How much money Barca missed out on by not taking Antwerp clash seriously

Barcelona decided not to take their final Champions League group stage match too seriously with Xavi leaving out Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan and Ronald Araujo in his initial squad for the game.

The Barcelona board vetoed the manager and all three players were later called up. But Xavi stuck to his earlier decision - only Lewandowksi started and Araujo didn't even play.

Backed by a roaring crowd in Belgium, Royal Antwerp seized the opportunity to beat a weakened Barca 3-2 at home. It was a day they would never forget.

But the defeat was a heavy one for Barca financially and psychologically. According to The Athletic, Barca missed out on a whopping €2.8million for failing to beat Antwerp. They also lost out on the €930,000 they should've gotten for a draw.

In the aftermath of the game, Spanish media went berserk with some staggering reports making the rounds. Some claimed Deco wanted Xavi sacked while others insisted his days are now numbered.

However, it seems like the club have taken the financial blow with a straight face and chosen to back their manager. After all, Barca will make infinitely more than what they lost at Antwerp if they go on to win the competition next May.