The group stage of the League Cup entered into definition territory, with only one date ahead for the end of the regular stage, and with several teams with a chance to continue in the race. This Monday the days and times in which the matches will be played were announced, revealing which teams will qualify for the quarterfinals and what position each one will occupy. As made official by the AFA, on Monday the 15th the most important duels in zone A will be played, and on Tuesday the 16th it will be the turn of the decisive matches in zone B. In this way, the playoff matches will be defined to determine which team will be the first champion of the year in Argentine soccer. It was also resolved when the 63 pending minutes of Estudiantes-Boca will be completed.
Of the 28 participants, only Godoy Cruz is guaranteed a place in the next instance, so the remaining seven will know next Monday or Tuesday, and not on the weekend, as might be assumed. Regarding zone A, The reason has nothing to do with the Professional League itself. The team in question is River, which will play this Thursday from 9 p.m. its duel for the second date of the Copa Libertadores against Nacional of Uruguay. As Sunday is very close to that match, the clashes between the teams with the possibility of getting into the next instance will be played on Monday, April 15, from 8 p.m.
As for la zone B, The situation is similar, but in this case there is an asterisk that must be deleted and, as it includes teams involved in the definition, it forces the rest to be postponed. This is the match between Estudiantes and Boca, which began in La Plata on the 11th, and in which the player Javier Altamirano became unbalanced after 27 minutes. That match, which was tied 0-0, was postponed by mutual agreement. The remaining 63 minutes of the duel between Pincha and Xeneize They will be played this Friday from 7:30 p.m.
Because Sunday is also very close to that duel, since Lanús – also with a chance of qualifying – has a cup duel on Thursday against Deportivo Garcilaso, for the second date of the Sudamericana, it was agreed that the defining matches of that zone will be played on Tuesday, April 16 from 7:30 p.m.
Beyond the final result between Estudiantes and Boca, There will be 12 teams that will look for the seven places that remain to be defined and in total there are eight games with the teams involved in the fight to reach the quarterfinals. In zone A, There are six teams that will play four defining duels. One is that of the exalted: Argentinos and Barracas Central, an equality places them directly in the next stage. If the Bug falls, its goal difference of +11 can sustain it; If the loser is Guapo, it could only get complicated if Independiente wins.
Vélez is the most committed, since he does not depend on himself. El Fortín has to defeat Independiente Rivadavia, in Mendoza, and hope that neither River, nor Talleres, nor Rojo win. For its part, Independiente receives Talleres in a kind of final: whoever wins, qualifies. A tie would leave Independiente out, but the people of Córdoba, in turn, will have to hope that Vélez does not win. In the last game, River visits Instituto. El Millonario can qualify without depending on anyone, winning or drawing, taking into account their great goal difference (+14). Even with a defeat he can access, but for that to happen, Vélez should not add three.
In zone B, There are six teams that will fight for the three remaining places. Godoy Cruz is already among the eight, but There will be four games in which a lot will be played, but without the defined result between Estudiantes and Boca, everything is not as clear as in zone A. Specifically, six of the first seven will face each other: Boca (today fourth with 22 points and +8 goal difference) will be local against Godoy Cruz (leader and the only one already classified with 26 and +10), Estudiantes (sixth with 21 and +8) will visit Lanús (second, with 23 and +9) and Defensa y Justicia (third with 23 and +3) will host Newell’s (seventh with 21 and -1), while Racing (fifth with 21 and +9) will play in Córdoba against Belgrano.
For their part, those teams that do not play for the classification, but must add to the general table, will play their matches between Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday. In addition, some clubs will not have competition until the weekend of May 12, which will be the beginning of the Professional League, unless they have to compete for the Argentine Cup. On the other hand, Rosario Central and San Lorenzo will have matches for the Copa Libertadores on the calendar.
This is how the last date will be played
Zone A
Saturday April 13
- 19 Hurricane vs. Atlético Tucumán
Sunday April 14
- 21 Gimnasia vs. Banfield
Monday April 15
- 20 Argentines vs. Central Tents
- 20 Independent vs. Workshops
- 20 Independiente Rivadavia vs. Velez
- 20 Instituto vs. River
Wednesday April 17
- 19.30 Rosario Central vs. Riestra
Zone B
Saturday April 13
- 17 Tiger vs. Union
Sunday April 14
- 17 Sarmiento vs. Platense
- 19 Central Córdoba vs. San Lorenzo
Tuesday April 16
- 19.30 Belgrano vs. Racing
- 19.30 Boca vs. Godoy Cruz
- 19.30 Defense and Justice vs. Newell’s
- 19.30 Lanús vs. Students