Updated May 5, 2025

The 2025 Torneo Apertura is moving into the second phase, and Liga Profesional teams are preparing for the knockout stages with an eye on the title. But how is this stage played? Who has qualified? And who are the strongest candidates for champion?

What are the 2025 Torneo Apertura play-offs?

The 2025 Liga Profesional — the top division in Argentine football — was split into two tournaments: the Torneo Apertura from January to June, and the Torneo Clausura from July to December. 

Both tournaments see the 30 teams split into two 15-team groups. Each one faces its group rivals once, with two additional games outside their pool — a derby game against their traditional rival and another decided by a draw. In both tournaments, the top eight teams of each group  at the end of the league phase qualify for the play-offs. 

The play-offs determine each tournament’s champion. The round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals are all played as a single-game at the stadium of the team that finished higher in the league standings. The final is played on neutral ground.

Who is going to play?

After the 16 league phase games, teams already know who their next rivals will be, as clashes are decided based on their standing in the groups. The leader in one group will play the eighth-placed team from the other, seconds play sevenths, and so on.

Argentinos Juniors took over the top spot in Group A after Boca Juniors drew 1-1 to Tigre on Sunday, in their first game after sacking head coach Fernando Gago. 

With the teams tied on 33 points, the Bicho Colorado took first spot due to a better goal differential than the Xeneize. They will face Instituto (Córdoba) and Lanús respectively.

Third-placed Racing and fourth-placed Huracán wrap up group A’s seeded teams. They will take on Platense and Deportivo Riestra, respectively.

In Group B, Rosario Central secured the top spot, beating Independiente 1-0 on Saturday. However, the biggest news was River Plate’s 4-1 thrashing of Vélez Sarsfield, enough to secure second place for the Millonario. That result also means that there won’t be a repeat Superclásico in the Torneo Apertura unless Boca and River reach the final.

Marcelo Gallardo’s team will take on Barracas Central, while the leaders will go up against Estudiantes.

Third-placed Independiente will take on its Mendoza namesake Independiente Rivadavia, with fourth-placed San Lorenzo taking on Tigre, wrapping up the group.

The fixture therefore looks like this:

Argentinos (1st A) vs. Instituto (8th B)

San Lorenzo (4th B) vs. Tigre (5th A)

River (2nd B) vs. Barracas Central (7th A)

Racing (3rd A) vs. Platense (6th B)

Rosario Central (1st B) vs. Estudiantes (8th A)

Huracán (4th A) vs. Deportivo Riestra (5th B)

Boca (2nd A) vs. Lanús (7th B)

Independiente (3rd B) vs. Independiente Rivadavia (6th A)

All matchups will be played the weekend of May 11, with dates and times yet to be confirmed.

Who are the big favorites?

Despite their Superclásico loss against River, Group A leader Boca has all the tools to claim the crown. Injuries to star man Edinson Cavani and goalscorer Milton Giménez weakened the team at a key moment, but Boca was on a roll until that defeat, having won eight of its nine Liga Profesional games.

Unlike several of its competitors, the Xeneize is not competing in any continental competitions. Painful as this is for fans, the silver lining is that this means they can focus all of their efforts on the home tournament. 

The Superclasico was a big push for Marcelo Gallardo and River Plate. Before that win, the stands at the Monumental had started to mumble, as the team struggled to find its best form in the local tournament and the Copa Libertadores.

That is all in the past now and River is among the biggest candidates for the title, particularly if youngster Franco Mastantuono can sustain the form he showcased in the big game.

For a dark horse, look no further than Tigre. Head coach Diego Dabove turned a team that had struggled to avoid relegation in the past two seasons into a well-oiled footballing machine. A run of seven wins in their first nine games — including a 3-0 thumping of defending champion Vélez in their debut — shot them up the table. 

While they didn’t wrap up the league phase in style, knockout stages games are always closely fought and the Matador, as the club is affectionately known, could surprise many.