The Millonarios have been shut out of the continental elite via the Annual Table, leaving only a Clausura title as their lifeline.
A loss at the Bombonera against Boca deepened River’s woes, and after the fifteenth round the club learned it can no longer reach the 2027 Copa Libertadores through the Annual Table.
Finishing eighth with 52 points, the side still has one regular‑season match left but cannot climb into the qualifying slots.
Interim boss Leonardo Ponzio now has a single route to the next Libertadores: win the Clausura. The Red Band is already in the playoffs, so it must advance and claim the crown.
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River must capture the 2026 Clausura title
The blow came as Independiente Rivadavia of Mendoza beat Banfield, pushing Lepra to 56 points – a tally River can’t match. Even a victory over Aldosivi would only lift Núñez to a possible sixth place overall.
Even if top‑placed teams free up spots, River’s scenario stays unchanged. The club has secured a 2027 Copa Sudamericana berth, and missing the Clausura title means another year in South America’s second‑tier tournament. In my view, settling for Sudamericana is a disappointment for a club of this stature.
Not the Libertadores 2027: the truth about the ninth‑place team’s chances in the LFP.
Home defeats at the Monumental: a key to the collapse
One reason for the erratic season was River’s home form. They suffered six defeats at the Monumental in 2026, ranking among the eight clubs that lost most often on their own turf.
The heaviest loss came 4‑1 to Tigre. They also fell 1‑0 in the Superclásico to Boca and suffered the same score against Atlético Tucumán, a side that hadn’t won away in over a year.
The Clausura added more setbacks, including defeats to Barracas Central and Rosario Central during a four‑game losing streak that marked one of the club’s worst season starts.
Their most recent slip in Núñez was a 2‑1 loss to Huracán, with Ponzio already in charge as interim coach. Away, they dropped only five matches, yet the overall performance fell short of annual‑table ambitions.
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