With six rounds remaining, River’s path to next year’s Libertadores is tightening. Ponzio’s side must beat Estudiantes (RC) to climb the annual table.
River vs. Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, EN VIVO: qué canal lo pasa por TV y dónde ver online
In a roller‑coaster season, River’s margin for error shrinks as the 2027 Libertadores goal looms. Although they have one game fewer, they sit 11th in the annual table and are a long way from the top three that earn direct tickets.
Since Ponzio arrived, River rattled off wins over Banfield, Independiente Rivadavia and Atlético Tucumán, but a loss to Huracán and early‑season slips now force Núñez’s squad to drop points rarely and hope the leaders drop theirs. they must virtually avoid defeat for the rest of the campaign and rely on the teams above dropping points.
Last season, a comparable format saw Argentinos finish third with 57 points, fifteen fewer than River’s current tally.
Waiting for tonight’s clash with Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, River sit on 42 points. Looking ahead to 2026, they’d likely need about 57 points to hit the 60 % threshold that has historically guaranteed Libertadores qualification.
If the bar stays level, the squad must collect 15 of the remaining 18 points while hoping Argentinos, Boca, Vélez and Independiente Rivadavia – or any surprise challengers – don’t slip away. For my money, River must treat every remaining match as a final.
River’s schedule still includes a duel with Sarmiento, two classics against Racing and Boca – the latter a direct rival – plus away trips to Belgrano and Aldosivi, one of the league’s bottom two alongside today’s opponent.
But there’s another route to a direct ticket. What’s the alternative path to the next Libertadores? Winning the Clausura tournament. Though they sit tenth in Zone B and miss the playoffs, a victory would lift them into contention.
If they fail to win the title or reach the annual podium, River’s only hope is to finish as high as possible and rely on rivals freeing slots – up to three could open, though two depend on Xeneize clinching the Sudamericana or the Copa Argentina. The last would arise if one of the top three in the annual table captures the Clausura. If none of these scenarios materialize, they’ll have to settle for another Sudamericana run.
What River Has Left in the Clausura Regular Season
- Matchday 12 | Saturday 10/10 at 21:30 | Estudiantes de Río Cuarto (A)
- Matchday 11 | Wednesday 14/10 at 19:00 | Sarmiento (H)
- Matchday 13 | Weekend of 18/10 | Belgrano (H)
- Matchday 14 | Weekend of 25/10 | Racing (A)
- Matchday 15 | Weekend of 01/11 | Boca (H)
- Matchday 16 | Weekend of 08/11 | Aldosivi (H)