Date 12 of the
Professional League Cup
already had its first three episodes - about the enormity of 14 - and the scenario for the quarterfinals was radically modified. The thing is that there were changes of command in both zones and also among those who are qualifying for the playoffs that will define the champion.
Zone A
Zone A was the one that had action this Holy Thursday. At the Gigante de Arroyito there was a strong impact:
Barracas Central
beat
Rosario Central
2-1 and not only broke Miguel Ángel Russo's team's unbeaten record at home in 32 games - the last defeat had been on 08/22/ 2022 against Banfield-, but also made the leap and reached the top of the table for a while.
It was for a while because
Argentinos Juniors
surpassed him with the agonizing 2-1 victory they achieved, with a comeback included and a forced change of shirt for Maxi Romero, over Instituto in Alta Córdoba - where there were incidents due to a fight between bars. Pablo Guede's team not only achieved its first away win of the campaign, but was left a foot and a half inside the playoffs.
The action in this group will continue with two who want to reach Bicho de La Paternal and surpass the surprising Barracas Central. This Friday
River
and Huracán will play, in Parque Patricios. On Saturday, meanwhile, it will be
Vélez
's turn who will go to Córdoba to visit
Talleres
, who also needs the points to continue in the race.
On Sunday, finally, it will be the turn of
Gimnasia La Plata-Riestra
,
Independiente-Atlético Tucumán
and
Independiente Rivadavia-Banfield
. In these three games, the one with the best chance of qualifying is Independiente, although it cannot afford to leave points along the way.
Zone B
In Zone B, however, the activity began on Thursday and that marked
Lanús
reaching
Godoy Cruz
at the heights of the classification after the agonizing 2-2 draw at home against
Unión de Santa Fe
.
This Friday the area's programming will continue with the clash between
Defensa y Justicia
and
Estudiantes
-two who are in the fight- in Florencio Varela and with the bottom duel between
Tigre
and
Belgrano
.
On Saturday, meanwhile, it will be the turn of two key matches:
Boca
receives
San Lorenzo
and neither of them can afford to lose because the pass to the quarterfinals will be very compromised. And the same thing will happen a while later with
Racing
, which is in the same situation and must measure forces against
Central Córdoba
in Santiago del Estero.
On Sunday, meanwhile, there will be another important meeting, since
Newell's
, another one that is in the conversation, visits
Sarmiento de Junín
. Finally, on Monday,
Godoy Cruz
, the other leader, will visit Platense knowing that a victory will guarantee qualification for Oldrá and his boys.