Tickets for Barca v Man United clash sold out in three hours

Three hours after Barcelona put tickets on general sale for their Europa League play-off first leg match against English giants Manchester United, none of the coupons in the 21 sections advertised were available.

As with the much-anticipated clash between two of the biggest soccer clubs in Europe at OId Trafford, which saw over 100,000 fans waiting in an online queue, demand for tickets guaranteed that all tickets on sale went quickly.

No tickets have been on sale since, but should any Barcelona season ticket holders return their tickets as they will not attend the game next Thursday, the Catalan club will put them on sale.

Barca do expect to make more tickets available, likely a small number, in the forthcoming days because of returned tickets.

Tickets for the Camp Nou encounter on February 16 are more expensive than those for Old Trafford – a main stand seat costs €259, one behind the goal €139.

The Catalan club’s season ticket holders already have the ticket included at no extra charge. Manchester United season ticket holders pay extra for all cup matches.

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Barcelona have been extra strict about who they sell the tickets to, demanding proof of ID before online sales.

This follows a change in the way the Spanish side distribute tickets after an estimated 25,000 Eintracht Frankfurt fans bought tickets in home sections for last season’s Europa League last 16 game.

Barcelona were defeated and knocked out of the competition, with players and manager Xavi Hernandez complaining of German fans being all over the stadium in a wall of white.

Barcelona were heavily criticised by their own fans for selling tickets to away fans and club president Joan Laporta vowed that it wouldn’t happen again.

United received an allocation of 4,200 tickets high on the third tier, which quickly sold out and there’s a waiting list, with fans travelling without tickets.

The Red Devils’ tickets were priced just €45 – a third of the price of tickets for the same section in 2019 when the English club last played in Catalonia.