There will be Serie A and Serie B action at the Mapei Stadium again after Sassuolo bounced straight back up to the top flight by running away with the title in the second tier.

As for Reggiana, not to be confused with Calabrese side Reggina, they featured at the highest level of the Italian game as recently as 1997, but haven’t been back since, and the club has gone through some turbulence in the past three decades.

The 1993-94 season represented the apex as they finished 14th in Serie A, level on points with Inter and avoiding relegation at the expense of bigger clubs, Udinese, Atalanta and Lecce.

Since their final relegation from Serie A, they have bounced around the lower leagues of the Italian game, chiefly in Serie B, but also Serie C and even Serie D amid financial hardship and multiple name changes.

The club was reformed in 2005 and also in 2018, starting again at the bottom of the pyramid under different names on both occasions.

Reggiana bought the rights to use their original sporting name and are back in Serie B as AC Reggiana.

Sassuolo and Reggiana have shared the Mapei Stadium since 2013. Sassuolo owner Giorgio Squinzi bought the arena after Reggiana lost the property.

There’s a moat to keep fans from storming the pitch. The water comes from a local river, and fans have been seen fishing in the moat while inside the stadium, making it Italian football’s only stadium where football and fishing can be seen at the same time.

Mapei Stadium factfile

• Capacity: 21, 525
• Opened: 1995
• Clubs: Reggiana and Sassuolo
• Address: P.le Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, 1, 42122 Reggio Emilia 

How to get to the Mapei Stadium

From Reggio Emilia by train

From the Reggio Emilia train station at Piazza Marconi, it is possible to reach the stadium by walking towards Piazza Europa, or by taking bus line number 05.

Alternatively, if disembarking from AV Mediopadana station (via Città del Tricolore), the stadium can be reached by walking along via Gramsci, with the walk taking around 40 minutes.

Reggio Emilia is well-served by train, with connections from Parma and Modena easily accessible.

By bus

The area beside the stadium can be reached with the number 05 town bus. The closest stop to the stadium is Incrocio Via Ruini. On weekdays the area is also served by bus lines 8 and 12 as well as the H minibus.

By car

If arriving from Sassuolo and other directions, arrive in Reggio Emilia via the North Freeway (Tangenziale Nord) – Exit 4 (direction via Morandi, via Gramsci).

How to buy public transport tickets

Tickets to access Reggio Emilia’s public transport system can be bought at all the usual places in and around the city, such as newsagents, tobacco shops and at vending machines dotted around the city. 

Tickets can also be bought at Setaweb.it.

How to buy tickets to AC Reggiana

Tickets to see Reggiana play at the Mapei Stadium can be bought online, at Vivaticket.it in the days leading up to games. 

Tickets to see Sassuolo play at the Mapei Stadium can be bought online, on the Club’s official website.