Arsenal's potential financial windfall from reaching Champions League semi-finals
The Gunners put in a bloody impressive performance against those muppets Real Madrid last week, smashing them 3-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. Mikel Arteta's lads are on the cusp of the final four in Europe's elite club competition, and with that comes a tasty boost in prize money.
Liverpool were knocked out in the last 16, while Aston Villa, despite putting up a decent fight, were sent packing on Tuesday night. That leaves Arsenal as the only remaining Premier League side in the Champions League, and they're going for glory in the beautiful game.
Champions League prize money
Here's the lowdown on the dosh up for grabs in the Champions League this season:
- All 36 clubs that competed in the League Phase pocketed €18.62m (£15.6m) just for turning up
- €2.1m (£1.7m) was dished out per win and €700,000 (£587k) per draw during that phase
- Each position in the table was worth €275,000 (£230k), meaning the team that finished second bottom in 35th got double that at €550,000 (£461k), up to €9.9m (£8.3m) for the table-toppers
- The top eight earned a €2m (£1.6m) bonus, with clubs finishing ninth to 16th banking €1m (£830k)
- Reaching the play-offs bags £840,000
Champions League knockouts prize money
- Knockout round play-offs – £840,000
- Last-16 – £9.3m
- Quarter-finals – £10.6m
- Semi-finals – £12.7m
- Runner-up – £15.6m
- Winner – £21.1m
Aston Villa and Liverpool both made it to the last 16, but the Reds were sent packing by PSG, earning them £9.3million. Villa secured £10.6million for reaching the quarter-finals before suffering the same fate as Liverpool against PSG.
Arsenal, though, look set to progress to the semis with their commanding lead over Real Madrid. If the Gunners get through, they'll pocket a cool £12.7million.
The Champions League winners will rake in £21.1million, while the runners-up will have to make do with £15.6million. Performance-related prize money accounts for 37.5 per cent (€914m, £766m) of the total pot, with UEFA's new 'value pillar' taking up 35 per cent to split up broadcast revenue, and the remaining 27.5 per cent being shared between the 36 clubs.
