The final weekend of the Torneo Clausura regular season is here, and the knockout stage matchups are taking shape. While the two biggest names, Boca Juniors and River Plate, have already secured their places in the playoffs, the race for final seeding and the remaining two spots in the Zona B bracket will be decided over the next two days. The top four teams from each zone will host their eighth-final matches as single-game ties, with no extra time, on the weekend of November 21-22, as reported by Infobae.
Two Playoff Slots Remain in Zona B
The 16-team league is divided into two zones of eight. Fourteen of the 16 playoff berths have been officially claimed, leaving two slots to be determined in Zona B. The final placements will determine the pairings for the eighth-final round.
Zona A Classified: Instituto, Boca Juniors, Vélez Sarsfield, Defensa y Justicia, Lanús, Independiente, Newell’s Old Boys, and Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza.
Zona B Classified: Rosario Central, Argentinos Juniors, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, River Plate, Barracas Central, and Belgrano.
However, with Unión depending on Gimnasia de Mendoza losing to advance, the focus is primarily on Sarmiento, Huracán, and Independiente Rivadavia, according to Perfil.
#Clausura2026 ⚽️ ⏱ 9’ PT 🟥 Expulsado Martinez Quarta en River Plate.⁰#Boca 0 – River 0#DaleBoca 🔵🟡🔵
Confirmed Eighth-Final Pairings
While the final order could still shift, the matchups for the eighth-finals, based on current standings, are set. The higher-seeded team in each pairing hosts the match.
Confirmed Eighth-Final Matchups (as of Nov 6):
- Instituto (1st A) vs. Sarmiento (8th B)
- River Plate (4th B) vs. Lanús (5th A)
- Argentinos Juniors (2nd B) vs. Newell’s Old Boys (7th A)
- Vélez Sarsfield (3rd A) vs. Belgrano (6th B)
- Rosario Central (1st B) vs. Gimnasia de Mendoza (8th A)
- Defensa y Justicia (4th A) vs. Barracas Central (5th B)
- Boca Juniors (2nd A) vs. Independiente Rivadavia (7th B)
- Gimnasia La Plata (3rd B) vs. Independiente (6th A)
The pairings for the quarter-finals, which will also be single-game ties, are predetermined based on the eighth-final matchups. For example, the winner of the Instituto vs. Sarmiento game will face the winner of the River Plate vs. Lanús game, as detailed by Olé.
San Lorenzo and Racing Eliminated
The final week of the regular season has already seen significant developments. San Lorenzo and Racing were officially eliminated from playoff contention, while several teams solidified their positions.
River Plate secured its spot with a 2-0 victory over Aldosivi on Thursday, finishing fourth in Zona B and guaranteeing home-field advantage for its eighth-final match. San Lorenzo’s hopes were dashed with a 2-0 loss to Platense on Friday, a result that saw both teams eliminated from the playoffs. Racing was also eliminated following a 2-0 defeat to Barracas Central on Friday, as reported by Infobae and TN.
In other results, Independiente confirmed its place in Zona A with a 2-1 win over Deportivo Riestra. Unión de Santa Fe kept its slim hopes alive with a 2-0 victory over Vélez, though its fate now depends on other results.
🔵🟡 BOCA WINS THE SUPERCLÁSICO! 🏆🔥 ⚽ Boca Juniors defeats River Plate 1-0 at La Bombonera thanks to a decisive header from Lautaro Di Lollo! 🟥🟥 River finished with just nine men after Lucas Martínez Quarta and Gonzalo Montiel were sent off. 💙💛 A special victory just… pic.twitter.com/jAb3s1UL7I
Final Matches Decide Tabla Anual Winner
The final round of fixtures will be played on Saturday and Sunday. The most anticipated match is the simultaneous contest for the Tabla Anual championship, which determines the league’s top team for the season.
Boca Juniors leads the table with 60 points, tied with Argentinos Juniors on points but with a superior goal difference. Rosario Central is one point behind. All three teams will play at 17:30 local time on Saturday, with Boca hosting Defensa y Justicia, Argentinos facing Huracán, and Rosario Central traveling to play Estudiantes de Río Cuarto. The outcome of this trio of matches will decide the annual champion, TN reported.
Boca Juniors see off nine-man River Plate in Superclásico.https://t.co/hNc5WuKFaF
The playoff picture will be fully clarified after the weekend. The eighth-finals are scheduled for the weekend of November 21-22, following the upcoming FIFA international break, with the official schedule to be confirmed by the Liga Profesional after the final round of the regular season, according to TN.
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