FC Barcelona can easily raise over $80 million by doing well in their Champions League group and successfully qualifying for the knockout phase for the first time in three seasons.
Though there was a lot of hard work behind the development in winning La Liga last term, and therefore being placed in Pot 1, the UCL draw in Monaco last month was kind to the Blaugrana where in past years it had been harsh.
This time round, they were drawn into Group H with Tuesday’s opposition at the Montjuic Stadium for their competition opener, Royal Antwerp, plus Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk.
With all due respect to their opposition, Barca have a strong chance of winning all six games from now until the end of year. As Mundo Deportivo points out, this would bring in a much-needed €16.8 million ($18 million) alone at €2.8 million ($3 million) per victory.
This sum can compliment the €15.64 million ($16.7 million) coming the Catalans’ way for merely competing in the group stage, and there is also a whopping €34.11 million ($36.5 million) due for being third in a historical ranking of the best performing teams over the past 10 years.
Though they have not gone all the way since 2015 when they beat Juventus in Berlin, Barca reached the semi-finals in 2012, 2013 and 2019 when they were topped by eventual winners Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Liverpool in those respective years.
In this attempt, Barca won’t even have to go as far in the competition to become much richer as a last 16 showing head coach Xavi Hernandez is aiming for primarily brings in an extra €9.6 million ($10.2 million).
If Barca win all six of their group games then, their total earnings will be €76.05 million ($81.3 million) which will be greatly welcomed in an era of struggling to navigate Financial Fair Play limits.
The money could also help make winter signings, and guarantee that Brazilian teen sensation Vitor Roque’s arrival from Athletico Paranaense happens as originally planned in January 2024.
What’s worth bearing in mind though is that Barca have only earned 18 points from six group games once before.
This occurred in 2002/2003, when Barca looked to be one of the favourites in that edition of the tournament until they met later runners-up Juventus in the quarter-finals who dumped them out.
The next best points tallies came in 2005-2006 and 2011-2012 when they achieved 16. As mentioned, Barca were knocked out in the semis by Chelsea in 2012 before the west Londoners went on to beat Bayern Munich at the Allianz on penalties for their maiden UCL crown.
In 2005/2006, however, a Ronaldinho-led outfit containing a young Lionel Messi and current manager Xavi trudged on to beat Arsenal in Paris and seal the big-eared trophy for the second time in club history.
