Barcelona is restricting ticket sales for next week’s Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt to club members only, aiming to prevent a repeat of the significant influx of Frankfurt fans that occurred during their 2022 encounter.
That previous match saw over 30,000 Frankfurt supporters in attendance at Spotify Camp Nou, transforming the venue into a sea of white as the Bundesliga team achieved a memorable win on their way to securing the trophy.
The two clubs will face each other for the first time since that event next Tuesday, prompting Barça to implement these ticket restrictions in advance of the game.
“This decision has been made to ensure the safety of Barcelona fans and to avoid a repeat of the April 2022 situation, where the vast majority of spectators were not home supporters,” stated the Catalan club in an official announcement.
“Through this measure, the club prioritizes its members—who are integral to its foundation—and guarantees that the stadium will be a venue for celebration and exclusive support from Barça fans.”
Barça president Joan Laporta emphasized the club’s intention to avoid a recurrence of the previous incident, stating, “I don’t want to relive the feelings we had during that 2022 match. It was a terrible memory, with the stadium dominated by opposition shirts.”
This upcoming match will mark Barça’s return to the Champions League at Camp Nou since they resumed playing there in November.
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After spending two years at the Olympic Stadium during renovations, Barça has played its last three LaLiga games back at home, with a capped capacity of 45,000 as construction continues.
Following last week’s defeat to Chelsea, the encounter with Frankfurt is vital for Barça’s Champions League ambitions.
Currently, Hansi Flick’s team has seven points from five matches, placing them 18th in the standings, three points away from a top eight position and an automatic spot in the round of 16.
On the other hand, Frankfurt is also in dire need of a win, sitting in 28th with four points from their five games, just two points shy of entering the top 24 and a spot in the knockout stage come January.