The Bernabeu is empty: Third worst attendance of the season

Real Madrid's supporters continue to stay away from the Santiago Bernabeu with just 53,412 in attendance for the match against Real Sociedad on Sunday evening, their third worst attendance of the season.

The final game of 2018 saw 55,229 watch Los Blancos' 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano and the trend continues to go backwards.

Some would argue that Three Kings Day is the reason behind the downturn for Sunday's match in particular, yet close to 70,000 have attended games on this day in the past: 65,217 in the 2013/14 campaign against Celta Vigo; in 2012/13, there were 72,500 against La Real; and in 2007/08, the highest figure came against Real Zaragoza with 74,000.

The Bernabeu has only had over 70,000 on just one occasion this season - in the derby against Atletico Madrid, where there were 78,682 people in attendance - and in the other 11 home matches, it has often been far from that figure, with five games below 60,000.

It is affecting results, too, as Madrid ended 2018 with a win percentage of 62.96 at home, resulting in the team not winning 37.04 percent of their matches, the worst percentage in 24 years.