Instituto and Belgrano have learned their opponents and provisional dates for the upcoming Clausura 2026 playoffs, as the regular season wrapped up with a 1-1 draw between Central Córdoba and Lanús reported by Cba24n.
The tournament’s opening phase concluded with the participation of 16 teams advancing to the postseason, while 14 squads face an extended break until mid-January.
Instituto enters the postseason as the top seed in Zona A after drawing 2-2 with Newell’s, secured by a late goal from Matías Tissera reported by eldoce.
La Gloria will face Huracán, who finished eighth in Zona B. Talleres and Estudiantes de Río Cuarto failed to qualify, with Talleres finishing 13th in Zona A and Estudiantes de Río Cuarto finishing last in Zona B, resulting in relegation.
Belgrano finished sixth in Zona B with 23 points following a 2-1 loss to Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, setting up a visit to Liniers reported by Canal Showsport. The defending champions will meet Vélez Sarsfield, who placed third in Zona A under coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto reported by eldoce.
Belgrano’s campaign included 6 victories, 5 draws, and 5 defeats, scoring 17 goals and conceding 15. In historical meetings across 39 official First Division matches, Vélez holds 17 wins, Belgrano has 16, and 6 matches ended in draws. Vélez and Belgrano are in the same bracket alongside Argentinos Juniors and Independiente, making an all-Córdoba semifinal possible.
While the Liga Profesional finalizes official kickoff times, preliminary scheduling places Belgrano away against Vélez on Friday, November 20, at 20:00 local time at the Estadio José Amalfitani reported by lavoz.com.ar. Instituto will play Huracán on Saturday, November 21, at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes because a María Becerra concert is scheduled at their home ground in Alta Córdoba reported by lavoz.com.ar.
The complete round of 16 pairings pairs Instituto against Huracán, River against Lanús, Argentinos Juniors against Independiente, and Defensa y Justicia against Barracas Central. The other bracket matches pit Rosario Central against Gimnasia de Mendoza, Vélez against Belgrano, Boca against Independiente Rivadavia, and Gimnasia La Plata against Newell’s reported by lavoz.com.ar.
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