Clausura 2026 standings: Vélez joins the title race as Boca drops two points

Vélez moved firmly into the fight at both ends of the Torneo Clausura 2026 after beating Estudiantes 1-0. The result lifted Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s team to 16 points in Zone A, level with Gimnasia de Mendoza.

The victory also brought Vélez within one point of the annual-table leaders. Independiente Rivadavia and Argentinos Juniors remain tied on 45 points, while Vélez has 44. The annual standings will determine the Liga Profesional champion after the regular phases of the Apertura and Clausura.

Boca, meanwhile, left Mendoza with a bitter draw. Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s team led Gimnasia de Mendoza twice but conceded a 2-2 equalizer late in the match. The point kept Boca inside the Zone A qualification places and near the top of the annual table, but the result felt like a win had slipped away.

Gimnasia de Mendoza stayed at the top of Zone A on 16 points, alongside Vélez. Instituto also has 16 points and could finish the round as sole leader if it beats Unión in Santa Fe. Defensa y Justicia follows on 14 points with a match in hand against Lanús. Newell’s and Boca have 11, while Unión and Independiente sit on 10, currently occupying the final qualification places for the round of 16.

The margins remain narrow. San Lorenzo, Riestra and Platense each have nine points, only one behind the qualification zone. Behind the leaders in the annual table, Boca and Gimnasia de La Plata have 41 points, Rosario Central has 39, and Estudiantes and Belgrano have 38. Instituto has 37 and one match left to play.