Manchester City cruised to a 5-1 victory over AEK Athens on Tuesday night, but the post-match discussion centered on the large number of empty seats at the Etihad Stadium, which was only two-thirds full. The official attendance of 40,024 fell well short of the 61,038 capacity, with large parts of the upper tier remaining unsold.
Dominant Display Overshadowed by Sparse Crowd
The Premier League leaders made light work of the Greek side to get back to winning ways in Europe, but their lukewarm support for UEFA competitions has drawn attention. The match was City's third at home in seven days, following a defeat by Paris Saint-Germain and a victory over Ipswich.
Phil Foden scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 win, with Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki also on the scoresheet. City fans have historically shown a frosty relationship with the Champions League, often booing the UEFA anthem, despite winning the competition in 2023 as part of their treble.
Maresca Unconcerned by Attendance
Manager Enzo Maresca was not worried about the drop in attendance. He told reporters: “I think the ones in the stadium were good. The last game against Ipswich they were top and next week two games against Brighton and I’ve no doubt the environment will be good again.”
City fans have recently rallied in light of the guilty verdict handed down by an independent panel, which now threatens their Premier League place. An appeal has been lodged, but a major points deduction and relegation remain possible. Amid accusations of cheating spanning from 2009 to 2018, fans have waved large inflatable bananas during games, a tradition dating back to the 1980s following relegation.
Perfect League Record
City remain perfect in the Premier League, winning seven from seven to hold a three-point lead over Arsenal in second. Maresca's side face a challenging trip to Aston Villa at the weekend, having lost their last three visits to Villa Park.
