Barcelona recorded a shockingly low attendance for their home La Liga fixture against Atletico Madrid on Sunday night.
The Blaugrana clinched a 1-0 win over Atletico, with Joao Felix’s 28th minute chip securing three vital points in the title race. But few fans of the Catalan club were there to witness what is usually a highly-anticipated occasion in the Spanish top tier.
The fixture was played at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Montjuic – which is the club’s temporary home for the next 15 months while the Camp Nou is under construction. And 39% of the seats inside the former Olympic stadium were empty as Xavi’s side came out on top.
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With just 34,568 in attendance and a staggering 21,000 empty seats, it marked Barcelona’s lowest attendance yet this season. And fans on social media were baffled at how few people turned up to cheer on one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Many reasoned that the cold December weather had put off Catalans. Others pointed out that the Sunday 9pm kick-off time deterred fans as it meant the game finished at 11pm, and many would have to work or go to school the next day.
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But low home attendance has been a problem for Barcelona – the reigning champions of Spain – all season. In fact, there were a whopping 10,000 seats left unused for Barcelona’s opening home game of the season against Cadiz.
There is something to be said about the high ticket pricing implemented by the club. With tickets for a basic seat costing between €84 (£72) and €169 (£145) for the next home game against Girona, the reluctance to attend matches becomes clearer.
And many fans are simply not willing to pay such a fortune to attend a poorly accessible stadium. The location of the ground means supporters have to trek up a large hill from the nearest station, while being exposed to the elements during games because of its location.
There is also the case that a running track separating fans from the pitch, as well as a lack of mystique which is usually so evident at the Camp Nou, have played a part. But it also suggests poor management and marketing from Barcelona's chiefs, who are missing out on huge revenue at a time of financial turmoil.
On the pitch, the impact on Xavi's team has not been as severe. His side are within four points of league leaders Real Madrid, though he will hope a lack of support does not hinder them as they chase a successive La Liga title.
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