Although the format of the Clausura allows a team to win the title without winning any of the four playoff matches in regulation or extra time, thanks to a penalty shootout, common sense suggests that the champion should win from the Round of 16 to the final. Therefore, River Plate fans are asking: how long has it been since Marcelo Gallardo's team had such a positive streak? In the second cycle of Gallardo's tenure as River's coach, the team only managed four consecutive wins once, which was actually five: starting with the victory in the Superclásico of the Apertura at the Monumental (2-1), River beat Vélez (4-1) in the local league, Barcelona de Ecuador in the Libertadores (3-2), Barracas (3-0), and Independiente del Valle in the Copa (6-2). This streak occurred from April 27 to May 15. Therefore, it has been over six months since River last achieved a streak of four consecutive wins. However, in the second half of the year, River did manage an impressive 12-match unbeaten run: against Platense (3-1), Instituto (4-0), San Lorenzo (0-0), San Martín de Tucumán in the Copa Argentina (3-0), Independiente (0-0), Libertad in the Libertadores Round of 16 (0-0 and 1-1, advancing on penalties), Godoy Cruz (4-2), Lanús (1-1), Unión in the Copa Argentina (0-0 and advancing on penalties), San Martín SJ (2-0), and Estudiantes (2-1). Armani's penalty saves against Unión and Libertad have boosted confidence.
