan derby has already demonstrated its appeal to Saudi fans, with a good chance of being more popular than a potential Napoli-Bologna match.
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