Football is coming back to Milan's Arena Civica

The Gianni Brera Arena Civica is one of Milan's most anticipated and symbolic sports facilities, founded in 1807 to the design of the neoclassical architect Luigi Canonica and located in Parco Sempione. Over the course of more than two centuries, the Arena has hosted various types of events: inaugurated with a great naval battle under the eyes of Napoleon, the public witnessed festivals, circus and skating shows throughout the 19th century. Competitive sport arrived at the turn of the century, with the first cycling races, until the first historic event involving football. Indeed, in 1910 the first historic match of the Italian national football team was played at the Arena Civica, which inaugurated its history with a 6-2 victory over France. Football became part of the Arena Civica's programme of events, and from 1930 to 1947 it hosted the home matches of Inter Milan, and from 1941 to 1945 those of AC Milan. With the end of the Second World War, the two Milanese teams returned to San Siro and the facility no longer hosted top-level matches, but only a few exhibitions, fan events and the matches of the city's amateur teams such as Brera and Alcione. Football, however, is now ready to make its return to the city's historic amphitheatre. In fact, on Saturday 25 November at 13:45, it will host the Women's Derby, scheduled for the ninth day of the eBay Women's Serie A. 

The return of football to the Arena Civica is news for Milan's sporting history, and it is equally symbolic that it will be the city's two women's teams that will bring football back to the field between the Arco della Pace and Castello Sforzesco. Regardless of the sporting faith, the event will truly be an important page in the city's sporting history, which could set the tone for a series of other official matches. The scenographic effect of the Arena, with the Palazzina Appiani dedicated to the great neoclassical painter, will contribute to the spectacle, while on the pitch, Inter will have to make up for their bad defeat in the last round against Juventus and AC Milan to try to climb up the rankings. Free entry could bring a large number of spectators to the match, which would contribute to making this event even more unique.