There could be multiple contributing factors
Real Madrid got off to a winning start in LaLiga this weekend as they beat Getafe 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu thanks to goals from Dani Carvajal and Gareth Bale.
In the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale has been tasked with stepping into his shoes and playing the role of the goalscoring winger. His opportunity to be the star man at Madrid has finally arrived, but incredibly few people turned up to see his first match as Madrid’s new prince.
Only 48,466 fans turned up to watch Madrid’s first league game of the season, their lowest home attendance for almost a decade – on May 24th 2009, only 44,270 fans were present at the Bernabéu for a league game against Real Mallorca. While that would still fill most stadiums in the league and indeed the world, for the biggest club in the world with a stadium capacity of 90,000, the empty seats were unmissable.
48,466 spectators at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight. This is the worst attendance to the Real Madrid field in a league game in almost a decade (from May 24, 2009 in which there were 44,270 spectators).
I wonder which player brought people to the Bernabéu
— Madridistahaven (@MadridistaHaven) August 19, 2018
Some fans have cited Ronaldo’s departure as the leading cause to the decline in gate receipts, but it’s more likely that the late kick off time was more of a deterrent for match-going fans.
Last night’s game kicked off at 10pm local time, meaning that the full time whistle didn’t sound until midnight. Toni Kroos showed his disapproval of such a late kick-off time after the match, when he tweeted: “I am happier than it seems, but usually I am asleep at this time.” Tiredness in his eyes.
I am happier then it seems, but usually I am asleep at this time. pic.twitter.com/MWy9W9URry
— Toni Kroos (@ToniKroos) August 19, 2018
