This is the League Cup ranking: three ‘big players’ in the Playoffs, Boca waiting and San Lorenzo with almost zero margin for error

Even though the official competition started less than a month ago, Argentine football is advancing at an intense pace. To the point that this Thursday The fifth day of the League Cup has ended and the calendar gives no respite: on Saturday the ball rolls again, the appointment with the classics -the seventh- is upon us, and therefore the group stage of the League Cup is close to reaching the halfway point of its development. In this context, several teams are already starting to make calculations to aspire to the ranking Playoffs for the title, while others take out the calculator to avoid being linked in a possible novel to relegation.

With five games under their belt, they continue to persist three teams that don’t know the taste of defeat: River AND Instituteboth leaders of zone A with 11 points, together with Godoy Cruzthe only leader of group B and the team with the highest number of points obtained so far in the tournament, with a total of 13. Draw, Tomba is the only one who has kept the fence undefeated in each of his matches.

El Millonario comes out of the 0-0 draw of his visit Atletico Tucumán (3), a result which led to him being overtaken in points by Gloria, who achieved an important 2-0 victory in his visit to Independent Rivadavia de Mendoza (6). On the other hand, Godoy Cruz drew goalless against Unión to remain leader.

However, there are several teams that are gradually starting to become the hosts of the first competition of 2024 and are fighting for a place in the Playoffs, a ticket that the top four in each group get.

In zone A are those who have entered into the discussion and are at a distance from the command Workshops (10) e Independent (10). The T closed the day with its heartbreaking 2-1 victory against a direct rival for the ranking in Argentinos Juniors (8), while Rojo strengthened in Avellaneda and narrowly beat the champion Central rosary (5), which has not yet managed to achieve the performances that allowed it to establish itself in 2023 and is starting to move away from the leaders.

As regards zone B, Racing (10) delivered the blow by beating Newell’s (12) 4-1 visiting Rosario, a result that allowed him to place fourth in the standings. Furthermore, it took away Lepra’s unbeaten record, a result which also leaves them second thanks to the 1-1 draw Students (11) vs Saint Lawrence.

Likewise, there are numerous teams that do not lose the thread of the top positions. It appears in this context Mouth (9), who achieved his first victory in La Bombonera by beating Central Córdoba 2-0 and placed sixth in group B. With one point difference, ahead of Xeneize, he is Defense and Justice (10), who defeated a Tiger (1) who has accumulated four consecutive defeats and is the only team that failed to score a goal in the tournament.

Those who are also excited about having a year other than 2023 are Gym (9), who with his sensational 3-1 victory against Hurricane (4) At Forest, they were just one point away from making the top four in Zone A and left Facundo Sava’s continuity in charge of the Globe under scrutiny.

However, the outlook is not easy for all teams entering the playoffs. The League Cup group stage consists of just 14 groups and the top four in each zone qualify for the knockout duels. Therefore, on the eve of the sixth date, only three hectic weeks were enough be close to 50% of equipment completion. Being a short calendar, every point gained or lost can have a big impact for the future.

That’s the way sets like it San Lorenzo is starting to be in danger in the standings. Those directed by Ruben Galician Insua still doesn’t know victory, they only accumulate three points and could be more than seven units away from fourth place. Belgrano (2), which comes from binding with Platense (5) – runners-up in the last championship – are two clubs that have not maintained their 2023 level and are having difficulty moving up the rankings. Rosario Central, current champion of this tournament, can also be included in this list.

The date of the classics may mark a rupture in several institutions. Furthermore, no matter how far away it may seem, relegation is no longer out of the question: The last of the averages and the last of the annual ranking will lose their category. And with the League Cup halfway there, little by little those destined to look more frequently at lower positions begin to be noted before those who provide tickets for international cups.

Riestra, who earned just one point and was close to winning his first victory in the First Division against Vélez (1-2), seems to have a complex task if he tries to gain permanence. It’s just that he’s at the limit on both downhill routes.

Unión, Sarmiento, Central Córdoba, Platense and Vélez are also involved on average and have only two points of difference between them. In the accumulated ranking, those in the worst position, in addition to Riestra, are Tigre (1), Banfield (2), Sarmiento (2) and Belgrano (2).