Torneo Apertura 2026: Who’s facing who for a spot in the semis?

The 2026 Torneo Apertura, the tournament that opens the season for the Argentine Professional Football League, has entered the quarter-finals stage after a weekend that saw 16 clubs face each other.  The eight teams that won will clash on Tuesday and Wednesday, with home-ground advantage for the higher seed, in a single-match elimination for a spot in the semis and a step closer to the title.  These are the matchups that will see four favorites emerge. Belgrano (Córdoba) vs. Unión (Santa Fe) The Pirata from Córdoba took out its traditional derby rival Talleres on Saturday, in a high-stakes duel that broke what had been a deadlock of seven consecutive ties between the two. It will go up against Unión from Santa Fe, which pulled off the shock win of the first round, upsetting the Annual Table leaders, Independiente Rivadavia, 2-1 in Mendoza. It is the fifth year in a row that top-seed teams are out in round of 16. They’ll face off on Tuesday, May 12, at 7 p.m. at Belgrano’s Julio César Villagra stadium Argentinos Juniors vs. Huracán The second of Tuesday’s duels will bring the focus back to Buenos Aires City. Argentinos Juniors soundly took out Lanús, with a 2-0 win at La Paternal. The only seeded team to progress in the tournament on Saturday cemented its candidate status. It’ll go up against a Huracán team that pulled the other big shock of the first round. It took out Boca Juniors at La Bombonera in a 3-2 thriller that went to extra time. It was the Xeneize’s fourth home tournament elimination in just 15 months. Argentinos Juniors will host Huracán at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. Rosario Central vs. Racing Club Action on Wednesday opens up with a favorite and a dark horse. Rosario Central earned a well-deserved 3-1 victory over Independiente to make it to this stage. Spearheaded by Ángel Di María, the team also showed its bright future, with goals from two players born in 2007. Racing secured a much-needed 1-0 win against Estudiantes in the 89th minute away from home. It was fresh air for Gustavo Costas’ team, who are on the brink of elimination at the Copa Sudamericana and barely qualified for the Playoffs. They’ll clash at the Gigante de Arroyito stadium, in Rosario, at 7 p.m. River Plate vs. Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata The last matchup of the quarters sees River host Gimnasia. River required a miraculous finish to seal their ticket to the quarters, after securing a 2-2 tie in the 121st minute of extra time against San Lorenzo. In the penalty shootout, young goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán — who was one of the surprises included in Argentina’s World Cup long list announced on Monday — emerged as the hero, saving two penalties for the win. Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata surprised Vélez Sarsfield away from home, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the José Amalfitani stadium. The two will face off at the Monumental stadium at 9:30 p.m.