The nightmare scenario that could see River miss out on Clausura play-offs | OneFootball

The defeat in the Superclásico not only marked another setback in a tumultuous year for River, but it also opened the door to a scenario as catastrophic as it is unlikely: being left out of the playoffs of the Torneo Clausura on the final matchday.

What seemed like a utopia a few matches ago is now difficult, but not impossible. After suffering their sixth defeat in the last seven matches against Boca, the Millonario is sixth with 21 points in Group B and could lose their ticket to the round of 16 if a combination of results occurs.

First things first: if they beat Vélez on Sunday, they qualify. If they draw, they would also make it to the knockout stage, as Sarmiento would have to win 10-0, San Martín 7-0—and also avoid relegation—and Gimnasia would need to win their remaining two matches with a total goal difference of 12-0. In other words, absurd results.

What needs to happen on the final matchday for River to be eliminated:

First of all, River must lose in their visit to Vélez at the Amalfitani. Based on that, the following external results must occur:

Talleres must win (against Instituto).

Sarmiento must win (against San Lorenzo).

San Martín de San Juan must win (against Aldosivi) and also avoid relegation.

Gimnasia must earn the remaining 6 points (against Vélez and Platense).

If all these results occur on matchday 16, River would fall to tenth place and, therefore, be eliminated in the regular phase of the Torneo Clausura. Even if San Martín were relegated and freed up their spot for that reason, Marcelo Gallardo's team could only rise to ninth place and would still be out of the playoffs.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.