Napoli expect fewer than 40,000 at the Maradona for Bodø/Glimt
Only the upper tiers of the two Curve had sold out by Monday night, with tickets still available from €45 to €125 for a side that has yet to take a point in this season's Champions League.
The Maradona will not be full for Napoli's Champions League match against Bodø/Glimt on Tuesday 20 October at 21:00 CET (20:00 UK, 15:00 ET). Fewer than 40,000 spectators are expected in a stadium that holds 54,726. As of Monday evening, only the upper tiers of the Curve (the hardcore ends behind the goals) had sold out on TicketOne, the ticketing platform, with good availability elsewhere at prices from €45 to €125. It is Napoli's second home game of this Champions League, after the 0-1 defeat to Arsenal, and they go into it with no points following the 3-1 loss at Villarreal.
The explanations on offer for the lukewarm response are the form of Allegri's side, beaten 1-0 at Venezia, and an opponent that does not stir the imagination. We would add a less comfortable point. Bodø/Glimt knocked out Lazio in 2025 and reached a European semi-final, and this is the game in which Napoli's first Champions League points are there to be taken. If fewer than 40,000 Neapolitans choose to be there, that says more about faith in the team than about the name on the other side of the pitch.
Read also Benitez calls Bodø/Glimt a near-decisive night and points to De Bruyne
Around 1,800 supporters have travelled from Norway. The club and the Italian police have advised them to avoid Bodø colours while in the city centre, and the Norwegian club published a message of its own.
"Please bear in mind that we are guests in a city where football is much more than just a sport. Have fun and enjoy the day, but behave with respect and take care when you are in the city centre."
On Tuesday night the Maradona will show what crowd it has. The team's job is to give those who turn up a reason to come back on Saturday against Roma.
Source: MondoNapoli
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