With just six match days remaining, the Argentine football league is wide open and seven teams have a shot at winning the title. Vélez Sarsfield, Huracán, Racing Club, River Plate, Talleres, Unión and Atlético Tucuman are vying for the title, while others are aiming for international spots. But who are the favorites, and who will qualify for next season’s international cups? Let’s take a look.

Vélez Sarsfield

League leaders with 42 points, Vélez beat Tigre on Thursday to break a three-game tying streak that saw their points lead halved. Head coach Gustavo Quinteros did a great job turning Vélez into a contender. Previously fighting the possibility of relegation, they narrowly missed out on the first title of the season when they lost to Estudiantes de La Plata in the Copa de la Liga final.

The only contender in control of their fate, the Fortín (the little fort) mostly has an easy run up to the finish line, but for three obstacles: a Copa Argentina semi final tie against Boca on November 28, and a tough two last games: against Unión away and at home against second-placed Huracán.

Huracán

Hot on Vélez’s heels with 39 points, Huracán is another team that has turned its form around in a major way after finishing 26th in the 2023 league. They’re now in a great position to take advantage of any Vélez slip ups.

But winning it all will require a major effort by coach Frank Kudelka’s team: their schedule will see them visit two contenders in Atlético Tucuman and Talleres, as well as hosting two formidable opponents: Independiente and Boca.

If things go to the wire, they’re set up for a rematch of their infamous 2009 crash, when they lost the title at Vélez Sarsfield in a highly controversial game.

Racing Club

With the Copa Sudamericana final against Brazil’s Cruzeiro on November 23 giving them a shot at their first international title since 1988, Racing arguably has a taller ordeal ahead.

However, coach Gustavo Costas’ team has seen a resurgence in recent games, with three wins in its last four. Third on 34 points, Racing may be too far behind the main contenders to catch up, but a relatively easy match schedule could help if the frontrunners drop the ball. 

La Academia also needs to secure its spot in the 2025 Copa Libertadores via the overall yearly table, where it’s just one point above the drop.

River Plate, Talleres, Unión and Atlético Tucuman

The quartet tied on 33 points have the hardest task ahead. The top ranks as they stand would have to collapse entirely for any of them to be in with a shot.

Talleres have been a perennial candidate in recent years, but a patchy run of three ties and two losses since October — including a 2-1 loss at home to Lanús on Thursday — has seen them slide down the ranks. The team still needs a few good results to overcome either Racing or River in the overall yearly table, and upcoming clashes with Unión away and Huracán at home could throw a spanner in the works,

River, fourth on goal difference, is a late arrival to the challenge. Marcelo Gallardo’s team rescued a 3-2 win away against Instituto to stay near the fight and hasn’t lost in the league since September. Playing arguably the easiest remaining calendar of the contenders could help them lock down a Libertadores spot and narrow the gap, but the title race is out of their hands.

Unión, coached by former Argentina international Cristian “Kily” González, has suffered from inconsistency, with four losses in its last five matches. Meanwhile, Atlético Tucumán are just bouncing back from a five-game run without a win, meaning their upcoming clash against González’s side on Friday could determine which one remains a title hopeful

Boca in the Copa Sudamericana?

Far from the title run — thirteenth with 28 points — Boca Juniors are more interested in the overall yearly table than the Liga Profesional. After struggling in the first half of the league, the Xeneize are only in the fight for a spot in the international competitions. 

A 4-1 win against Godoy Cruz on Wednesday broke a four-match losing streak, and put the Xeneize on 53 points, four points clear of the first non-qualifying spot. Clashes with Unión, Huracán and fellow cups qualification hopefuls Independiente will be key for new coach Fernando Gago to secure a spot in international competitions.

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