FCBARCELONA.CAT

29.06.2007 13:49

Inter accept Gamper invitation

www.fcbarcelona.cat

FC Barcelona will take on Internazionale in the 42nd Joan Gamper Trophy game after the Italian league champions finalised negotiations to participate in the encounter.

The match will take place on Wednesday, August 29, three days after the scheduled start to the new Spanish league season. Frank Rijkaard's side will meet Inter in what promises to be a thrilling encounter as the Serie A winners will look to use the game as a warm-up for their Champions League campaign.

Quality opposition

Last summer Barça eased to a 4-0 victory against Bayern Munich and this year the opposition is again world class as Roberto Mancini will bring his star-studded squad to Camp Nou for the Gamper game.

Glamour tie

Demand to see the game will be high as Inter bring their glamorous side to take on Barça's new look team. Among the visitors' ranks will by Javier Zanetti, Marco Materazzi and Walter Samuel in defence, Estaban Cambiasso, Santiago Solari and Luis Figo in the middle and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Adriano up front. It will also be one of the first chances to see new signing David Suazo in action after he was captured from under the noses of Inter's neighbours, AC Milan.

Historic achievements

Inter have an outstanding history having won the European Cup twice (1963/64 and 64/65), the UEFA Cup three times (90/91, 94/94 and 97/98) and the Intercontinental Cup twie (1964 and 1965). The Nerazzurri are also the reigning champions of Italy as they won their 15th title on the pitch, to add to the one that they won by default the year before following the Caliopoli scandal that rocked football in the country.

Second time

This will be the second time that the Milan-based club have participated in the Joan Gamper Trophy game. The last time was back in 1996/97 when the game was played in the Estadi Olímpic on Montjuïc as the Camp Nou pitch was being relaid. On that occasion there were four teams involved and after beating Anderlecht in the semi final, Inter were beaten 2-1 in the final by Barça, thanks to goals from Josep Guardiola and Juan Antonio Pizzi.