The result that could change River's opponent in the Apertura last 16 | OneFootball

After the unexpected defeat to Atlético Tucumán to close out the regular season, River is already looking ahead to the round of 16 of the Apertura Tournament, a stage for which it had already qualified in advance. However, what is still not settled is its opponent, and everything depends on another result that could change the bracket at the last minute.

As things stand right now, Eduardo Coudet’s team would be facing San Lorenzo at the Monumental next weekend. But that matchup is not set in stone: there is a scenario that could change everything. If Defensa y Justicia beats Gimnasia de Mendoza away from home by two goals or more this Monday (5 p.m.), it will move up in the standings and become River’s opponent instead of El Ciclón.

If that happens, Unión will be eliminated from the playoffs, El Ciclón will drop to eighth place, and seventh place—that is, the team that would have to face River—would be none other than El Halcón de Varela.

In other words, River currently has a defined opponent, but one that is still conditional. Goal difference appears as the key factor that could alter the order and, with it, the round-of-16 matchup. Defensa has 19 points (-2), while San Lorenzo has 22 points (0); that is why, for the equation to change, Defensa will need to win by at least two goals.

Regardless of who ends up being the opponent, the setting will not change much in terms of home-field advantage: the match will be played at the Monumental, where the Núñez side will look to take the first step in the playoffs.

As for the schedule, the league has already confirmed that River will play on Sunday, whoever the opponent may be. The scheduling responds to the international calendar: River will have to travel to Venezuela to face Carabobo on Thursday in the Copa Sudamericana, while San Lorenzo will play Deportivo Cuenca on Tuesday in Ecuador. Defensa y Justicia, meanwhile, has an advantage in that regard, as it has no continental competition.

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