Estudiantes edged Flamengo 3-2 on penalties and now prepares to face Palmeiras, a development River fans dread as it threatens their international standing.
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Argentine football rivalries flare as Estudiantes lands in the Libertadores final, pitting them directly against River, both four‑time champions of the competition.
When you tally titles from both professional and amateur eras, River still towers over Estudiantes, with only Boca capable of challenging that lead.
The routes for River to the 2027 Libertadores are narrow—can they turn the tide?
To chase a 2027 Libertadores spot, River must rack up points in the Clausura group stage, targeting wins over Racing, Boca and Aldosivi; every tally is crucial for Ponzio’s squad.
Securing those points also boosts River’s position in the annual table, which hands out future Libertadores berths and squeezes clubs like Instituto, Gimnasia, Vélez, Independiente Rivadavia, Central, Argentinos Juniors and Boca along the way.
River’s odds of reaching the 2027 Libertadores are thin; they’ll likely settle for a second straight Sudamericana run, a sting after splurging on big names. For my money, that spending looks reckless.