Juventus Name Squad for International Challenge Cup in Hong Kong

Italian Serie A Champions Juventus are heading to the Far East for the International Challenge Cup Hong Kong 2016, bringing club top scorer Paulo Dybala and their dynamic Brazilian duo, midfielder Hernanes and wing back Alex Sandro.

Two new signings, Miralem and Medhi Benatia, are also named in the 25-man squad, announced by team manager Massimiliano Allegri.

The International Challenge Cup is an one-off match associated with the International Champions Cup tournament in Australia, where, prior to visiting Hong Kong, Juventus will face off against Melbourne Victory (on 23 July) and Tottenham Hotspur (on 26 July).

The line-up for both tournaments includes first team regulars as well as new recruits.

Paulo Dybala joined the club last year and was widely heralded in his debut season in the 2015-16 campaign. He adapted to the club quickly after the transfer from Palermo and scored 19 goals in 34 Serie A league games and a total of 23 goals in all competitions. His success was supported by strong playing relationships with other big-name players including team captain Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Patrice Evra, Paul Pogba, Mario Mandzukic.

The Far East pre-season campaign will see him playing alongside fellow first team regulars such as Hernanes, Mario Lemina, Kwadwo Asamoah in midfield, and Alex Sandro and Daniele Rugani in defence.

Juventus will also bring along their two new signings Miralem Pjanic and Medhi Benatia, with the run out providing an opportunity for them acclimatise to the team’s style of play.

Having joined the Italian champions last month, Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic was officially unveiled as a Juventus #5, a jersey number that his idol Zinedine Zidane wore when he played for Juventus. The 26-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international moved to the Juventus Stadium from fellow Serie A side Roma after five years in the Italian capital. He has has more than 60 caps for Bosnia and Herzegovina, including at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

French-Moroccan centre-back Medhi Benatia has just joined Juve in a loan deal from Bayern Munich – with an option for the new club to make the move permanent. In a 13-year career the 29-year-old previously played in Italy for Udinese and Roma before moving to the Bundesliga in 2014 and winning back-to-back German league titles. Internationally, he has represented Morocco, where his father was born, in two Africa Cup of Nations competitions, in 2012 and 2013.

Juventus FC 25-Man Squad

Alex Sandro, Asamoah, Audero, Benatia, Blanco, Cerri, Coccolo, Del Favero, Dybala, Hernanes, Kastanos, Lemina, Lirola, Loria, Macek, Marrone, Neto, Padovan, Parodi, Pereyra, Pjanic, Rosseti, Rugani, Severin, Vitale.

International Challenge Cup - Tickets

Tickets are now available at HK$300, HK$400, HK$500 and HK$680, as well as HK$180 concession tickets for full-time students (aged 25 or below) and senior citizens (aged 60 and above).

Tickets can be purchased online via Cityline or at any one of 15 Cityline box offices at selected local Tom Lee stores around Hong Kong as well as at HMV in Causeway Bay and the Box Office at the Asia-World Expo centre and MacPherson Stadium. Tickets can also purchase tickets via the Cityline hotline (+852) 2111 5333.

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