The new Champions League, with its renewed format, has aroused great satisfaction among the clubs, promising a staggering haul. However, the increasing number of matches is putting a lot of pressure on players. Complaining about this looks like a form of "crocodile tears", considering the revenues generated. However, Italian football is set to take a hit, with three teams excluded from the playoffs, contributing to a substantial drop in profits. Spain have overtaken Italy in the UEFA rankings, boasting three teams still in the competition in the competition. The possibility of having five Italian representatives now seems utopian, with direct repercussions on Serie A, which sees the fight for the Champions League limited to the top four positions only. This edition of the Champions League, the richest ever, guarantees 2.5 billion euros, with the winner who could collect around 150 million. However, Italian football has only partially benefited from these large sums: only Inter have the chance to continue in the tournament. The Nerazzurri, already qualified for the round of 16, have accumulated over €90 million, placing second in the box office rankings, surpassed only by Liverpool with €99 million. Inter's market pool is even better than Real Madrid's, Barcelona's, and Arsenal's. Juventus and Atalanta have collected about 65 million, while Milan has stopped at 60 million, all earned just for making it to the playoffs. The situation invites us to reflect on how much is lost, in economic terms, by prematurely abandoning the "goose that lays the golden eggs" of the Champions League. With the absence of a fifth team, Italy also says goodbye to the 35 million collected by Bologna this year.