The curtain rises for the Apertura Tournament 2026. This Thursday the action began with five games. The first of them was 0-0 in Aldosivi-Justice Defense. In the second turn they measure in unison Banfield-Hurricane y Unión-Platense. At the closing, scheduled in both cases for 10:15 p.m., faces will be seen Institute-Vélez y Central Córdoba of Santiago del Estero-Gimnasia de Mendoza.
Aldosivi y Defense and Justice tied without goals in the first match of the Apertura Tournament 2026 disputed in the José María Minella Stadium from Mar del Plata. The interzonal meeting did not deliver many risky actions and the result was fair.
He Hawk appeared in Mar del Plata, but the Shark He intimidated him with the ticking of the clock and the first half was left only in illusions. Rubén Bottaone of the experienced footballers that Florencio Varela’s team added along with Éver Banega, forced a save from Axel Werner after the former San Lorenzo hit a free kick five minutes into the game. From there, the host managed to level the proceedings through the strong leg, slowed down the match and calmed those led by Mariano Sosowho had the ball without hurting them in the final meters.
Already in the second half, the arrivals were scarce in the goals and the two teams began to settle for equality to add their first point in the championship. About the end, Damian Fernandez He worried everyone because he collided with a teammate and fell badly on the grass. Seconds later, The footballer got up under his own power, although they placed a neck brace on him and took him away by ambulance..
Aldosivi will be home again next Wednesday from 5pm against Barracas Central and Defensa y Justicia will visit Deportivo Riestra on Thursday the 29th at the same time.
Trainings:
Estadio: José María Minella (Mar del Plata).
Referee: Daniel Zamora.
Banfield y Hurricane are measured in the Florencio Sola Stadium for the opening day of the Apertura Tournament 2026. Bruno Amiconi dispenses justice and the match, corresponding to Group B, can be seen by TNT Sports.
The first moments of the match showed a slight superiority of the Parque Patricios team, which with the presence of Oscar Cortés and Jordy Caicedo on the attacking front hinted at danger, although without clear arrivals. In any case, the first clear approach was in favor of Drill: Tomás Adoryan finished with a volley inside the area, but his shot deflected off a visiting defender and the ball went just over the crossbar.
Although the first half had dynamics and passages of intensity, the teams went to the locker room without joy and the scoreboard indicated that the first 45 minutes ended without goals.
The opening of the scoring came two minutes into the second half and was favorable to Banfield. Ignacio Abraham put in an exemplary cross from the left wing and Mauro Méndez came on the attack to make it 1-0 with a precise header that left Hernán Galíndez with no options.
The bad news continued to come for the Globe. At 10 minutes, and after a VAR call, Thaiel Peralta was sent off for rough play. The number 10 of the visiting team raised his leg to hit the ball, but the inertia of his body led to him hitting Adoryan in the chest, so Bruno Amiconi had no choice but to show him the red card.
The local team was also left with 10 players. Santiago Esquivel saw the second yellow card after half an hour of play in the second half and leveled the numbers in terms of the number of players on the playing field.
The Globe’s reaction was immediate. At 39 minutes, Caicedo arrived behind everyone and connected a low cross from the left under the goal to make it 1-1. After the goal, the scorer was reprimanded for celebrating in the face of the local crowd.
In this meeting, Banfield faced the debut without the incorporation of new players, since the club maintains debts of around USD1.300.000a situation that prevented the arrival of reinforcements.
After scoring 4-0 to Cerro Porteño in a friendly match for the Río de La Plata Series, Hurricane faced the beginning of the championship with 5,000 general tickets y 700 seats intended for their own fans. For this season, the team added Federico Vera, Jordy Caicedo y Oscar Cortesalthough he transferred to Matko Miljevic and Racing in an operation USD3,000,000.
In command of Pedro Troglio, Banfield managed to avoid relegation in 2025 just before closing. For its part, Hurricane counts again Diego Martinez as a coach after his return after the departure of Frank Darío Kudelka.
On the next date, Banfield will visit Sarmiento de Junín, on Thursday, January 29 at 9:30 p.m. Huracán, for its part, will host Independiente Rivadavia on Tuesday 01/27 from 8:00 p.m.
Trainings:
Estadio: Florencio Sola
Referee: Bruno Amiconi
TV: TNT Sports
Union y Platense debut in the April 15 Stadium for the first date of Group A of the Apertura Tournament 2026. The referee is Pablo Echavarría and the television is in charge of ESPN Premium.
The set of Vicente Lopez began a key year, since it will contest the Copa Libertadores for the first time in its history. To face this challenge, it incorporated 13 playersamong them Juan Gauto, Santiago Quiros, Mateo Mendia, Santiago Dalmasso y Leonardo Heredia. In addition, it is in negotiations for Agustín Rogel. The main decline of Platense It is the departure of their scorer Ronaldo Martineztransferred to Córdoba Workshops.
On the local side, Union arrived after playing two friendlies in Uruguaywhere he defeated Lima Alliance from Peru for 2-1 (goals from Sergio Pena against and Julian Palacios) and tied 1-1 against Defensor Sporting with so much of Emilio Giaccone.
On the next day, Tatengue will be the host of Lanús in La Fortaleza, on Thursday, January 29 at 7:15 p.m. El Calamar, for its part, will host the duel with Instituto on Monday 01/26 from 5:00 p.m.
Trainings:
Estadio: April 15 (Santa Fe)
Referee: Pablo Echavarria
TV: ESPN Premium
Institute y Velez They will open the first date of the Apertura Tournament 2026 this Thursday at 10:15 p.m. in the President Perón Monumental Stadiumin a duel for Group A between teams without international participation this year that seek to consolidate themselves as protagonists at the local level. It will be directed by Andrés Merlos and televised by TNT Sports.
After ensuring its permanence until the end of 2025, Institute bets on a prominent role in both the championship and the Argentine Cup. The club added Franco Jaraformer goalscorer Belgranoand others eight reinforcements to strengthen the squad.
The cycle of Velezin charge of Guillermo Barros Schelottocomes after a campaign in which two titles —Argentine Super Cup and International Super Cup—, but which ended with elimination in the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores and in the round of 16 of the Clausura. In the preseason, the team played two friendlies against Midland, with a victory 1-0 and a tie 1-1.
Attention is also focused on the future of Maher Carrizoforward who had contacts to move to Riveralthough his priority is to emigrate to Europe, something that could be completed in the next few hours.
Probable formations:
Institute: Manuel Roffo; Giuliano Cerato or Hernán De La Fuente, Fernando Alarcón, Agustín Massaccesi or Jonathan Galván, Iván Erquiaga or Diego Sosa; Franco Moyano, Gastón Lodico; Jhon Córdoba, Alex Luna, Manuel Romero; and Franco Jara. DT: Daniel Oldrá.
Velez: Álvaro Montero o Tomás Marchiori; Jano Gordon, Emanuel Mammana, Lisandro Magallán, Elías Gómez; Rodrigo Aliendro, Claudio Baeza, Manuel Lanzini; Isaiah Andrada, Brian Romero and Alex Veron. DT: Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
Basketball court: Monumental President Perón (Córdoba)
Time: 22.15
Referee: Andrés Merlos
TV: TNT Sports
Central Cordoba y Mendoza Gymnastics They will face each other on Thursday at 22:15 in it Unique Mother of Cities Stadium for the beginning of Apertura Tournament 2026. The debut will mark the return of the people of Mendoza to the First Division after more than four decades outside the top category and the premiere of Lucas Pusineri as coach of the Santiago team. The referee will be Hernán Mastrángelo and the television is in charge of ESPN Premium.
For the Mendoza club, the main objective will be stay in Firsta category he entered after becoming champion of the First National 2025. That achievement came after leading his group and surpassing Deportivo Madryn in the final through a penalty shootout.
The squad of Central Cordoba undergoes an important renewal: after the departure of Omar De Felippejust four players of the starters in the last game of 2025 —Alan Aguerre, Santiago Moyano, Matias Vera y Fernando Martínez— could repeat their presence at the start of the season.
Days before the game, Mendoza Gymnastics played two friendlies against Tigre on the grounds of the AFA in Ezeizawith a 1-0 defeat and a goalless draw.
Probable formations:
Central Cordoba: Alan Aguerre; Santiago Moyano, Juan Pablo Pignani, Facundo Mansilla, Agustín Quiroga; Fernando Martínez, Fernando Juárez, Lucas González, Diego Barrera; Joaquín Flores and Ezequiel Naya. DT: Lucas Pusineri.
Mendoza Gymnastics: Lautaro Petruchi; Juan Franco, Lautaro Carrera, Ezequiel Muñoz or Imanol González, Matías Recalde; Juián Ceballos, Nicolás Linares, Tomás Ortiz, Facundo Lencioni; Santiago Rodríguez and Valentino Simoni. DT: Ariel Broggi.
Basketball court: Unique Mother of Cities (Santiago del Estero)
Time: 22.15
Referee: Hernán Mastrángelo
TV: ESPN Premium
