Barcelona playing for place in Europa League semifinal... and €15.6m
There is a financial element to progress in the Europa League for Barça as well
FC Barcelona welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to Camp Nou on Thursday with a place in the semifinal of the Europa League at stake.
After a draw at Deutsche Bank Park last weekend, Xavi Hernandez's side are obliged to win to make the next round -- but aside from the sporting side of things, there is also a financial element.
Barça's premature exit from the Champions League was a blow to their budget which can only be made up by Europa League success and a European Super Cup win.
If they win both titles, Barça will make 15.6 million euros that, added to the 3.3 million euros from getting through the last round, will take them close to the 20.2m budgeted for European participation this season on top of the television money and group stage prize money from the Champions League.
Reaching the semifinal of the Europa League will bring in 2.5m, playing the final another 4.6m and winning the trophy another 4m plus the chance to play in the Super Cup -- 3.5m for taking part and another 1m for winning it.
That's the other side of the coin facing Barça against Frankfurt. So far they have made 25.47m in prize money: 15.64m for the group stage of the Champions League and will also get their share of the UEFA market pool, which will not be less than 30m.
