A new hope and a new dream begin for all first-division clubs in Argentina. It’s May, but in Argentine football, the second half of the year kicks off. This Friday, the Argentine Professional League (LPF) begins, and in December, we will have a new champion: will River Plate achieve the back-to-back championship under Martin Demichelis’s coaching, or will Boca Juniors return to reign as in 2022?
Perhaps the time has come to break with Argentina’s giants’ streak of dominating the long tournaments in the last five years. For this, the clubs are already warming up: this Friday, they will kick off Sarmiento (J)—Instituto (19 Buenos Aires time), Argentinos Juniors—Rosario Central, and Newell’s—Platense (both at 21.15 Buenos Aires time).
The LPF will have a break between June 20 and July 14 for the Copa América to be played in the United States. As defined in the AFA, it will have 27 rounds, only four dates during the week, and will end on December 15. Regarding the development, it will be everyone against everyone in one round, and the first will be the champion.
Unless changes during the championship, relegations will continue as before, one by average and another by Annual Table (the last one added the two competitions: LPF and League Cup).
Professional League and How Do Clubs Qualify For International Cups?
Argentina’s tournament calendar is messed up, so don’t worry if you get lost in the explanation. I will explain it as simply and plainly as possible!
The champions of the League Cup (Estudiantes), the champion of the Professional League, which starts this Friday, and the champion of Argentina’s Cup (analog to the FA in England), which has already begun to be played, qualify directly for the Copa Libertadores 2025.
Until the League’s start, those qualifying are Godoy Cruz, River Plate, and Argentinos Juniors.
Meanwhile, for the Annual Table (points are added between the League Cup and Professional League), the first three will go, not counting the champions of the tournaments. For the Copa Sudamericana, a place will be guaranteed for those who finish between fifth and tenth place in the Annual (six clubs).
Today, Barracas Central, Defensa y Justicia, Boca Juniors, Vélez Sarsfield, Racing, and Talleres (C) will be entering.
Who’s Going Down?
This year, the relegations will continue as in 2023: one by averages and another by Annual Table (the last one adding the two competitions: LPF and League Cup).
Currently, Tigre would be going down to the National due to its score in the Annual Table. By average, Independiente Rivadavia, which ascended last year, would be going down.
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Why Is It So Important for Boca Juniors To Win The Title?
With the League Cup slipping away, Boca let one of the chances to qualify for the Libertadores 2025 slip. Therefore, the Professional League that starts this Friday, May 10, as well as the Argentina Cup, has now become another direct ticket to the cup that the Xeneize so badly wants to play again.
Especially after losing the 2023 final and missing this year’s edition. Shame on Boca for not playing the 2024 edition while trying to uphold the club’s legacy as one of the biggest clubs in Argentina, alongside River Plate, of course.
“Now begins a beautiful, long tournament, and we know we have to fight because we have to put Boca at the top. I’m not saying we have to win it, but almost… We should win it”, Sergio “Chiquito” Romero said and corrected himself in statements to TyC Sports after the 2-1 against Sportivo Trinidense last night.
Boca has not won an international title since 2007 after beating Gremio in the Libertadores Cup final. They have gone 18 long years without lifting an international cup, while their all-time rival River Plate won 2 Libertadores, 1 Sudamericana, and 12 more titles (national and international) under the club’s idol coach, Marcelo Gallardo, from 2014 to 2021.
They even won the most important Latin American football competition in 2019, the Libertadores Cup, against their all-time ‘Clásico’ (friendly rivalry), Boca Juniors. That day made it to the history books and will haunt Boca’s fans forever.
Therefore, Chiquito Romero’s statement, a team reference, makes sense. What is it about? Even with the fresh victory in Paraguay, the goalkeeper already has his sights set on the significance that the local championship will have for the Diego Martínez team.
The SudaAmericana: A Triple Prize For Boca
Indeed, if Boca wins the Sudamericana, it will become the all-time winner of this competition, with three trophies. So far it has two, like Independiente, Athlético Paranaense, Independiente del Valle, and Liga de Quito.
It would also mean conquering an international title again after 18 years since the last time was the conquest of the Recopa Sudamericana in 2008 against Arsenal.
In addition to those two awards, in the case of achieving the Sudamericana, it would also get through this cup the biggest prize: the qualification to the Libertadores 2025.
Kick-Off Fixture (Buenos Aires time)
Friday, May 10
19:00- Sarmiento (J) — Instituto
21:15- Argentinos — Rosario Central
21:15- Newell’s — Platense
Saturday, May 11
14:30- Huracán — Def y Justicia
15:30- Godoy Cruz — Barracas Central
17:30- Independiente — Talleres (C)
19:45- River Plate — Central Cba (SdE)
Sunday, May 12
15:30- Riestra — San Lorenzo
15:30- Tigre — Estudiantes (LP)
17:45- Belgrano — Racing Club
17:45- Lanús — Independiente Rivadavia
20:15- Atlético Tucumán — Boca Juniors
Monday, May 13
19:00- Gimnasia (LP) — Vélez
21:00- Unión — Banfield
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