As the end of the Regular Phase of the Clausura Tournament approaches, the race for spots in international cups and the fight to avoid relegation are becoming increasingly intense.
With nine matches remaining to conclude the tournament, games are constantly altering the standings in the different zones. This Saturday, five matches were scheduled, starting with Aldosivi’s victory, which beat Banfield 3-1 in Mar del Plata, followed by Gimnasia La Plata’s win over Tigre 2-1 in El Bosque. Later, Boca Juniors drew 2-2 against Gimnasia de Mendoza, resulting in the loss of two points in the final minutes. Despite the draw, Boca remains in the playoff qualification zone and has moved up to third place in the Annual Table, aiming to qualify for the Copa Libertadores 2027. Boca and Vélez share 41 points, although Boca has a better goal difference (+12 to +10).
In addition, San Lorenzo, which is considering bringing back Ruben Darío Insua after Néstor Gorosito’s departure, won 1-0 against Talleres, with a goal from Alexis Cuello in the 17th minute of the second half. The matchday also included the participation of the Fortín, which will face Estudiantes de La Plata later. Regarding international qualifications, Belgrano de Córdoba has already secured its spot in the Libertadores 2027, along with the Clausura champion, the Argentine Cup champion, and the top three in the Annual Table (currently Independiente Rivadavia, Argentinos Juniors, and Boca). Meanwhile, the fourth to ninth places in the overall standings will qualify for the Sudamericana 2026, which includes Vélez, Gimnasia La Plata, Rosario Central, Estudiantes de La Plata, Instituto de Córdoba, and River Plate, the latter replacing Belgrano, which goes to the Libertadores as champion.
The eighth matchday of the championship began on Friday with Sarmiento de Junín’s 2-0 victory against Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, complicating their situation in the Primera División. Subsequently, Belgrano and Platense drew their respective matches 1-1 against Huracán and Deportivo Riestra. On Sunday, the rosarino classic between Rosario Central and Newell’s is expected, followed by matches between Central Córdoba and Independiente, Lanús and Defensa y Justicia, and River Plate against Independiente Rivadavia. The matchday will conclude on Monday with two matches: Barracas Central-Argentinos Juniors and Unión-Instituto. At the bottom of the Annual Table, Estudiantes de Río Cuarto and Aldosivi find themselves in a precarious position, along with Deportivo Riestra, Central Córdoba de Santiago del Estero, Atlético Tucumán, Platense, Banfield, and Newell’s, all of whom are seeking to escape the relegation zone.
Source: www.infobae.com
