Overview
- Kickoff is 17:00 at José Amalfitani with Leandro Rey Hilfer refereeing, Adrián Franklin on VAR, and TNT Sports carrying the broadcast.
- To keep Libertadores hopes alive, River must beat Vélez and needs Argentinos Juniors to lose to Estudiantes to at least reach the preliminary phase.
- If Lanús goes on to win the Copa Sudamericana, an extra berth would open and could shift River into the 2026 group stage should the other results fall into place.
- Marcelo Gallardo travels with a depleted squad, with injuries to Maximiliano Meza, Facundo Colidio and Gonzalo Montiel, suspensions for Lucas Martínez Quarta and Marcos Acuña, international duty for Kevin Castaño and Matías Galarza, and the surprise omissions of Miguel Borja and Paulo Díaz.
- Beyond Libertadores permutations, River also risks missing the Clausura playoffs without a win, and a separate set of results could even set up a Boca–River meeting in the round of 16 if standings align.