Cup action returns to Sky: It kicks off on September 8 with the Champions League
For one evening, the Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan was transformed into the home of European soccer, hosting “La Notte delle Coppe,” Sky Sport’s event dedicated to the new season of UEFA competitions. An elegant and refined atmosphere greeted the arrival of the stars of Sky Sport and numerous guests from the worlds of sports, film, and entertainment.
The evening kicked off with a splendid performance by a string quartet, which played the anthems of the major European competitions, creating a truly evocative moment. The music then gave way to Federica Masolin, who highlighted the return of European cup competitions to Sky, featuring 185 out of 203 UEFA Champions League matches per season exclusively on Sky, as well as exclusive coverage of the entire UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League through 2031.
On stage were some of the faces who will accompany fans in covering the European competitions: Alessandro Del Piero, Fabio Capello, Billy Costacurta, Paolo Di Canio, Beppe Bergomi, and Luca Marchegiani. Joining them for the season-opening photo was the entire Sky Sport team: Alessandro Florenzi, Riccardo Montolivo, Walter Zenga, Massimo Gobbi, Faouzi Ghoulam, Michele Padovano, Giancarlo Marocchi, Nando Orsi, Lorenzo Minotti, Aldo Serena, and Gianluca Zambrotta.
Next to speak was Andrea Duilio, CEO of Sky Italia: “Here we have represented the three European trophies won by Italian teams: the Europa League won by Atalanta in 2024, the Conference League won by Roma in 2022, and the Champions League—then known as the European Cup—won by Milan in 1989 and lifted by Franco Baresi. These are unforgettable nights that we all remember and that are part of each of our histories. Our hope is that these emotions will continue, and we are very happy to be able to bring them to you for the next five years, through 2031. This year will be special because all seven Italian teams will be spread across three nights packed with matches, with Atalanta, Milan, and Juventus headlining Thursday’s action, exclusively on Sky.”
These are the words of Giuseppe De Bellis, EVP of Sport, News, and Entertainment at Sky Italia: “The European cups are among our most important content, a pillar of Sky’s programming for years now, alongside all our Original Productions. When we talk about the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, we’re also talking about entertainment—the greatest show on earth. Last year, the European Cup competitions drew a total of 50 million viewers across all three tournaments. This year, too, we hope our audience will tune in and enjoy the exceptional quality of Sky Sport and, above all, the quality of the champions who share their achievements with us and all Italians. Our approach to storytelling is driven by innovation and technology. The focus on storytelling is our strength, and technology isn’t just innovation for its own sake—it’s a tool for language and storytelling that enriches the content.”
Federico Ferri, Editor-in-Chief of Sky Sport, emphasized: “This year, we’ll be covering the journeys of seven Italian teams across the three European cup competitions. We’ll strive to do our best not only during the matches but also—and above all—through everything we do before and after, and throughout the days leading up to and following each game. The first new development concerns our studio, which is expanding: it will be on the air on Tuesday, Wednesday, and even Thursday, with a special program that will be the centerpiece of Champions League evenings, from 8 p.m. to midnight. Following this segment, there will be ‘La Notte dei Campioni’ (The Night of the Champions), dedicated to the stars of the Champions League, the great stories, plays, and feats of the champions. Sky Sport is a 24/7 channel: it doesn’t just cover the event itself, but is constantly on the air with news, in-depth analysis, and the stories we have to tell.”
Numerous personalities will also be present throughout the evening, including, among others, Giuseppe Marotta, Gerry Cardinale, Daniele Massaro, and Giovanni Carnevali. Among the guests were also prominent figures from soccer governing bodies, such as Ezio Simonelli, president of the Serie A League; Paolo Bedin, president of the Serie B League; and Matteo Marani, president of the Serie C League.
