Overview
- Kickoff is Sunday at 17:00 at José Amalfitani with Leandro Rey Hilfer refereeing, Adrián Franklin on VAR, and TNT Sports broadcasting.
- River must win to stay in contention for a 2026 Copa Libertadores place and needs Argentinos Juniors to lose, or a draw in La Plata paired with a River win by at least two goals.
- Marcelo Gallardo left Paulo Díaz and Miguel Ángel Borja out of the squad, while River also lacks Kevin Castaño (national team), Lucas Martínez Quarta and Marcos Acuña (suspensions), and injured Maximiliano Meza; Facundo Colidio is out and Gonzalo Montiel is being rested.
- TN reports likely lineups featuring Enzo Pérez back in River’s midfield with Juan Fernando Quintero behind Sebastián Driussi and Maximiliano Salas, and a Vélez XI that includes Manuel Lanzini and Francisco Pizzini.
- Vélez, coached by Guillermo Barros Schelotto, is already through to the round of 16 but enters on two straight defeats that could cost it home-field advantage in the knockouts.