At the Monumental stadium, River fell 2‑1 to Huracán in matchday 10 of the Clausura, snapping a three‑game winning streak and dropping out of the top eight in the annual table.
The season’s final stretch sees Leonardo Ponzio’s side eyeing a Libertadores berth via the cumulative standings, with six games left to fight for.
This is only the second 32‑match season counting toward the annual table, and mirroring 2025 shows the path to a 2027 Libertadores slot won’t be easy for the Millonario.
In 2025, Argentinos Juniors clinched the last Libertadores spot with 57 points. By parallel, River must add 15 points this campaign, while only 18 points remain up for grabs, leaving little margin for error.
If a current top‑three side lifts the Clausura crown, the freed annual slot passes to the fourth‑placed team, potentially lowering River’s point target. For my money, that extra slot could be the Millonario’s lifeline.
River’s road to qualification includes away trips against Boca, Instituto, Rosario Central and Gimnasia La Plata, though only the Boca clash will be on foreign soil.
Looking ahead, the Millonario faces Sarmiento (V), Estudiantes de Río Cuarto (L), Belgrano (V), Racing (L), Boca (V) and Aldosivi (V) as it chases at least a third‑place finish in the cumulative table.
Here’s the current annual table
- Independiente Rivadavia – 48 points – Libertadores/Champion
- Argentinos Juniors – 47 points – Libertadores
- Vélez Sarsfield – 45 points – Libertadores
- Boca Juniors – 44 points – Sudamericana
- Rosario Central – 43 points – Sudamericana
- Instituto – 43 points – Sudamericana
- Gimnasia La Plata – 43 points – Sudamericana
- River Plate – 42 points – Sudamericana
- Estudiantes – 41 points – Sudamericana
- Independiente – 41 points
- Belgrano – 39 points – (Libertadores via Apertura champion)
- Huracán – 38 points
- Lanús – 37 points
- Defensa – 37 points
- Gimnasia (M) – 36 points
- Sarmiento – 35 points
- Unión – 34 points
- Talleres – 34 points
- Barracas Central – 33 points
- San Lorenzo – 33 points
- Tigre – 32 points
- Racing – 29 points
- Newell’s – 28 points
- Atlético Tucumán – 27 points
- Banfield – 27 points
- Platense – 25 points
- Central Córdoba – 24 points
- Riestra – 21 points
- Aldosivi – 13 points
- Estudiantes (RC) – 11 points – RELEGATION
Key figures
- Huracán beat River 2‑1 at the Monumental in the Clausura.
- Leonardo Ponzio’s squad fell out of the group’s top eight.
- River must gather 15 of the 18 available points to reach Libertadores qualification. Can River pull off the surge and secure the spot?