Gamper Trophy: Sampdoria to play Barcelona at Camp Nou on 10 August

Sampdoria have been invited by Barcelona to play in the 51st Gamper Trophy this summer.

The Blucerchiati will travel to Camp Nou for the glamour pre-season friendly on 10 August 2016, with kick-off at 20:30 CEST.

The prestigious annual event was set up in 1966 in memory of Joan Gamper, the founder and first president of the Catalan club.

Luis Enrique’s dream team – with the likes of Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, Suarez, Pique, Mascherano and Rakitic making their first appearance of the season in front of the home fans – will provide the warm-up opposition for Samp just a few days before their first competitive fixture of 2016/17 in the Coppa Italia.

The Blucerchiati will be meeting the reigning Spanish and world champions in the season leading up to the 25th anniversary of the European Cup final between Samp and Barca, played at Wembley on 20 May 1992.

Doria have taken part in the Gamper Trophy on two occasions since then.

In 1997, Cesar Luis Menotti’s team were beaten 8-7 on penalties after the match ended 2-2.

Then in 2012, with Ciro Ferrara at the helm, Roberto Soriano scored an early goal as Samp claimed victory at the biggest stadium in Europe, becoming only the second Italian club in history to win the trophy after Juventus.