With progress to the last 16 of the competition delicately balanced following the 2-2 draw in front of last week's sold out audience at FC Copenhagen's Parken Stadium, the Blues are hoping for a big turn-out.
So far, the four UEFA Cup ties at Eastlands have resulted in an average of 22,250 - way down on the much improved 43,300 for Premier League games.
But with the last 16 now within touching distance, the Blues are hoping for the kind of Euro fever that saw more than 30,000 turn up for the first contest in the Danish capital and 54,000 witness a qualifying group win at Schalke.
Admission to tomorrow's contest has been pegged at £15 for seasoncard and Citycard holders (this will rise on the day of the game) and £20 for seats that are on open sale. Under-16s can get in for £5 and 16-21-year-olds and over-65s for £10.
Copenhagen's players, though, will travel without any trepidation determined that they are still well in the hunt to progress into the later stages.
"We now face a very difficult away game indeed, but with 2-2, at least the chance is still there for us.
"In spite of everything, we just need to win by a single goal," reflected William Kvist.
Copenhagen scorer from the first leg Ailton Almeida added: "We met a solid Premier League side, but we are a rather good side too - and I think that all in all we performed okay. Even though the return leg looks difficult, we all believe that it is still possible to qualify for the next round."
Classy
Copenhagen goalkeeper Jesper Christiansen insists he will blank out his blunder when he faces City on Thursday.
Christiansen allowed a weak shot from Nedum Onuoha to slip under his body and over the line in the 2-2 draw.
"Of course, I was very annoyed with myself but you have to move on," he said.
"I have put the situation behind me and am focusing on the positives - and we could take a lot of positives from that game."
Copenhagen's goalkeeping coach Per Wind added: "Jesper needed a day and a half to recover. We talked about the mistake but to his credit he came back after it to make three classy saves."
Meanwhile, ticket sales for the final in Istanbul have begun exclusively on uefa.com.
The match takes place at Fenerbahçe's stadium on Wednesday, May 20. Sales to the general public of 11,500 tickets will run until Friday, March 20.
The application process is carried out exclusively via uefa.com, with each applicant having to complete in full the online application form.
Each successful candidate will be entitled to a maximum of two tickets. Prices range from 75 euros to 130 euros. The capacity at the final will be 42,000 and each of the finalists will receive 11,500 seats. Tweet
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If my mate doesn't get away by 7pm tomorrow night, after fitting my new boiler, than there will be one empty seat in East Stand Lower.
There, got my excuse in early! Pity really, as I'm really looking forward to it.
Any plumbers out there who can advise whether the boiler could be "left" nearly fitted (he'd have been at it all day) so I can go to the match and he can finish it off Friday morning? If so, I presume you're a plumber having a break or your Blackberry is on whilst you're under some floorboards!
Excuse me, but my maths tells me that 11,500 to the general public and 11,500 to both finalists adds up to 34,500. With a capacity of 42,000 it leaves 7,500!! So what has happened to these tickets? Or am I just being thick?
The Devils
The rest go to corporate side of things
Hopefully we can cram in 30,000 plus for the game.
I hate Thursday night football!!!!!!
You are being a bit thick Devil's Advocate, though that can be excused at such an early hour.
The combined allocation for the finalists is a "piffling" 23,000, leaving a "whopping" (forgive the tabloid-style adjectives, I slept badly) 19,000 for, er, who? Neutrals? UEFA big-wigs? Hangers-on? WAGs?
The water and gas can be isolated on the boiler, so you can get to guvnors bar for a beer as well. no beer again at stadium due to uefa regulations. Sometimes the barstaff implement this policy for league games as well ( or so you would think.)
Devil's Advocate, the rest go to UEFA and corporate bigwigs.
Having re-read the article after a large cup of very milky tea with extra sugar, I now realise the Devil's Advocate is an infinitely better mathematician than me. I take it all right back Devil's: I'm the thickie.
Ah, the pitfalls of writing before getting your brain into gear...
jeff jones, Office, next to radiator
25/02/2009 at 10:07
Cheers, Jeff,
I'd only have time to go straight there, but thanks for the offer of that pint!
Don't forget Platini will have his ticket allocation. Just so he can take his friends to watch the richest team and grotesquely over payed players in the world.
Really disappointed with the turn outs for these matches at the City of Manchester Stadium.
I don't expect us to get more than 25,000 tomorrow night and frankly we don't deserve European Football if that's the best we can muster.
For years we have been crying out for European football and when we eventually get it we can't be bothered to turn up.
I would suggest if you are at all interested you get to these matches and support the club. One things for certain unless we win the competition we won't be in Europe next season.
But we like talking about it don't we?
Phil Neal's Laxative, In a Shay Given wonderland
25/02/2009 at 10:26
You were kinda right though, 42,000 minus 23,000 does in fact leave 19,000. So don't beat yourself up too badly about it. However, 7,500 does seem to be a lot of 'bigwigs'.
Big match highlights on the TV last night.Did anyone see the final result?
The last update I saw was when the 'Downers' were beating the 'Uppers' 1-0 in the Derbyshire Shrove Tuesday football game in Ashbourne.I think the commentator said it was the first time the 'Downers' had scored in 4 years?
I've not been able to sleep not knowing the final score.
Can anyone help me out please?
IVE BEEN TO EVERY GAME THIS SEASON UNLIKE SOME OF THE SO CALLED CITY FANS WHO POST ON HERE.COME ON CITY LETS SHOW THEM WHAT A MASSIVE TEAM WE ARE.AND LETS TRY AND GET OVER 20,000.
Average attendance of 22,250, thats shocking for the richest, smallest, best supported club in the world! I wonder why Kaka didnt come?
It makes me laugh it really does,it's been so long since city have ever got to these stages of European competition and not only are the top tiers closed in every game,but it's never been full and the same will happen again on thursday.
We really are a massive club aren't we,there's no excuses with the pricing either,Christ most of you should be ashamed.
Wayneold
I supose you missed the 6000 - yes six thousand!!!!!! attendance for the AC MILAN's last UEFA CUP group match last year in the San Siro (capacity 90k).
Now that's what you call an empty stadium - city got almost 4 times as many at each game - why on earth does Kaka want to play with a bunch of pensioners/has beens in an empty stadium for peanuts - obviously an 'up and coming nobody going nowhere' not the sort we would want today!!!!
Wayneold;
Boring, predictable & unimaginative comment. If your going to come on here to post at least try and be witty, it makes for better banter. For instance - 'Wayneold, have you worked out how to turn your computer on? Well done, must make a change from writing everything with crayons' get it? Ok so wipe the dribble off your chin and have another go there’s a good lad.
wayneold, manc - You obviously haven't seen Milan's average attendances for the competition have you then you mug.
The remainder go to "The Uefa Family".
I wonder why Kaka didnt come?
wayneold, manc
25/02/2009 at 11:41
Probably for fear of bumping into you, you Rag muppet!
Doesn`t it make you laugh that Platini can`t miss a chance to have a snide pop at us, then in the next breath allocate half a stadiums cup final tickets to those that subsidise HIS organisation. Very sporting to offer only 11500 thousand chances for a clubs supporters to follow their club on an occasion that might prove to be the only time in their history is hardly putting the game back in touch with the man in the street is it. As usual most of the "corporate sponsor" allocated tickets will find there way into the hands of the highest bidder via touts etc. Segregation goes out of the window, and potential for trouble increases inside and outside the ground.
Would we have had Manchester savaged by the Scots if they`d been at the game, i doubt it very much. But that`s not Uefa`s fault is it. It`s Glasgow Rangers fault. In fact that final should never have been held here. The fact that it was a reasonably short train ride did much to discourage those without tickets didn`t it. Really well thought out that one, considering the Scots well known love for the English and no border controls to pass through. Does anyone know what actual allocation Rangers were given for a stadium they could probably have filled on their own.
If Platini wants to do something worthwhile he should get the tickets into the hands of supporters of the clubs involved. We are the lifeblood of the game. Companies advertise alongside TV coverage, but no way should they get tickets. They pay for TV advertising, they get TV advertising. Uefa gets paid by the TV companies. Everyone earns. End of. The stadium should be split in half for those that have spent their money for years supporting their club, but even that 50/50 split can prove unfair in my opinion. As far as i`m concerned a venue should be selected when the location of the finalists are known, and the number of combined season ticket holders they have is calculated. The stadium should accommodate all season ticket holders and then any remaining seats should be halved between the two clubs.
Self serving Uefa are stealing dreams from ordinary supporters that follow loyally for entire lifetimes just so they can swan about feeling important quaffing the champers. Platini`s Uefa are no more than glorified football pimps.
Has money ruined football. Well it ruined fair competition years ago. It has certainly blinkered it`s governing bodies, and that is ruining the atmosphere surrounding European finals because too many seats go to neutrals, forcing genuine fans to stand on the outside trying to see in, or pay much inflated prices depending upon their desperation to be involved. But that`s beyond any need to worry about for Platini, as Uefa will earn the percentage they themselves decide regardless. Platini and co will again smugly gloat in the exec seats of Istanbul, living it up like they invented the game and we should be grateful for all their hard work. Disgraceful.
Disclaimer. It should be noted that these are the individual views of one bemused and disgusted Mancunian blue, and are not the views of the Manchester Evening News or any of it`s employees.
Youve never even been to old trafford, at l;east them 22,000 can say they've been and supported their team. All you do is come on the city website.
MALCOLM G, TAMESIDE
25/02/2009 at 11:34
Every what game? Hyde United's? Or The Broomhouse, Denton?
To your credit, you never give up do you? Even when you know you're just not funny AT ALL!
If we can`t top the attendance in Copenhagen it will be embarrassing. Let`s all make the effort citizens.