FCBARCELONA.CAT

29.03.2009 11:03

Attendances up on last year

Roger Bogunyà

The average attendance at the Camp Nou this season has risen to 68,072 compared to 67,459 last year. The good results of the team have encouraged the supporters.

The Camp Nou is fuller week by week. Josep Guardiola’s players have brought the fans back to the stadium despite the fact that the opponents at the moment are not the most glamorous.

Three matches above 75,000

In the Spanish league the derby against Espanyol, and the matches against Athletic Club and Malaga have attracted more than 75,000 spectators to the Camp Nou while some 86,378 people turned up to see Barça beat Olympique Lyon in the Champions League.

Before these four matches, only the games against Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid and Valencia had exceeded 75, 000 spectators.

Adverse factors

Attendances have improved despite a number of adverse factors. Late kick-off times, TV coverage of many of the matches, the global crisis and the lack of trophies over the last two seasons had all kept the fans at home. But Guardiola’s team is bringing the fans back with goals and spectacle.