The clash between Arsenal and Manchester City in Beijing next Friday only a few hours before the Olympics begins in London - should provide a fine prelude to the keenly-anticipated Games.

Ticket sales for the showdown between the English Premier League teams are as hot as the Beijing summer.

"The sales are on fire so far," Robert Zhao, tickets sales director at Winoly, the sports promotion company behind the match, told China Daily during an interview via e-mail.

The first Winoly Cup will kick off in the Bird's Nest stadium at 8 pm on July 27.

"With the newly-crowned champion versus one of the traditional big four of the Premier League, plus a slew of phenomenal stars, it is the first time Chinese fans will be able to enjoy English soccer of the highest level at their doorstep," Zhao said.

He estimated more than 80 percent of the 80,000 seats in the National Stadium will be bought by soccer-mad Chinese fans.

For supporters of these two EPL powerhouses, this is a match they won't want to miss.

As one of the richest soccer clubs on the planet, Manchester City celebrated its first EPL title in 44 years and finally emerged from the shadow of its formidable neighbor, Manchester United, in mid-May. With stars like Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Samir Nasri and Joe Hart, the Blues continue to attract Chinese fans.

Supporters of the Gunners are also excited about the club's second consecutive tour to China this summer. Arsenal visited Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, and played a friendly against Greentown FC last year.

"It's exciting enough to root for Arsenal with those whom you've been watching matches on TV with before, but especially in the Bird's Nest," said Dong Lekai, leader of Beijing's Arsenal fans association. Dong said about 20,000 Arsenal followers attended last year's game.

Not a die-hard soccer fan? No problem. Cheering in the Bird's Nest will surely bring you a sense of deja vu as the grand stadium unveiled itself to the world on a balmy summer night four years ago at the Beijing Olympics.

Major international soccer clubs have eyed China as a rich market for brand building and have poured into China to consolidate their bonds with fans. China has become a hotspot for some European powerhouses' preseason warm-ups, despite the long and tiring flight.

The Winoly Cup on July 27 will be a key component of a summer soccer fiesta. Besides Arsenal and Manchester City, Chinese fans will also get the chance to see other big sides in person. Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich will visit Beijing Guo'an at the Workers' Stadium on July 24, followed by a game between Manchester United and Shanghai Shenhua on July 25 in Shanghai. Germany's Wolfsburg will also visit China.

The winner of the first Winoly Cup is expected to return to China next year to accept the challenge from another European powerhouse.

An overall champion will be decided every four years.

(China Daily 07/20/2012 page23)