After six matches played at the Camp Nou ( in all events) this season, the Camp Nou attendance average is 74,254 spectators, 12,256 more than it was at this stage in the 2008-09 season, when an average figure of 61,998 was recorded, according to Catalan sports paper Sport.

Currently, the attendance levels are around the figures of the season 2004-05 (74,273 spectators), still far from 2007-08, which was 82,002.

Several factors have contributed to the increase. One of them being the fact that unlike last season, the first three league games have been broadcast on pay (per view) television.

Interest in the Champions League, of which the team is the reigning champion has also increased as witnessed in the rise of number of spectators. This year, against Dynamo Kiev, there have been nearly 10,000 more fans watching than for last year’s Champions League opening home match against Sporting Lisbon.

This year’s Joan Gamper Trophy too, played in August against Manchester City, had 20,000 more spectators than for Boca Juniors match in the same fixture last year.