There is just over a week to go until Perth welcomes Italian Serie A powerhouses AC Milan and AS Roma with Optus Stadium set to match the football with an Italian-themed food and drink menu.
With Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United playing in front of over 78,000 football fans at the MCG on Wednesday, the attention now turns to Perth’s very own spectacle next week Friday night.
Two of Italy’s most historic football clubs will come face to face at the 60,000-seat stadium, marking the first time two Serie A teams will play each other in Australia.
It is the first game for Milan on Australian soil in over 30 years having last played two friendlies against the Socceroos in 1993 in Sydney and Melbourne.
Roma return down under after facing Real Madrid at the MCG in 2015.
For the WA community, the match will bring both passionate football fans and the strong Italian community with stadium operators VenuesLive confirming a rich Italian theme on the night.
A mini festival in Stadium Park will include the Ciao Bar while the retail and hospitality menu’s will also have their own, unique, hand-picked Italian heroes.
A Lasagne burger, Italian steak sandwich, Italiano hotdog and Bolognese loaded chips are just some of the twists on the regular favourites which spectators can get their hands on, along with a specialist wine list of Italian grape varieties grown in WA.
Some more traditional Italian items will include arancini, osso buco (braised veal), meatball sub and Italian pizzas.
Emphasis has also been put on WA Italian business with the Margaret River Mai Tardi Gelato also available.
Pre-match entertainment outside the stadium will commence well before the 7.30pm kick off to make the most of the historic event with food trucks, pop-up bar, DJs and merchandise at the Southern Oval from 2pm and right through until after the match concludes.
For those looking for an early glimpse of the stars such as Oliver Giroud, Rafael Leao, Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala, tickets are available for the open training sessions at HBF Stadium on Thursday May 30.
The two teams will each play their last game of the Serie A season this weekend before flying to Perth, Milan are already guaranteed second place while Roma will be hoping for other results to go their way to determine their fate for Champions League football next season.