The Liga Argentina Is Set To Crown A New Champion

Forbes

a day ago

Franco Zapiola of Platense celebrates with teammate after scoring the team's first goal during a ... More Torneo Apertura Betano 2025 semifinal match between San Lorenzo and Platense at Pedro Bidegain Stadium on May 25, 2025 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The 'Liga Profesional de Fútbol' in Argentina will crown a new national champion this Sunday when Huracán take on Platense in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. The likes of River Plate and Boca Juniors have fallen, but the mighty minnows remain.
Technically this final will be a Buenos Aires derby, but in truth these teams have got no bad blood and there are that many teams in the capital of Argentina that rivalries tend to be with those who share neighbourhoods and not the city. This encounter will be monumental either way, as it represents an extremely rare opportunity for both clubs to win silverware.
This is a once in a generation chance for Huracán to win the league title, and a once in a lifetime chance for Platense. Just 90 minutes, and perhaps a penalty shoot-out, separates one of these clubs from the ultimate glory and it has been coming for a very, very long time.
Huracan's Ecuadorean goalkeeper #01 Hernan Galindez (L) celebrates with teammate forward #43 Eric ... More Ramirez after the penalty shootout and winning the Argentine Professional Football League 2025 Apertura Tournament semi-final match between Independiente and Huracan at the Libertadores de America stadium in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires province, Argentina.
Huracán hasn't won a title since 2014, and the club hasn't won a league campaign since 1973. That was the most recent of five top division titles, with the rest all coming between 1921 and 1928.
Huracán has reached the final after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win away against Independiente in the semis. Another twist in the tale of what has been an epic play-off tournament in Argentina.
In the quarter-finals Huracán won away against Rosario Central, who is top of the annual table in Argentina for 2025, so nobody can suggest that the 'Globo' doesn't deserve a spot in this final.
Huracán is on an impressive defensive run, boasting three consecutive clean sheets, but the team still has to host Corinthians of Brazil in the Copa Sudamericana before the final this weekend. Thankfully for the home side it has already secured progression from the Copa Sudamericana group phase and so will surely rest players ahead of Sunday's league decider.
Players of Huracan celebrate after the penalty shootout and winning the Argentine Professional ... More Football League 2025 Apertura Tournament semi-final match between Independiente and Huracan at the Libertadores de America stadium in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires province, Argentina on May 24, 2025.
If you thought that the Huracán wait for a major trophy was a long one then you haven't read anything yet.
Platense has never ever won a major title. Since it was founded in 1905 the club from the north zone of Buenos Aires has only ever had success in moving from the second division to the first. Therefore Sunday is an even bigger deal for the team known as the 'Calamar.' Victory this weekend, for sure, would be a miracle for the team that plays in the unique brown jersey.
Oscar Salomon of Platense runs with the ball against Santiago Solari of Racing Club during a Torneo ... More Apertura 2025 round of sixteen match between Racing Club and Platense at Presidente Peron Stadium on May 10, 2025 in Avellaneda, Argentina.
Platense is a relatively tiny club, even compared to Huracán which isn't one of the 'big five' in Argentina. The Platense stadium holds under 30,000 spectators but is normally half-full at the very best. It is a team looked down upon by the others and one that usually has to sell any blossoming talent just to remain in existence.
Platense has already completed a historic play-off run to the final, winning all three knock-out games away from home. In defeating Racing Club, River Plate and San Lorenzo in those fixtures Platense managed to beat three of the 'big five' teams in Argentina. It's a remarkable run of form defying all the odds. The key for Platense has been staying solid at the back, conceding just one goal in those three games via a River Plate penalty.
Platense does not play in continental competition and so has all week to prepare for the biggest game in its 119-year history. This is an incredible underdog story for a club that has never come close to silverware and a squad that has only won six league games from 16 this season.
Platense's midfielder #10 Vicente Taborda celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the ... More Argentine Professional Football League 2025 Apertura Tournament quarter-final match between River Plate and Platense at the MAS Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on May 20, 2025.
Having said that, Huracán only lead Platense by four points in the annual table. Both teams were overlooked by everyone as title contenders but Platense's run to the final has been so outstanding that you might just believe that their name is on the trophy this year.
If recent games are anything to go by this will be an extremely tense and low-scoring affair, but for the fans of both clubs it will be a huge party, and perhaps even the best day of their lives as soccer fans. For the majority of Huracán supporters it could be the first major trophy they witness their team winning, and of course for Platense it would finally be the first in the history of the entire club.
The league structure in Argentina is often rightfully criticised, but this incredible final is a very welcome symptom of such mayhem, and either way; soccer history will be made in Argentina this Sunday.
Platense's forward #26 Ignacio Schor celebrates after scoring during the penalty shootout and ... More winning the Argentine Professional Football League 2025 Apertura Tournament quarter-final match between River Plate and Platense at the MAS Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on May 20, 2025.