Argentinos Juniors' draw as the annual table leader is positive news for Club Atlético River Plate's aspirations to qualify for the 2027 Copa Libertadores. According to an analysis published by Ole, the 2026 Annual Table awards three direct spots to the premier continental tournament, and the leader's stumble brings the chasing teams closer.
The team from Núñez currently sits in seventh place with 39 points from 24 matches and a goal difference of +11. They are two points behind Boca Juniors (fourth with 41) and five behind Vélez Sarsfield in third. With 24 points still up for grabs over the remaining eight matchdays, the race for international berths is wide open. River Plate enters this decisive phase in good form, having beaten Independiente Rivadavia 3-1 on September 6 and stringing together three consecutive wins.
How does qualification for international cups work?
The Annual Table, which adds up points from the Apertura and Clausura phases of the Liga Profesional, is key for distributing spots. For the 2027 Copa Libertadores, the Apertura 2026 champion (Belgrano), the Clausura 2026 champion, and the 2026 Copa Argentina winner qualify directly. These are joined by the top three teams in the annual table, with the third-placed team entering the preliminary phase. The next six teams in the annual table, from fourth to ninth place, earn a ticket to the 2027 Copa Sudamericana.
This system, detailed by Ole, means River Plate, currently seventh, is just two points off fourth place which currently grants Sudamericana access, but also seven points behind leaders Argentinos Juniors (46 points). The immediate goal is to overtake the teams ahead to secure at least continental participation. You can follow the evolution of this tight race on our standings page.
What is River Plate's current situation?
Beyond the annual table, the team managed by Martín Demichelis shows irregular performance in the ongoing tournament. In the Liga Profesional Argentina, River Plate occupies tenth place with 10 points, from 3 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses in 8 games. Their goal tally is 10 for and 9 against. However, their recent form across all competitions is encouraging, with a run of 3 wins and 2 draws in their last five matches.
This upturn comes at a key point in the calendar. The team is seven points behind league leaders Argentinos Juniors, but the focus is also on the cumulative table. The next test will be a tough away match against Atlético Tucumán, who are fourth in the table, on September 12. The details of upcoming fixtures are available in our fixtures calendar.
What does River Plate need to reach the Libertadores?
With 24 points left to play for, the math is clear. River Plate must collect as many points as possible in the final eight rounds to climb the table. Overtaking Boca Juniors and Vélez Sarsfield is the immediate objective to break into the direct Libertadores qualification zone. They must also keep other chasers like Independiente, whom they trail by six points, at bay.
The margin is narrow but achievable. The leader's points advantage shrank after their draw, injecting optimism at the Monumental. Every result from the top rivals will be scrutinized. Consistency will be the deciding factor in this final stretch. To evaluate the squad's performance, fans can check individual statistics in our stats section.
The journey continues on Thursday, September 12 with the clash in Tucumán, a vital match to maintain the positive run and keep pressing in the annual table.
