The Fortín seemed set for the title chase, yet managed only one point from its final six games, and other results shattered its hopes.
In the closing stretch of the Torneo Clausura, Vélez emerged as the starkest gap between hype and reality. After a dominant win over Central Córdoba raised hopes of a final‑table showdown, a contentious draw with San Lorenzo stripped them of title contention, and a crushing defeat to Unión in Santa Fe plunged them into a abyss. For my money, the season exposed glaring flaws in the squad’s consistency.
The April 15 loss dropped Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s side to fifth, behind Gimnasia, which had leapt ahead after beating Belgrano. Each new round raised hopes for extra spots opened by repeat champions above them. Then, Luis Díaz’s last‑minute equaliser for Independiente Rivadavia against Gimnasia de Mendoza lifted the Lepra above both, leaving the Platense Wolf as the final team awaiting additional tickets.
Can Vélez rebound in the Sudamericana and restore its glory?
Finishing sixth overall guarantees Vélez a return to international play via the Sudamericana after a year’s hiatus—unless they clinch the Clausura and earn a Libertadores berth. The club now savours a bittersweet reward, haunted by points lost to fine margins and the lingering question of what might have been.
At present, the twins and their allies await confirmation of a third‑ or fourth‑place finish in Group A, which secures home advantage at José Amalfitani for the round of sixteen. Today’s podium matchup pits them against Belgrano, but if Lanús beats Central Córdoba by two or more goals on Sunday, Vélez will face Barracas Central instead.