River Plate Maintains Fourth Place Standing Following Sunday's Match Results
A late equalizer in the match between Belgrano and Barracas Central helped River Plate retain its position in the league standings.
River Plate secured its current standing in the league table this past Sunday, despite not playing, following a favorable outcome in the match between Belgrano and Barracas Central. The result provided a measure of relief for the team following their recent loss in the superclásico, a match that had been marked by intense controversy surrounding officiating and VAR decisions.
Entering the weekend, River Plate faced the possibility of dropping from fourth to fifth place in the standings. Had Belgrano maintained their two-goal lead against Barracas Central, they would have reached 25 points, effectively displacing River Plate. The distinction between these two positions is significant, as the fourth-place team is granted home-field advantage for the round of 16 in the Clausura tournament, whereas the fifth-place team must play on the road.
The match in Alberdi appeared to be heading toward a victory for Belgrano for much of the contest, thanks to a brace from Passerini. However, the momentum shifted in the final ten minutes of play. Barracas Central managed to narrow the deficit in the 80th minute when Rolón scored with a volley.
The turning point occurred in the sixth minute of stoppage time, when Demartini scored the equalizing goal for Barracas Central. The ball slowly crossed the goal line, finalizing a comeback that prevented Belgrano from securing the win. This result left River Plate, Belgrano, and Barracas Central all tied with 23 points.
Despite the tie in points, River Plate remains in fourth place due to a superior goal difference of +5, compared to +3 for Belgrano and +2 for Barracas Central. This statistical advantage is critical as the team approaches the final match of the regular season.
Looking ahead, River Plate is scheduled to face Aldosivi in their final fixture. A victory in that match would essentially guarantee the team the fourth-place spot and ensure that they host their round of 16 matchup at the Monumental stadium. While Aldosivi has already been relegated, River Plate must remain focused, as a significant goal-differential swing by their rivals could still mathematically impact the standings.