River Plate defeats Racing Club and prepares for Superclásico

River Plate secured a vital 1-0 victory against Racing Club on Sunday night at the Monumental Stadium during the 14th round of the 2026 Torneo Clausura. The win allowed the team led by interim coach Leonardo Ponzio to solidify its position in the playoff zone, climbing to fourth place in Group B with 23 points.

The lone goal of the match came in the 33rd minute of the first half when defender Lautaro Rivero scored with a header following a well-executed team play on the left flank initiated by midfielder Ángel Correa. The strike proved decisive against a struggling Racing side.

Racing, currently managed on an interim basis by Sebastián Romero, dropped to 13th place in the group standings with 12 points. With this defeat, the Avellaneda squad lost all mathematical chances of qualifying among the top eight teams or securing a berth in international cup competitions for the season.

The encounter was not without controversy. Near the end of the first half, River thought it had scored a second goal, but a Video Assistant Referee review disallowed it because the opposing goalkeeper, Facundo Cambeses, was obstructed in an offside position during the sequence.

Following the match, River defender Gonzalo Montiel expressed frustration regarding officiating standards. He criticized the VAR for failing to review a harsh challenge he received from Alejandro Tello, stating that it warranted more than a yellow card.

Despite the refereeing complaints, River turned its focus toward the upcoming Superclásico against Boca Juniors. The high-profile fixture is scheduled for next Sunday at La Bombonera, where the Millonario aims to continue climbing both in the Clausura standings and the annual aggregate table.