The Argentine Professional Football League's Apertura Tournament has entered a decisive phase after the completion of matchday 10, and a situation encompasses the five major teams: all of them are in playoff qualification spots, but are far from shining. According to the Argentine News Agency, the best-positioned teams are Independiente and River Plate, both with 14 points, but whose squads are heavily questioned by their fans. Independiente's fans feel the team is underperforming and have made it known with whistles during and after matches. The 'Reds' show a good level and constantly pressure their opponents, but they suffer from a lack of finishing. This is why they have only won three games, drawn five, and lost one. River Plate, for its part, started very strongly, with seven points from a possible nine in the first three matchdays. However, the string of negative results led to the resignation of Marcelo Gallardo and the subsequent arrival of Eduardo 'Chacho' Coudet, who debuted with a 2-1 victory over Huracán this Thursday. River's classic rival, Boca, has been in a serious sporting crisis for several years, and 2026 is no exception. While the team led by Claudio Úbeda has 13 points and is seventh in Zone A, they are far from their ideal level, having drawn four consecutive games at La Bombonera, and their manager is seriously questioned. San Lorenzo has the same number of points and is going through one of the biggest institutional crises in its history while its reduced squad works miracles on the field. The 'Cyclone' squad faces each matchday head-on and remains in the fight for a playoff spot despite the constant negative news drowning out the Boedo club. San Lorenzo shares the eighth position with Defensa y Justicia, so they urgently need to win games to avoid slipping out of qualification. Finally, Racing is suffering the consequences of its horrific start to the Apertura Tournament, in which it lost its first three appearances. Despite having already gone six games without a loss, the team led by Gustavo Costas could only climb to seventh place in Zone B, thanks to the 12 points they have earned. Although the five big teams have good chances of making the playoffs, all of them need to improve much if they want to fight for the League Champion title, which is awarded to the best team in the annual table.
