Sarmiento and Tigre play their last cards for Apertura play-offs | OneFootball

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

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

The team managed by Facundo Sava is going through a difficult spell. After putting together three straight wins, it suffered two consecutive defeats that left it up against the ropes. With 16 points and sitting in 11th place, El Verde is four points behind the qualification spots and must win no matter what to go into the final matchday with a chance.

Defeats against 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 streak to 11 matches, a worrying mark heading into the final stretch of the tournament.

Even so, El 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 eyes 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 clash 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.