Rangers are still set to receive a cash reward from UEFA despite their failure to close out a win over Benfica on Thursday night.
The Gers led 3-1 with 15 minutes remaining in Lisbon and the Portuguese giants were down to ten men following Nicolas Otamendi’s earlier red card. Yet, 77th and 91st-minute goals from Rafa Silva and Darwin Nuñez secured the hosts an unlikely point.
It was a disappointing result for Steven Gerrard and co. given the dominant position they had held in the game.
However, they are still top of the Group D at the halfway mark, despite two of their opening three fixtures coming away from home.
What’s more, while a win would have brought a greater financial reward, the Gers are still set to receive a six-figure sum from UEFA following the draw.
The Times recently reported that the governing body had written to clubs to announce their intention to make minor cuts to prize money funds over the next five years, so the exact amount the Gers are set to receive cannot be confirmed at this time.
However, during the 2019/20 campaign, a draw in the Europa League group stages was worth €190k (approximately £172k) and football-coefficient.eu asserts that the same reward is being offered this season.
Darwin Nuñez’s injury-time equaliser likely cost Rangers something in the region of €380k (£343k), but a €190k (£172k) reward still takes the club’s estimated overall 2020/21 UEFA prize money over the €6m mark.
When factoring in a ten-year coefficient payment and bonuses for progressing through three rounds of qualifying prior to wins over Standard Liege and Lech Poznan, Football-coefficient.eu estimates that the Gers have now earned €6,147,170 (approximately £5,551,304).
With three group stage fixtures remaining, it’s been a lucrative campaign so far.
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