What River need to qualify for the Copa Libertadores | OneFootball

The crushing 2-0 defeat in the Superclásico against Boca significantly worsened River’s crisis, as their chances of qualifying for the next 2026 Copa Libertadores are becoming increasingly complicated. Although for now they remain in the playoff zone, tomorrow they could drop to Copa Sudamericana spots if Riestra or Argentinos win their matches. A look at the possible scenarios.

The first thing to consider is that three teams have already qualified for the continent’s most important club tournament: Platense (Apertura champion), Independiente Rivadavia (Copa Argentina champion), and Rosario Central, for securing first place in the annual standings. The remaining spots will be distributed as follows:

With the defeat in the Superclásico, Xeneize has now pulled seven points ahead and qualified for the Copa Libertadores group stage after two consecutive years without participating at that level. Meanwhile, Gallardo’s team is obliged to win against Vélez and even then has no guarantees of making it into the continent’s top competition.

Of course, if only one of the two teams chasing them by a single point, Riestra and Argentinos, overtakes them, River could be saved if any of the top three teams win the Torneo Clausura. That would free up a spot and the Millonario could return to Phase 2.

Bicho’s defeat in the Copa Argentina did not change the current scenario, but it did affect a possible one. The club from La Paternal could surpass River in the annual standings, but would not free up that spot as they fell just short of winning the title. Therefore, if they collect more points than the Millonario, they will surpass them in the 2025 standings and take away their Copa spot (whether playoff or group stage).

Nevertheless, the setback at La Bombonera for the Núñez side seriously complicated their chances, awaiting, as already mentioned, the matches of Riestra or Argentinos this Monday. Malevo will host Independiente while Bicho will face Belgrano at home. Both are one point behind the Muñeco’s team and if they overtake them in the table, they will temporarily knock them out of qualification, a situation that could be reversed again if one of the top teams wins the championship.

With six points left to play in the regular phase, River seems doomed to fight for a Libertadores spot against Malevo and the La Paternal team, but Racing and San Lorenzo, who have 50 points, two behind the Millonario (but with one more match played), could also join the race and dream of pulling off an upset.

Deportivo Riestra

Argentinos Juniors

San Lorenzo

Racing

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