This is the Professional League Cup ranking: River is still counting on itself and Boca, San Lorenzo and Racing play forcedly

River fell 1-0 to Hurricane this Friday evening at Tomás Adolfo Ducó, as part of the 12th appointment of Professional League Cup. Although, despite the defeat, the Millionaire will end the day in the qualifying positions for the quarter-finals of the competition and even depends on itself to reach the title definition stage.

But what are the prospects like? At the moment, Zone A is led by Argentinos Juniors, with 24 points. Barracas Central follows with 22 and, then, River, with 21. In fourth place (the last to qualify) is Vélez, also with the same number of points as Millonario (Martín Demichelis’ team has a better goal difference with +13 compared to Fortín’s +1).

So, given that there are only two games left, if River added five points (they would reach 26), they would qualify for the quarter-finals without depending on anyone. The next match will be against Rosario Central and will end against Instituto in Córdoba.

Of course, the match that River will have to pay attention to this Saturday will be Talleres – Vélez, since they are equal on points with Fortín and T is right there, in fifth place, with 19. They will also have to give in try Keep an eye on Independiente – Atlético Tucumán, as Rojo has 18 and could match Millo in points.

Even if their situation is not simple, Independiente have their fate practically in their hands: three wins will catapult them to the playoffs unless a very complicated combination of results occurs. The team led by Carlos Tevez will then visit Banfield (another rival out of action) and will end their participation in the Libertadores de América against Talleres.

The one in Avellaneda on the last day could be a head-to-head for the ranking, even if it will not be the only match in which the points will have a special value because they will not only be added to one’s baggage, but the potential foreign harvest will also be subtracted : in the last three dates there will be seven direct duels between the seven teams fighting for the four playoff places (another four have mathematical chances, even if remote).

What Boca, San Lorenzo and Racing need to qualify

In group B, Lanus AND Godoy Cruz They have a good advantage: both have 23 points and +9 goal difference. Those led by Ricardo Zielinski scored more goals (10 against 4), even if they also played one game more: on Wednesday they had already drawn 2 to 2 with Unión in the duel that opened the 12th round, so the Mendoza team the top will take the lead if they join on Monday against Platense in the visit to Vicente López.

La Defensa y Justicia took a step that could be fundamental this Friday by beating Florencio Varela’s Estudiantes de La Plata and finishing third with 20 points.

Behind them runs a platoon of six squads divided into three units. For now, the one who occupies the other position in the standings is Estudiantes (18 and +3), which surpasses Newell’s (18 and 0) in terms of goal difference, even if La Plata have a game in hand: they have to complete the Jorge Luis Hirschi Duel of the eleventh round against Boca, suspended in the 27th minute of the first half due to Chilean midfielder Javier Altamirano fainting in the middle of the pitch. They were 0-0.

At the door of the qualification zone was Unión, who squandered a two-goal lead against Lanús on Thursday, ended up drawing and now has 17 points and +2. The same number of units, although with a worse difference (0), amounts to Defensa y Justicia, currently sixth in this group.

Boca is seventh, with 16 points and +5, but it depends on themselves: if they get 10 of the 12 beans up for grabs, they will go to the quarterfinals. They will do so even if they score 9 and Defensa y Justicia (17 and 0) will not win the three remaining matches, all against their direct rivals: Estudiantes, San Lorenzo and Newell’s.

Of course: the team led by Diego Martínez will have a very complicated appointment. On Saturday they will host San Lorenzo, visit Newell’s in Rosario and close their participation in this phase against Godoy Cruz in La Bombonera. Before the last match he will have to play 63 minutes against Estudiantes in La Plata.

The picture for Racing (15 and +5) and San Lorenzo (15 and -1) is much more complicated. Both could advance by getting six points, although they would need a run of phenomenal results to do so. But they could also be excluded from the decisive phase even if they get the nine points in dispute if Godoy Cruz and Lanús score 3, and Estudiantes and Newell’s collect 7.

On Saturday the team led by Gustavo Costas will face Central Córdoba in Santiago del Estero, then host Lanús and visit Belgrano. Those led by Ruben Darío Insua will play on Saturday at the Bombonera (a setback there would shatter their hopes), will play at home against Defensa y Justicia and will finish against Central Córdoba in Santiago del Estero.