With just four rounds remaining, River’s route to next year’s premier continental tournament is narrowing. Tonight’s clash with Belgrano is crucial.
River va por un triunfo clave contra un Belgrano que pelea por la punta
In an uneven season, River’s margin for error shrinks as the 2027 Libertadores dream looms. A draw against Sarmiento in Junín left them flat‑footed, squandering a prime chance to close the gap. Tonight, against Belgrano, they get one last shot to re‑enter the hunt.
They sit tenth now, outside the Sudamericana spots and far from the top three that hand direct Libertadores tickets.
Since Leonardo Ponzio’s arrival, River has stringed wins over Banfield, Independiente Rivadavia, Atlético Tucumán and beaten Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, yet setbacks against Huracán, a draw with Sarmiento and early‑season losses force the Núñez side to capture every point remaining. For my money, the pressure is mounting on Ponzio. They’ll also need rivals above them to drop points.
Looking back at last season, a comparable format saw Argentinos Juniors finish third with 57 points, exactly 11 fewer than River’s current tally.
So, what’s the outlook? River have amassed 46 points. Projecting forward, they’d likely need about 57 points – roughly 60 % of the total – to secure a 2027 Libertadores slot, a target that has cleared the bar in the past three campaigns.
If that benchmark holds, the club must collect 11 of the 12 points still on offer and hope that Boca, Argentinos, Rosario Central, Independiente Rivadavia, Vélez or any surprise challengers slip up. Winning everything would push them past the target by a single point, while three wins and a draw keep hopes alive. Any other mix leaves them virtually out.
Beyond the Pirata, River’s schedule still features two classics versus Racing and Boca – the latter a direct rival – plus an away game at Aldosivi in the final stretch, one of the league’s bottom‑two fixtures.
But there’s another route to a direct ticket: winning the Clausura tournament. Although they sit ninth in Zone B and sit outside the playoffs, a victory in the pending match would lift them into contention.
If they fail to clinch the title or reach the annual podium, River’s only hope is to finish as high as possible and rely on rivals to free up spots. Up to three places could open, two depending on whether Boca wins the Sudamericana or the Argentine Cup, and another if a top‑three annual finisher also captures the Clausura. Without those scenarios, they’ll have to settle for another Sudamericana run. Can River still carve out a Sudamericana berth despite the odds?