Buenos Aires, Jan 31 (NA) — Independiente drew 1-1 with Vélez at home in the third round of Zone B of the 2026 Liga Profesional Apertura tournament and once again dropped points in a match where it was superior.
At the Estadio Libertadores de América with live coverage from Agencia Noticias Argentinas, Gustavo Quinteros's team hosted Guillermo Barros Schelotto's side, who arrived unbeaten and with a perfect record after their two wins in the first rounds.
Meanwhile, 'Rojo' was also unbeaten but with two consecutive draws against Estudiantes and Newell's, matches in which it was superior but ended up drawing due to its own mistakes.
This afternoon in Avellaneda, unlike in previous rounds, Independiente started completely lost, in a heated atmosphere: the stands greeted the team with insults against the management.
'Rojo' could not withstand the intense pressure from Vélez, who took the lead in the 31st minute thanks to a goal from Jano Gordon.
In the second half, the start was similar to the first: Vélez had the best chances and tested goalkeeper Rodrigo Rey, who responded with great saves.
However, that dominance by Barros Schelotto's team lasted only five minutes; then Independiente completely took over the game.
"Call it a lack of efficiency or a lack of substitutes, Independiente wasted all kinds of opportunities against a Vélez that began to settle for the draw, thus maintaining its place among the top of the table.
Finally, 'Rojo' equalized and still has not won in this Apertura tournament, leaving the feeling of innocence at key moments and losing points that it could come to regret at the end of the championship.
"It was from a corner kick from the left that fell to the first post, deflected to the second, and the defender, advanced as a center forward, pushed it in to make it 1-0 in the 31st minute.
The four sectors of the Libertadores de América started with murmurs, but after the kickoff, Leonardo Godoy overlapped on the right, touched it short to Santiago Montiel, and sent a cross to the second post where Gordon, the same one who had opened the scoring for Vélez, finished pushing it into his own net to equalize for Independiente.
The own goal was a click for Independiente, which began to besiege Vélez and closed an acceptable first half.
Independiente demonstrates to be an offensive and versatile team, but defensively it offers many doubts, which generates concern for the transcendent matches of this first phase of the tournament.
