As has become customary, the difference compared with the rest of the grounds was considerable. Hércules’ Rico Pérez, the second-best attended stadium, attracted 8,092 fans, while Real Jaén’s La Victoria recorded 7,972 and Las Gaunas, during U.D. Logroñés’ match, welcomed 6,387 spectators. Huesca’s El Alcoraz, meanwhile, drew 4,612 people. Ibercaja Estadio thus almost doubled the attendance of the next best-supported grounds and once again highlighted the backing enjoyed by Real Zaragoza.
Furthermore, when Huesca visit next Saturday, the Zaragoza stadium looks set to surpass its season attendance record. The clash against the Huesca side is expected to be a complete sellout, as tickets are available only in the VIP box, with the rest of the stadium already full. The club has also activated its seat transfer system so that season-ticket holders who cannot attend can release their seats, giving other fans the chance to attend a key match in the fight for top spot in Primera RFEF.
IBAI GÓMEZ’S WORDS
The support from the stands was precisely one of the issues Ibai Gómez highlighted after the draw against Villarreal B. The coach was especially proud of the fans’ response, even after the team found itself two goals behind on the scoreboard. “At 0-2, given where Zaragoza comes from, doubts can arise in the stands, and this is a spectacle. I am very proud of what we have achieved, and I hope it remains this way until the end of the season,” said the Basque coach.
“16,000 spectators? That can’t be right; surely the turnstiles aren’t working properly. It is a spectacle. I am extremely grateful because I feel an enormous amount of affection from all the fans. That was my main objective, and I think we are achieving it. It makes me very happy to walk down the street and see all the children wearing Real Zaragoza shirts. It reminds me a lot of what I have experienced in my own life, with a religion: Athletic. Here, the religion is Real Zaragoza,” Ibai Gómez concluded about an Ibercaja Estadio where Real Zaragoza have still not lost this season.
