The Millions FC Barcelona Will Forfeit Through Champions League Failure

FC Barcelona are all set to crash out of the Champions League in the group phase for the second year running after Wednesday’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Inter Milan.

Falling behind twice to their Italian Serie A rivals, the La Liga giants once again showed they are a long way off being able to compete with the continent’s elite and are headed for back-to-back appearances in the second-string, inferior Europa League.

Failing to advance to the knockout stages is not only embarrassing to Barca, but it also comes with financial rammifications.

After spending around €150mn ($146mn) on transfers this summer thanks to the activation of a series of ‘economic levers’, president Joan Laporta and his board had banked on not only reaching the round of 16 in Champions League but making at least the quarter-finals.

Not doing this leaves them with around €20mn ($19.45mn) less than expected, but SPORT have provided other figures on Thursday morning that show how serious the club’s lastest sporting hiccup on the pitch can prove off it.

Barca have earned €19mn ($18.5mn) so far in the group stage made up of €15.6mn ($15.2mn) for qualifying for the competition, €2.8mn ($2.7mn) for their only victory against Viktoria Plzen, and €930,000 ($904,000) for last night’s draw against Inter.

Two wins in their two remaining games will be worth €5.6mn ($5.4mn) more even if Inter knock them out, but the Nerazzurri and similar outfits that advance will earn €9.6mn ($9.3mn) and then €10.6mn ($10.3mn) for getting to the quarter-finals.

This means Barca lose out on €20.2mn ($19.6mn) overall not counting other income such as matchday revenue and television rights.

Semi-final qualification is worth €12.5mn ($12.1mn) to four teams and the final €15.5mn ($15mn) more to two with the winner taking home an extra €4.5mn ($4.4mn).

To focus on Real Madrid’s example from last season, the Blaugrana’s arch enemies earned €52.7mn ($51.2mn) for the run to their record 14th Champions League title in Paris and a whopping €75mn ($73mn) when other related outcome has been factored in.

For Barca, who are in debts exceeding $1bn, not even clinching the Europa League can make up for the losses incurred by those that aren’t capable of mounting a solid campaign in what is often the only tournament that matters.