Barça now know who they will be playing at the 'Festa del Gamper Estrella Damm' 2025. The opponents for the blaugranes in the traditional Joan Gamper Trophy will be Italian club Como 1907, coached by former blaugrana Cesc Fàbregas and with ex-Barça players Sergi Roberto and Àlex Valle amongst the playing staff. The Italian club has a long history but only recently returned to the top-flight after an absence of 21 years. Como will be the ninth Italian side to take part in the Joan Gamper Trophy which this season will see a 60th edition.  

The first Italian side to take part was AC Milan back in 1986. In those days the Gamper was a four-team affair and Barça defeated the Serie A side in the semi-finals before victory against PSV Eindhoven in the final.  

In 1994 Brescia were the Italian side defeated in the semi-finals by Barça, the blaugranes going on to lose the final that year to Valencia. Two years later the first final between a Serie A club and Barça came in a meeting with Internazionale, the hosts taking the title with a 2-1 win. In 1997 Sampdoria were the opponents in a final that Barça won following a penalty shoot-out.  

Eight Italian sides in 13 editions  

Into the 21st century the tradition of an Italian presence in the Gamper Trophy continued. In 2001 Parma were defeated 3-2 and in 2004 Barça defeated a returning AC Milan 2-1.  The ‘rossoneri’ were back in 2010 with an emotional return for Ronaldinho to his former club, the blaugranes winning that encounter in another penalty shoot-out.  

In between visits of AC Milan, Juventus became the first side to win the Gamper Trophy in 2005 whilst in 2007 Internazionale were beaten 5-0.  In 2011 Napoli were soundly beaten 5-0 as were Roma in 2015, the club from the capital losing 3-0 at Spotify Camp Nou. In between Sampdoria made the first of two recent visits. In 2011 the team from Genoa beat Barça 1-0 only for the blaugranes to have their revenge in 2016 with a 3-2 win.  

The most recent Italian side to take part in the fixture was Juventus. ‘La Vecchia Signora’ lost 3-0 in 2021 in a game that took place at the Estadi Johan Cruyff due to restrictions brought on by the COVID pandemic.  Como’s visit on 10 August will make them the ninth Italian club to play in the Joan Gamper and also make it the 14th time that Serie A will be present in tournament.  

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HIGHLIGHTS | Barça 3-0 Juventus | 2021 Joan Gamper Trophy

A first meeting 

The game for the 'Festa del Gamper Estrella Damm' will be the first ever between the two clubs. The Serie A club who finished 10th last season in the league on their return to the top flight in Italy will face the La Liga champions in a historic meeting. 

 

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