PSV is also doing itself a great favor in financial terms with the win in the third preliminary round of the Champions League against FC Midtjylland. By reaching the play-off round, in which Benfica is the opponent, the club assures itself of five million euros. That amount is then paid out to the loser, who then flows to the group stage of the Europa League. With a win in the play-off round, the European year will only become really financially attractive for PSV with the extremely lucrative group stage of the Champions League around the corner.
Surviving the double confrontation with the Turkish Galatasaray in the second preliminary round was not in itself extremely lucrative for PSV with a premium of 200,000 euros. The fact that the Noord-Brabants had therefore secured European football until at least the winter break, already gave the club the necessary financial guarantee. If FC Midtjylland had been a size too big over two matches, PSV would have moved on to the group stage of the Europa League. That is also the destination of the people from Eindhoven when Roger Schmidt’s team is eliminated by Benfica.
The Europa League yields a starting premium of 3.62 million euros and a TV premium of 1 million euros, while PSV can expect another 4 to 5 million euros based on the club coefficient. Each win in the group stage then yields 630,000 euros, a draw 210,000 euros. However, PSV hopes to qualify for the group stage of the European billion-dollar ball at the expense of Benfica.
The 32 clubs in the group stage of the Champions League will receive a starting premium of 15.64 million euros. In addition, an amount is distributed on the basis of the ten-year club coefficient. In the case of PSV, that would amount to approximately 12.5 million euros. Ajax is a lot higher on that ranking and receives about 20 million euros as a participant in the Champions League based on its coefficient. There is also a TV pot available of just over one million euros, which both clubs would divide if PSV makes it.
With good results, clubs can make the cash register in the Champions League ring again. A win brings in 2.8 million euros, a draw brings in 930,000 euros. Qualification for the eighth final is worth 9.6 million euros, the quarter-final 10.6 million euros, the semi-final 12.5 million euros and the final 15.5 million euros. The winner of the tournament has 20 million euros ready.