Manchester United return to the scene of the greatest moment in their club’s history on Thursday night for a Europa League tie that would typically top the billing of any Champions League week.
But by being in the secondary competition, it will also underline the ever-increasing financial hit clubs take by missing out on being part of the big show.
Erik ten Hag’s team will face the La Liga leaders in the first leg of their round of 32 tie at Camp Nou at 8pm on Thursday night. But their run to this stage has been worth only €12.2m compared to the Champions League favourites earning between €60m to €80m for progressing from the group stages.
United will not even make that amount should they go all the way in the Europa League - although the real top prize is a guaranteed spot in next season’s Champions League. The club also lost millions in commercial payments from missing out on the Champions League.
Shirt sponsor TeamViewer, who have agreed an early termination of their deal, and kit manufacturer Adidas both had performance-related bonus clauses in their contracts that would have seen United get additional payments for playing in the top competition.
It emphasises the importance of finishing in the top four again this season with the gap expected to increase in future years.
UEFA’s total revenue distribution for their four club competitions this season - also including the Conference League and Super Cup - is an eye-watering €3.5bn and €2.75bn of that is spent on prize money.
But more than €2bn of that goes to the Champions League, with the entire Europa League pool worth €465m. Real Madrid banked more than €100m for last season’s Champions League win, where they defeated Liverpool in the final, while Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt made only about €40m.
Ten Hag must plan without January signing Marcel Sabitzer owing to the central midfielder picking up three yellow cards in the Champions League group stages for Bayern Munich, while centre half Lisandro Martinez is also banned for a trio of bookings. Christian Eriksen is among four players out with injury, though winger Antony could be declared fit.
Barca will be without Ousmane Dembele and Sergio Busquets but come into the tie having won 15 of their past 16 games in all competitions, drawing the other. Xavi’s side have also conceded just once in their past seven matches and they lead Real Madrid by 11 points in the league.
