Sarmiento and Tigre play their last card to reach the Apertura play-offs | OneFootball

El Verde is playing its last card in Junín, while Matador needs to end its bad streak to break into the top eight.

On Matchday 16 of the 2026 Apertura Tournament, Sarmiento de Junín will host Tigre this Saturday starting at 7:15 p.m. at the Eva Perón Stadium. The match will be crucial for both sides, who come into it with qualification on the line in Zone B.

The team coached by Facundo Sava is going through a delicate spell. After stringing together three straight wins, it suffered two consecutive defeats that left it on the ropes. With 16 points and sitting in 11th place, El Verde is four points off the qualification zone and has no choice but to win to head into the final matchday with a chance.

Defeats to Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Rosario Central complicated the outlook, but in Junín they still believe in a comeback.

Tigre, forced to respond

On the other side, Tigre is not arriving in its best form either. The 1-1 draw against Huracán extended its winless run to 11 matches, a troubling mark with the tournament nearing its end.

Even so, Matador is ninth and just one point behind Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, the last team currently in the round of 16. That is why it depends on itself: if it wins in Junín, it will move into the qualification zone.

In addition, the Victoria side also has its eye on the Copa Sudamericana, where it will host América de Cali on Thursday in a key clash for its ambitions.

With pressure, urgency, and clear objectives, the showdown in Junín promises to be a true early final in the fight for the playoffs.

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