River Plate is in a complicated situation after being eliminated in the semifinals of the 2025 Copa Libertadores and being eliminated from the Copa Argentina. Currently, the team has not guaranteed its participation in next year's continental tournament, and the chances of qualifying through the Liga Profesional are slim due to the lead that Vélez has in the table.
The only viable option for River at this moment is to secure their participation in the Copa Libertadores through qualification via the Annual Table of the Argentine Football Association (AFA). To achieve this, the team led by Marcelo Gallardo needs to surpass Talleres and Godoy Cruz in points, teams they have already lost to this season.
In the annual table, River is in fourth place, just two points behind Talleres and Godoy Cruz. The fight to stay among the top positions intensifies as teams like Racing, Huracán, Boca, and Unión are close and could surpass them in the event of a stumble.
River's upcoming matches in the Liga Profesional will be crucial for their continental aspirations, facing teams such as Banfield, Instituto, San Lorenzo, Estudiantes (LP), and Racing. The performance in these matches will be fundamental to getting closer to the goal of qualifying for the Copa Libertadores.
One possibility that could benefit River is if Vélez, the leader of the annual table, wins a title in one of the ongoing tournaments and frees up spots for continental qualification. However, depending on the results of other teams is not a secure strategy, so River must focus on accumulating as many points as possible in the upcoming matches.
The Argentine team begins its path on Saturday, November 2, facing Banfield at the Monumental, in a key match that will determine the course of its aspirations in the 2025 Copa Libertadores. River's obligation is to keep the hope of the continental tournament alive, and this will depend on their performance in the remaining matches of the season.
