Latest news with #ArgentinePrimeraDivision
Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Explainer-Soccer-Argentine Apertura tournament explained
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Argentina Primera Division - Boca Juniors v River Plate - Estadio La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina - September 21, 2024 Boca Juniors fans inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Argentine Primera Division - River Plate v Boca Juniors - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - April 27, 2025 River Plate fans inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo Argentina's football season shifts into high gear this weekend as the Apertura tournament kicks off its knockout phase, setting the stage for three weeks of drama. Here's everything you need to know as Argentina's top clubs chase glory. WHAT IS THE APERTURA? The Apertura or "Opening" tournament is half of Argentina's split-season format, which was reintroduced in 2025 after its last implementation in 2012. It runs from January to June and is followed by the Clausura or "Closing" tournament from July to December. HOW DID WE GET HERE? The tournament reaches its climax after a 16-round group stage, where 30 clubs are split into two 15-team groups or zones playing 14 matches within their group and two inter-zonal clashes against the other. The top eight from each zone advance to the knockout stage, seeded by their regular-season results in a bracket designed to keep the nation's fiercest rivals apart until a possible final showdown. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be single-legged ties hosted by the higher-seeded team with matches level after 90 minutes proceeding straight to penalties. The final will be played on neutral ground at the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero on June 1, with extra time before penalties if necessary. WHO ARE THE CONTENDERS? Despite occasional stumbles through the group stage, River Plate and Boca Juniors remain the dominant forces in Argentine football, accounting for seven of the last 10 league titles between them. With the big two on opposite sides of the bracket, hopes are high for a potential Superclasico final that would send the nation into collective delirium. River appear to be hitting their stride at the right time, having scored 11 goals in their last four matches, including a 4-1 thrashing of reigning champions Velez Sarsfield, who failed to qualify for the knockouts. Boca were on top form before a late stumble, including a Superclasico loss, saw them slip from top spot on goal difference. Beyond the Buenos Aires giants, Group A winners Argentinos Juniors are seeking their first title since 2010, while Rosario Central, leaders in Group B, could be well positioned to end a 38-year league championship drought. YOUNG TALENT TAKING CENTRE STAGE Despite a steady stream of promising players heading abroad, Argentina's production line continues to turn out talent. River remain one of the most important academies and their 17-year-old midfielder Franco Mastantuono has been linked with a move to Manchester United as he attracted attention with his stunning free-kick in last month's Superclasico. Winger Ian Subiabre has also drawn Premier League interest, increasing his playing time in River's attack. The 18-year-old could follow in the footsteps of former teammate Claudio Echeverri, who joined Manchester City after a few senior games. Boca have 19-year-old Milton Delgado, widely regarded as one of the world's top midfield prospects, while Kevin Zenon appears set for European shores after this year's Club World Cup. Rosario Central striker Santiago Lopez has also made a strong impression, scoring twice in his last six regular-season appearances. WHAT'S AT STAKE? Beyond national glory, the Apertura champions automatically qualify for the 2026 Copa Libertadores - South America's Champions League - and will contest the Argentine Champions Trophy against the Clausura winners. WHO QUALIFIED? ZONE A ZONE B Argentinos Rosario Central Juniors Boca Juniors River Plate Racing Club Independiente Huracan San Lorenzo Tigre Deportivo Riestra Independiente Platense Rivadavia Barracas Lanus Central Estudiantes Instituto LAST 16 FIXTURES: May 10: San Lorenzo v Tigre Rosario Central v Estudiantes Racing Club v Platense Boca Juniors v Lanus May 11: Independiente v Independiente Rivadavia Argentinos Juniors v Instituto Huracan v Deportivo Riestra May 12: River Plate v Barracas REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Explainer-Soccer-Argentine Apertura tournament explained
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Argentine Primera Division - River Plate v Boca Juniors - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - April 27, 2025 Boca Juniors' Kevin Zenon in action with River Plate's Facundo Colidio REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle/File Photo (Reuters) - Argentina's football season shifts into high gear this weekend as the Apertura tournament kicks off its knockout phase, setting the stage for three weeks of drama. Here's everything you need to know as Argentina's top clubs chase glory. WHAT IS THE APERTURA? The Apertura or "Opening" tournament is half of Argentina's split-season format, which was reintroduced in 2025 after its last implementation in 2012. It runs from January to June and is followed by the Clausura or "Closing" tournament from July to December. HOW DID WE GET HERE? The tournament reaches its climax after a 16-round group stage, where 30 clubs are split into two 15-team groups or zones playing 14 matches within their group and two inter-zonal clashes against the other. The top eight from each zone advance to the knockout stage, seeded by their regular-season results in a bracket designed to keep the nation's fiercest rivals apart until a possible final showdown. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be single-legged ties hosted by the higher-seeded team with matches level after 90 minutes proceeding straight to penalties. The final will be played on neutral ground at the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero on June 1, with extra time before penalties if necessary. WHO ARE THE CONTENDERS? Despite occasional stumbles through the group stage, River Plate and Boca Juniors remain the dominant forces in Argentine football, accounting for seven of the last 10 league titles between them. With the big two on opposite sides of the bracket, hopes are high for a potential Superclasico final that would send the nation into collective delirium. River appear to be hitting their stride at the right time, having scored 11 goals in their last four matches, including a 4-1 thrashing of reigning champions Velez Sarsfield, who failed to qualify for the knockouts. Boca were on top form before a late stumble, including a Superclasico loss, saw them slip from top spot on goal difference. Beyond the Buenos Aires giants, Group A winners Argentinos Juniors are seeking their first title since 2010, while Rosario Central, leaders in Group B, could be well positioned to end a 38-year league championship drought. YOUNG TALENT TAKING CENTRE STAGE Despite a steady stream of promising players heading abroad, Argentina's production line continues to turn out talent. River remain one of the most important academies and their 17-year-old midfielder Franco Mastantuono has been linked with a move to Manchester United as he attracted attention with his stunning free-kick in last month's Superclasico. Winger Ian Subiabre has also drawn Premier League interest, increasing his playing time in River's attack. The 18-year-old could follow in the footsteps of former teammate Claudio Echeverri, who joined Manchester City after a few senior games. Boca have 19-year-old Milton Delgado, widely regarded as one of the world's top midfield prospects, while Kevin Zenon appears set for European shores after this year's Club World Cup. Rosario Central striker Santiago Lopez has also made a strong impression, scoring twice in his last six regular-season appearances. WHAT'S AT STAKE? Beyond national glory, the Apertura champions automatically qualify for the 2026 Copa Libertadores - South America's Champions League - and will contest the Argentine Champions Trophy against the Clausura winners. WHO QUALIFIED? ZONE A ZONE B Argentinos Rosario Central Juniors Boca Juniors River Plate Racing Club Independiente Huracan San Lorenzo Tigre Deportivo Riestra Independiente Platense Rivadavia Barracas Lanus Central Estudiantes Instituto LAST 16 FIXTURES: May 10: San Lorenzo v Tigre Rosario Central v Estudiantes Racing Club v Platense Boca Juniors v Lanus May 11: Independiente v Independiente Rivadavia Argentinos Juniors v Instituto Huracan v Deportivo Riestra May 12: River Plate v Barracas (Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris)
The Star
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Geography exam on hold as River's Mastantuono nets stunner
Soccer Football - Argentine Primera Division - River Plate v Boca Juniors - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - April 27, 2025 River Plate's Franco Mastantuono celebrates after the match REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle (Reuters) -Franco Mastantuono took time out from preparing for a geography exam to score a spectacular curling free kick which helped River Plate beat arch-rivals Boca Juniors 2-1 in Sunday's Argentine Superclasico. "Preparing for the geography exam," River Plate posted on X on Monday with a picture of 17-year-old Mastantuono, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United, lining up his shot from nearly 30 metres out. Mastantuono had been scheduled to sit the exam on Monday but was worried he had insufficient time to revise, so River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo called his school to request a postponement which was granted, Argentine media reported. (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
The Star
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-River edge Boca 2-1 in pulsating Argentine 'Superclasico'
Soccer Football - Argentine Primera Division - River Plate v Boca Juniors - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - April 27, 2025 River Plate's Sebastian Driussi and teammates celebrate after the match REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -River Plate secured a hard-fought 2-1 home win over Boca Juniors in a tense 'Superclasico' in Argentina's Primera Division Apertura competition on Sunday to claim bragging rights over their arch rivals. Seventeen-year-old striker Franco Mastantuono opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a spectacular effort, curling a left-footed free kick into the bottom corner of Agustin Marchesin's net. Boca hit back through Miguel Merentiel, who capitalised on a defensive error by German Pezzella on a swift counter-attack to slot his sixth goal of the season in the 38th minute. However, River's relentless high press paid off when Sebastian Driussi restored the hosts' advantage with an incisive close-range finish on the stroke of halftime after his header rebounded off Marchesin. Already assured of a place in the last 16, Boca remain top of Group A on 32 points, two clear of Argentinos Juniors. River stay third in Group B on 28 points, level on points with second-placed Independiente, who have two games in hand. (Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico CityEditing by Toby Davis)
Reuters
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
River Plate stifled in 0-0 draw at Deportivo Riestra
BUENOS AIRES, March 15 (Reuters) - River Plate were held to a 0-0 draw at Deportivo Riestra in the Argentine Primera Division on Saturday, a result that left them second in the Group B table. River Plate have 19 points, one behind Independiente, having played one more match. Deportivo are fifth with 13 points. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. Miguel Borja went closest to scoring in first-half stoppage time, as the River Plate striker got into the box and nearly got round on-rushing Deportivo keeper Ignacio Arce. However, his shot from a tight angle hit the post. The second half was uneventful, with neither side showing much attacking intent, and River Plate registered the only shot on target despite dominating in possession.
