ONE section of Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park was left completely empty after just 39 Villarreal supporters bought tickets in the away end.
The sides faced each other tonight to kick-off their Champions League campaigns.
Villarreal had next to no one cheering them on, while Dortmund had a huge 77,000 backing them.
And it would have been more if it wasn’t for Uefa’s rules regarding away allocations.
The visiting side must be given 5% of tickets.
Therefore the entire north-east corner of the stadium has remained empty tonight, after Dortmund relocated the 39 Villarreal faithfuls to the West Stand.
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HE’S AD ENOUGH
Prem cult hero retires at 37 as fans say ‘streets will never forget’
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Considering they come from a city of just 54,000 people, it’s tough to blame Villarreal fans for not making the trip.
The lack of Spaniards in the ground points to the overall lack of away support culture in the Spanish game.
For years Spanish teams have brought noticeably less away fans than clubs from the rest of Europe.
Dortmund have been known for rocking atmospheres and the infamous Yellow Wall behind the goal at their huge home ground.
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HE’S AD ENOUGH
Prem cult hero retires at 37 as fans say ‘streets will never forget’
Tuesday 8 September
Real Madrid
2 – 1
League Stage
Inter
Lille
2 – 3
League Stage
Betis
Dortmund
3 – 2
League Stage
Villarreal
Porto
0 – 2
League Stage
Man City
Wednesday 9 September
Stuttgart
17:45
League Stage
Viking
Barcelona
17:45
League Stage
Feyenoord
Tuesday 8 September
Porto
0 – 2
League Stage
Man City
Dortmund
3 – 2
League Stage
Villarreal
Lille
2 – 3
League Stage
Betis
Real Madrid
2 – 1
League Stage
Inter
Club Brugge
2 – 3
League Stage
Villa
AEK Athens
1 – 0
League Stage
LASK
UEFA Champions League
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
1
3
2
1
0
0
2
1
3
1
1
0
0
3
1
3
1
1
0
0
4
1
3
1
1
0
0
5
1
3
1
1
0
0
6
1
3
1
1
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
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Their support, and the lack of away noise, helped spur their team on to a positive start in the Champions League, despite a worrying injury to one of their stars early on.
Despite being goalless at half-time, the clash finished 3-1 to the hosts.
An own-goal from former Chelsea defender Renato Veiga gave the home side the lead early in the second half, before Santiago Mourino equalised soon after.
Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy then found himself heavily involved in the closing stages of the clash.
He scored two in the space of four minutes to give his side a 3-1 lead late in the game.
The 30-year-old then thought he’d help out at the other end too, as he banged in an own-goal to send the 39 Villarreal fans wild.