Unión decide their fate: direct qualification or 48-hour agony | OneFootball

The ninth matchday of the Liga Profesional de Fútbol Torneo Apertura will have a particular feature that makes it unique: it will be, at the same time, a rescheduled round and the end of the regular season. That fixture list, which was put on hold in March due to the strike called by the AFA, now returns carrying decisive weight, especially for Unión.

Unión, between opportunity and uncertainty

Unión reaches this stage after drawing with Vélez, a result that brought back positive feelings, but not mathematical certainty. Today they are in the qualification zone, but they still have not secured their place in the playoffs.

On Saturday from 6:45 p.m., at the 15 de Abril, they will host Talleres de Córdoba in a clash where both sides are playing for much more than three points.

For El Tatengue, the equation is clear: if they win, they qualify.

But the scenario becomes more complicated if they fail to do so. A draw or a defeat would leave them waiting on other results, extending the decision until Monday.

A table on fire

The margin is minimal and the fight for the last tickets is at a boiling point. This is how the decisive stretch of the table stands:

5. Lanús — 23 pts — MP: 15 — GF/GA: 18:15 — GD: +3

6. San Lorenzo — 22 pts — MP: 15 — GF/GA: 13:12 — GD: +1

7. Independiente — 21 pts — MP: 15 — GF/GA: 22:19 — GD: +3

8. Unión

9. Defensa y Justicia — 19 pts — MP: 15 — GF/GA: 17:19 — GD: -2

10. Instituto — 18 pts — MP: 15 — GF/GA: 15:17 — GD: -2

Unión not only depends on itself, but could even climb positions. If they win, and results go their way (Lanús loses to Riestra and Independiente and San Lorenzo both draw), they could even rise to fifth place.

But that is not the focus. The objective is one: to qualify.

The decision stretches out for Unión

If Unión do not win, the anxiety will carry over to Monday. Only then will the curtain finally come down for everyone:

-Gimnasia de Mendoza vs. Defensa y Justicia (17:00)

-Estudiantes de Río Cuarto vs. Instituto (21:30)

Two matches that could change everything and would force El Tatengue to watch from the outside what they could not settle on the pitch.

Talleres, an unforgiving rival

On the other side will be a team that will not give anything away either. Talleres are fighting to finish among the top four and secure home advantage in the round of 16. In other words, they arrive with needs of their own and their ambition intact. There will be no room for speculation.

Unión will have the setting in their favor. The 15 de Abril will witness a match loaded with tension, where every play could tip the balance of an entire campaign.

After an uneven tournament, with moments of good football but also setbacks that complicated things for them, Leonardo Madelón’s team has one last chance to write the ending on its own terms.

Because in this kind of finale, there is one truth that never changes: the best thing is not to depend on anyone else. On Saturday, Unión has the final say.

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