Barça are not just getting better on the pitch, but on the terraces too. The attendance figures show that there was an average of 2,158 more people in the stadium for league matches this season compared to last season’s average of 77,033.

More than 80,000 for nine matches

In 9 of the 19 games played in the league this year, there were over 80,000 spectators. It was also the league that produced the highest turnout of the season, the 98,255 that saw Barça beat Madrid 5-0.

Apart from the clásico, the other games that saw more than 80,000 bodies pass through the turnstiles were, in chronological order, against Valencia (87,975), Sevilla (81,020), Villarreal (80,766), Atlético Madrid (84,766), Athletic Bilbao (83,533), Getafe (81,913), Almeria (80,452) and Espanyol (89,994).

Up on previous seasons

That figure of 79,390 was not just higher than the one for the 2009/10 season, but also the six preceding campaigns. Josep Guardiola’s first year on the bench was watched by an average of 69,864 spectators and the two under Frank Rijkaard in 2004/05 and 2005/06 were seen by an average of 73,073 and 73,236 spectators respectively.

Good use of Seient Lliure

One of the main reasons for such improvements is the way season ticket holders are making better use of the Seient Lliure. There has been a remarkable increase in freed seats. There were 14,549 seats freed per game in the 2009/10 season and this year that number rose to 16,110. This system is clearly ensuring that more members and fans without season tickets are able to get to enjoy matches.