Independiente aim to seal play-off spot at Deportivo Riestra | OneFootball

El Rojo visits Malevo this Friday with a chance to move to within one step of qualification. They are on the rise and want to keep their great run going.

Independiente will face a key clash this Friday against Deportivo Riestra, starting at 5:00 PM at the Guillermo Laza Stadium, on Matchday 16 of the 2026 Apertura Tournament. Gustavo Quinteros’ team is in full growth and has a great opportunity to secure its place in the playoffs.

El Rojo has put an uneven start behind it and is going through its best moment in the championship. Over the last month, it has recorded three wins in four matches, including the derby victory over Racing Club, the draw against Boca Juniors at La Bombonera, and the solid win against Defensa y Justicia.

With 21 points, Independiente sits sixth in Zone A and controls its own destiny to finish among the top eight. A win in Bajo Flores would leave it all but through to the round of 16, with just one matchday left before the end of the regular phase.

As for the team, Quinteros will have to make one adjustment: Ignacio Malcorra will not be in the squad due to ankle discomfort after playing through injections in recent matches. His place would be taken by Lautaro Millán, in a lineup that will look to maintain its intensity and strong collective play.

On the other side, Riestra comes in battered. The Bajo Flores side is still winless in the tournament and sits at the bottom of the table, making it an accessible opponent on paper, though one in need of points to snap the streak.

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