Rosario Central enters the final five matches of the Argentine season sitting fifth in the annual standings and five points behind the league leaders, setting up a decisive stretch that includes three home fixtures at the Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario3 reported.
With only fifteen points left to play for across the remaining five matchdays, ten different clubs remain mathematically alive in the race for the annual championship. The current leader, Independiente Rivadavia of Mendoza, holds 52 points, while River Plate sits tenth with 42 points. River Plate still holds a match in hand against Sarmiento, meaning the gap between the top and bottom of the title race could tighten significantly as the calendar winds down.
Gigante de Arroyito Prepares for the League Leader
Rosario Central captured the 2025 annual title and now pursues a successful defense of that crown. Sitting on 47 points, the club’s immediate focus turns to a high-stakes home fixture against Independiente Rivadavia. That opening match of the closing stretch serves as a vital pivot point for the auriazules, who play three of their final five games on home turf.
Independiente Rivadavia leads the table with 52 points, but the club faces a challenging closing schedule that features three matches away from home. The Mendoza side must play the final stretch without primary attacker Maxi Salas, who suffered a torn ligament.
Boca Juniors Leads the Chase for the Summit
Boca Juniors emerges as the primary threat to the summit, carrying a 16-match unbeaten streak into the final weeks. Occupying second place with 50 points, Boca also benefits from playing three of its remaining fixtures at home. Argentinos Juniors matches Boca on 50 points, relying on a steady run of form that keeps the squad in close pursuit of the leader.
Vélez Sarsfield sits closely behind in fourth place with 49 points. Further down the congested top ten, Instituto holds 46 points and Belgrano has 45 points, while the La Plata rivals Estudiantes and Gimnasia each sit on 44 points. River Plate rounds out the contenders with 42 points, though their postponed fixture against Sarmiento leaves them with 18 maximum available points.
Remaining Fixtures for the Top Ten Contenders
The closing five fixtures dictate the path to the annual crown for each candidate in the race:
- Independiente Rivadavia (52 points): Rosario Central (Away), Tigre (Home), Argentinos Juniors (Away), Banfield (Home), Gimnasia de Mendoza (Away).
- Boca Juniors (50 points): Instituto (Away), Talleres (Home), Independiente (Away), River Plate (Home), Defensa y Justicia (Home).
- Argentinos Juniors (50 points): Platense (Away), Banfield (Away), Independiente Rivadavia (Home), Atlético Tucumán (Away), Huracán (Home).
- Vélez Sarsfield (49 points): Lanús (Away), Gimnasia de Mendoza (Home), Central Córdoba (Away), San Lorenzo (Home), Unión (Away).
- Rosario Central (47 points): Independiente Rivadavia (Home), Atlético Tucumán (Away), Huracán (Home), Sarmiento (Away), Estudiantes de Río Cuarto (Home).
- Instituto (46 points): Boca Juniors (Home), Defensa y Justicia (Away), Deportivo Riestra (Home), Estudiantes (Away), Newell’s (Home).
- Belgrano (45 points): Racing (Away), River Plate (Home), Aldosivi (Away), Barracas Central (Home), Gimnasia La Plata (Away).
- Estudiantes (44 points): Central Córdoba (Away), San Lorenzo (Home), Unión (Away), Instituto (Home), Talleres (Away).
- Gimnasia La Plata (44 points): Atlético Tucumán (Home), Huracán (Away), Sarmiento (Home), Estudiantes de Río Cuarto (Away), Belgrano (Home).
- River Plate (42 points): Estudiantes de Río Cuarto (Home), Sarmiento (Away – pending match), Belgrano (Away), Racing (Home), Boca Juniors (Away), Aldosivi (Away).
The opening fixtures of this decisive stretch kick off next weekend, beginning with Rosario Central hosting Independiente Rivadavia at the Gigante de Arroyito.
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