Manchester City fans could be forced to pay over £600 for a ticket to the Champions League final should Pep Guardiola ’s men get there.
The reigning Premier League champions are still in the race to claim what would be an historic treble between now and the end of the season. They are in a battle with Arsenal to retain their domestic crown, whilst they face Championship side Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-final at the weekend.
City also booked their spot in the Champions League last four earlier this week with a 4-1 aggregate victory over German giants Bayern Munich. Current European champions Real Madrid lie in wait for Guardiola’s side in what is a repeat of last season’s semi-final.
Whilst there is still some way to go until plans will be put in place for the final that is set to take place at Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, UEFA have now confirmed details for supporters. In a statement provided by the European body, it has been announced that a total of 47,200 tickets will be available to fans and the general public - despite the stadium being a 72,000 capacity.
Each side in the final - scheduled to take place on June 10 - will be handed a total capacity of 20,000. A ballot to acquire tickets is now open on UEFA’s official website.
Whilst many supporters will be eyeing tickets in order to attend the final, they will likely have to dig deep into their pockets in order to afford them after prices were confirmed. Category 4 tickets - the cheapest available on UEFA’s website - are priced at €70 (£62), with the next category up priced at €180 (£159.50).
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The next category rises sharply with fans being forced to pay €490 (£434), with the most expensive tickets in the final priced at an eye-watering €690 (£600). Whilst supporters consider purchasing a ticket in Istanbul, Guardiola’s side still need to get there and indeed learn their potential opponents.
Should they find a way past Real Madrid and with it book their spot in the final, they will play either one of the two Milan giants after the two were pitted together following last-eight wins over Benfica and Napoli.
Ahead of his side’s showdown with Real, Guardiola has claimed that any side that harbours hopes of winning the competition must beat the Spanish side. Speaking after the success against Bayern, the former Barcelona coach said: “I think all the clubs in the world have the feeling if you want to win this competition you have to beat Real Madrid right now.
“Before it used to be Barcelona, but now it’s Real Madrid. I heard that they have reached 11 semi-finals in 13 years – so hats off. We are three [in a row] and what we have done is incredible to reach the Champions League semi-final.”
City travel to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first-leg of their semi-final clash on May 9, before welcoming Carlo Ancelotti 's side to the Etihad Stadium just over a week later.
