Frankfurt fans flood Nou Camp home sections as Barcelona supporters ‘boycott’ Europa League tie for 10 minutes

Thousands of Eintracht Frankfurt fans filled the home sections of the Nou Camp to watch their Europa League quarter-final at Barcelona.

Reports suggested 30,000 Frankfurt supporters had made the journey to Spain for the return leg, which was finely poised after a 1-1 draw in Germany last week.

Frankfurt had sold out their 5,000 away-seat allocation, while Sport in Spain reported Barcelona closed ticket sales for their own supporters on Wednesday in a bid to prevent the opposing fans from purchasing more in the home ends.

Come the match, sets of Frankfurt fans were visible in every corner of the near 100,000-capacity stadium, many wearing replica shirts in close proximity to Barcelona supporters.

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“Home end already swimming with Frankfurt fans at Camp Nou, nothing discrete about it either. Don’t remember anything similar here,” said ESPN journalist Samuel Marsden.

The Frankfurt fans were given plenty to cheer about in the first half, taking a 2-0 lead against the Europa League favourites.

Barça say attendance at Camp Nou is 79,468, with various estimates claiming between 20,000 and 30,000 Frankfurt fans inside the stadium + more outside without tickets

— Siempre Positivo (@SiemprePod) April 14, 2022

Home end already swimming with Frankfurt fans at Camp Nou, nothing discrete about it either. Don’t remember anything similar here pic.twitter.com/SlBOQAojMQ

— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) April 14, 2022

Filip Kostic scored their first goal from the penalty spot after four minutes, with Rafael Borré then scoring a stunning strike from 25 yards out.

It was then reported that Barcelona’s most vocal supporters, who occupy the lower section behind one of the goals, opted not to come out for the start of second half in protest over how many Frankfurt fans were in attendance.

???? La grada de animación del Camp Nou se vacía en el descanso. Cuenta @SiqueRodriguez en @carrusel que están valorando no volver, como protesta por el ambiente del estadio, con miles de aficionados del Eintracht. pic.twitter.com/9whOY5HvdA

— Adrià Albets (@AdriaAlbets) April 14, 2022

It turned out to be a 10-minute boycott, but as they returned and the second half played out, there were loud whistles when the home side were in possession, an indication of how many Frankfurt fans had flocked to see their side in action.

It got better for Frankfurt, too, with Kostic scoring his second to put the Bundesliga side on the brink of the last four.

More to follow

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