Boca and River could face off again in the Torneo Clausura playoffs | OneFootball

The playoff matchups for the Torneo Clausura have already been set, and Boca and River ended up on the same side of the bracket, meaning they could face each other again for the third time this year.

River finished its participation in the regular phase with a draw against Vélez, which left them without a chance to qualify for the 2026 Copa Libertadores, but with a secured ticket to the playoffs.

Boca, meanwhile, completed the last matchday with a victory over Tigre that allowed them to secure first place in their group.

The bracket setup determined that Boca and River would be on the same side, although separated by different sections: Claudio Úbeda's team in the upper part and Marcelo Gallardo's in the lower part.

Under this arrangement, they could only meet in the semifinals, provided both teams win all their previous rounds. The most recent meeting between them was the 2-0 victory for the “Xeneize” at La Bombonera, where the home team secured their qualification for the next Copa Libertadores.

In the round of 16, Boca will face Talleres, who finished eighth in the other group, while River will visit Racing, third in their group. If both advance, they will need to get through the quarterfinals, and only then would their paths cross in a semifinal that would once again be played at La Bombonera due to the “Xeneize’s” sporting advantage after leading their group.

The final, on the other hand, will be played at the Estadio Madres de Ciudades and will decide not only the Clausura champion, but also the team that will earn a direct ticket to the 2026 Copa Libertadores.

In this regard, if River does not become champion, they will hope for Rosario Central, Boca, or Argentinos Juniors to win the championship, so that a spot is freed up and the “Millonario,” who finished fourth in the Annual Table, can qualify for the playoff round of the “Gloria Eterna.”

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