Barcelona will need another miracle in the Champions League to avoid missing out on a staggering €21million - which the club have already budgeted for.
Xavi Hernandez 's side came into their clash with Inter Milan on Wednesday knowing that it was a must win. Unfortunately for much of the 92, 302 spectators inside the Camp Nou, a thrilling 3-3 draw to place which leaves Barca on the brink of relegation to the Europa League for the second successive season.
Unless Inter spectacularly lose at home to Group C minnows Viktoria Plzen in two weeks' time, then Barcelona will have already been demoted before they even kick off against Bayern Munich, who've already qualified for the knockout stages. And the looming blow isn't just a concern on the pitch for the Catalan club, but also in the boardroom.
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Camp Nou chiefs last Sunday presented their budget for the current season worth an eye-watering 1.25billion. The board of directors factored in that Barca would not only reach the round-of-16 in the Champions League, but the quarter-finals too.
But with their hopes fading into fantasy, Blaugrana officials are on course to have the equivalent of £18.4million swiped from their books - with the club still enduring financial hardship. And there's no silver lining when it comes to the economics, as even the potential prize money for going all the way in the Europa League - a competition for which they'd still need to win a play-off in order to enter in February - wouldn't equal that sum.
Despite sitting top of La Liga ahead of facing old foes Real Madrid away from home in El Clasico on Sunday, the mood at the Camp Nou is now a glum one. "I'm very disappointed, sad, frustrated, I'm angry." boss Xavi declared post-match. "I have to be self-critical, we don't deserve to play in the Champions League.
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"It hurts me, but it's the truth. I apologise to the fans because we made the mistakes, we had set our minds not to fail, and we have failed, so we have to apologise to the fans, who have been wonderful. I want to tell them that we will work to turn this situation around and win titles."
Robert Lewandowski 's brace wasn't enough to salvage a dramatic victory, as Barcelona were forced to come from behind twice. After Ousmane Dembele gave the hosts a slender 1-0 lead at half-time, Inter hit back with two quick-fire goals after the break.
Star signing Lewandowski notched his first to make it 2-2, only for Nerazzurri winger Robin Gosens to restore Inter's advantage a mere seven minutes later. Lewandowski soon came to the rescue again to head home an equaliser in the 92nd minute, but the damage had already been done, despite the Pole's brilliance and Frenkie de Jong 's inspired performance as a substitute.
It now seems inevitable that the Camp Nou will have to welcome back Thursday night football.
