Mouth beat 2-0 Tiger in the Bombonera and closed the regular phase as first in Zone A, with the peace of mind of ensuring their presence in the Libertadores 2026. In the middle of the playing field, Leandro Paredes He says with pure reflection: “What did I give to Boca? I think it was confidence. Taking responsibility away from many so that they can enjoy being in the biggest club in America.”
A while before, River tied 0-0 with Velez in Liniers and qualified for the Clausura playoffs in sixth position (for now) in Zone B, so they will define as a visitor, all knowing that today they are out of next year’s Libertadores, and that they will only play if they are champions of this tournament or if they are Central, Boca or Argentinos Juniors. At a press conference, Marcelo Gallardo declares, full of anger: “I’m not going to give up until I find a way around it. If it doesn’t happen now, it will be tomorrow and if not, the day after tomorrow. In the meantime, we have to hold on. Anyone who is weak, can’t be here. You can tell me that we are a disaster, that we don’t give two passes in a row, but I’m not going to allow you to question my professionalism or self-demand.”
It is the football contrast that exists today between Boca de Paredes and River de Gallardo in the local tournament of the world champion country.
Boca won 5 of the last 6 games and now all series up to and including the semifinals will be defined as local (the final is played in a neutral stadium). Since Paredes arrived, the internal climate changed and the team slowly began to evolve, to the point that it did not feel the sporting impact of the death of its coach. Miguel Russo. What’s more, his field assistant Claudio Ubeda He continues to establish himself game by game as the main coach, with winks from the players themselves. And he recovered Exequiel Zeballos. And now, in this victory against Tigre, he played a few minutes again Edinson Cavaniwho had not done so since September 14. The Uruguayan scored the second goal, from a penalty. The first had been Ayrton Costa header, after an exact corner Walls.
River lost 9 of the last 12 gamesdespite the fact that in the last year it invested more than 50 million dollars in reinforcement. Gallardo does not find the team and ends up using too many young, inexperienced players. It is a sign that the great footballers, those he chose, do not respond. The team against Vélez seemed to get going in the first 15 minutes, but then it dissipated and ended in that already unbearable state of hybridity.
It all happened on a Sunday in which Racing achieved an agonizing 1-0 victory against Newell’s in Rosario, with a goal from Tomás Conechny, which allowed it to take a giant step in the more than even Zone A.
With the relegations already confirmed of Godoy Cruz and San Martín de San Juan, the Clausura regular phase will conclude today, with four games that will finish defining the playoff table: Defensa y Justicia vs. Independiente Rivadavia, Belgrano vs Unión, Barracas Central vs Huracán and Platense vs Gimnasia.
The top eight in each group will meet in the playoffs. In Group A, Boca finished as the leader with 19 points, followed by Racing with 25. While Unión, Central Córdoba and Argentinos appear with 24. Then, Barracas and Tigre have 22 and Estudiantes have 21.
Read also
In turn, Group B was already won by Rosario Central with 31 points, followed by Lanús with 30, Deportivo Riestra with 28 and Vélez with 26. Then, San Lorenzo appears with 24, River with 22, Talleres with 21 and Sarmiento with 20.
Now comes the most exciting part. Boca will try to confirm its growth. River will seek resurrection
A couple of qualifiers remain to be resolved, something that will determine the final locations in the bracket. Today we will know how the mata-mata are arranged.
The playoffs will be played in a single match, with overtime and penalties to break the tie. The four best from each zone will be local. Only the final will be played in a neutral stadium. After all, now comes the most exciting part. Boca will try to confirm its growth. River will seek resurrection.
