Empty Seats at Etihad as Manchester City Beat AEK Athens 5-1 in Champions League

Manchester City recorded a convincing 5-1 victory over AEK Athens in the Champions League on Tuesday, but the result was overshadowed by a surprisingly low turnout at the newly expanded Etihad Stadium.

Rows of empty seats were visible throughout the 61,000-capacity ground, with attendance well below expectations for a European fixture. City and UEFA had not immediately released the official attendance figure.

The sparse crowd came at a time when City supporters have been showing their defiance following the club’s finding of widespread financial wrongdoing. The case could result in significant penalties, potentially including a substantial fine, a points deduction or expulsion from the Premier League. City has appealed the ruling.

More than 60,000 fans attended City’s previous Champions League home match against Paris Saint-Germain. Before that game, the club staged a fireworks display and screened highlights of its greatest moments, a presentation widely viewed as a show of support for the club amid its legal battle.

Supporters have also revived the tradition of bringing inflatable bananas to matches, a craze associated with English football in the 1980s. The colourful displays have become a visible expression of loyalty among some City fans, but few inflatable bananas were seen during Tuesday’s match.

The lower attendance may have reflected a demanding schedule rather than dissatisfaction with the club. The fixture was City’s third home game in less than a week, following matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Ipswich.

Those who attended were rewarded with another impressive attacking display as City responded to their defeat against PSG with a comfortable European victory.

Phil Foden scored a hat trick to lead the hosts, while Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki also found the net. City’s five goals underlined their attacking strength and helped the team maintain its momentum in the competition.

The result also reinforced City’s strong domestic form, with the club sitting at the top of the Premier League.

The contrast between the emphatic scoreline and the empty seats raised questions about the reasons behind the disappointing turnout. While the club’s ongoing legal dispute has drawn attention, the compressed schedule and the timing of the fixture may also have influenced supporters’ decisions.

City’s financial case remains a major issue for the club, with the potential consequences extending beyond financial penalties to its standing in English football. The appeal means the dispute remains unresolved.

For the team, however, Tuesday’s performance provided a positive response on the pitch. Foden’s three goals and the contributions of Anderson and Cherki ensured that the result itself was never in serious doubt, even as the atmosphere inside the stadium fell short of expectations.