Unión, all or nothing: Atenas's big win forces a survival decider | OneFootball

Unión, who needed Atenas to lose in order to secure their place in the National League, will have to keep waiting. The “Griego” won in Formosa.

The battle to stay in the National League has reached its hottest point, and Unión is now at the center of the scene. Atenas de Córdoba’s 84-82 win over La Unión de Formosa changed the outlook and left the Tate needing to put everything on the line in the final round.

The Córdoba team did what it had to do: win at all costs. And it managed it in dramatic fashion, with standout performances from Luciano González (20 points), Danjel Purifoy (18 and 10 rebounds), and Juan Cruz Oberto (17). That kept alive their hopes of avoiding the playout.

Unión, with no room for error

With this result, Unión is now under pressure. After the loss to Ferro, the red-and-white side will have to decide its fate this Sunday at Ángel Malvicino, when it hosts San Martín de Corrientes.

The equation is clear: it needs to win to avoid depending on anyone else and secure its place without any drama.

The relegation scenario

The format leaves no doubt: the teams that finish 18th and 19th will play in the relegation playout, a best-of-five series that determines one team to be relegated to Liga Argentina.

Argentino de Junín is already condemned to last place, so the other spot will be decided between Unión and Atenas.

What Atenas needs

The “Griego” still depends on a combination of results: it must beat Oberá Tenis Club away in the final round and hope for a Unión loss in Santa Fe.

If that happens, Atenas will avoid the playout and leave the Tate in a critical situation.

A final at the Malvicino

The ending will be all or nothing. Unión will have the pressure of its fans, but also the chance to decide its fate at home.

After the blow of Atenas’ victory, the margin has shrunk to the bare minimum. There are no more calculations or speculation: the Tate will have to answer on the court.

On Sunday, Ángel Malvicino will be the stage for a true final. And for Unión, there is no option other than to win.

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