Champions League
Fantastic football at the Etihad Stadium was spoiled only by the lack of atmosphere. Is this how you rejoice in the Champions League?
Tuesday night was blessed with fantastic football. Manchester City took on Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final and we saw countless chances, beautiful actions and finally seven amazing goals. The only thing missing was a proper atmosphere.
Tuesday night was blessed with fantastic football. Manchester City took on Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final and we saw countless chances, beautiful actions and finally seven amazing goals. The only thing missing was a proper atmosphere.
On the footballing side, there is nothing to fault. Both teams were open, with no tactical barriers.
Citizens will take a one-goal lead to Madrid, although it could have been bigger. After the game, the crowd didn’t know what to do first. Vinícius’s wonderful solo goal, Bernard’s shot, Benzema’s “panenka” or City’s missed chances.
Other fans, however, noticed the lack of atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium. Citizens supporters are pronounced mediocre support. Some league games are not even sold out, there is no great atmosphere in the stadium in such big games. Most of the time, you could even hear Real Madrid fans who were in a large minority in the stadium.
But what struck the fans most was the lack of enthusiasm after the opening goal. Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring of the anticipated match in the 2nd minute, only instead of an eruption of enthusiasm came the reaction like a normal league goal.
“Champions League semi-final. Football is dead,” a fan wrote on Twitter alongside a short video of the celebrations.
And others joined in. “Shame. The crowd really went crazy, ” wrote one fan. “More celebrating a goal in League Two against Wigan, ” added another. “I hope nobody got hurt. Wild scenes, ” wrote another fan wryly.
Other fans again noted how the vast majority of fans in the home sector took photos of Karim Benzema celebrating his goal in front of them at 3:4.
There is simply not a good atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium, Citizens fans are not as passionate as supporters of other clubs. But with the football their team is showing, it’s a great shame.
Source: Twitter, UEFA