[Translate to English:] Bundesliga on the up

[Translate to English:] The study predicts that although the Italian top flight is expected to generate €1.43 billion in revenue in the 2008-09 season, the third-placed Bundesliga is just €10 million behind in the projections and may surpass Serie A if German clubs succeed in the Champions League.

The report said that: "The narrow margin between the two leagues may be closed if the German clubs competing in the Champions League achieve better results than the Italian clubs, earning higher UEFA prize money". It went on to add that most of the revenue would come from television and sponsorship deals, ticketing, royalties and advertising.

By contrast, revenues in Serie A are expected to fall by two per cent from the previous season as numerous stadiums are in need of an overhaul and foreign investors are hesitant to put money into soccer clubs. A row over television rights also risks overshadowing the start of the championship this weekend.

The Premier League continues to top the chart with estimated revenues of about €2.4 billion in the 2008-09 season. According to StageUp, however, player wages tend to consume most of the increase in revenue.