Argentina's Apertura Tournament: A Guide to the Knockout Phase and Top Contenders
Source: news.source.channelnewsasia
The Apertura tournament, part of Argentina's split-season football format, enters its thrilling knockout phase this weekend. Running from January to June, the tournament features 30 clubs divided into two zones, with the top eight from each advancing to single-legged knockout matches. The final will be held at the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades. River Plate and Boca Juniors are highlighted as the dominant forces in the competition, despite facing challenges during the group stage.
Key Points
The Apertura tournament is part of Argentina's split-season format, running from January to June.
The tournament includes a 16-round group stage with 30 clubs split into two zones.
The knockout phase starts with the top eight teams from each zone advancing.
Matches in the knockout phase are single-legged, hosted by the higher-seeded team, with penalties if tied after 90 minutes.
The final will be held on neutral ground in Santiago del Estero on June 1.
River Plate and Boca Juniors are noted as the dominant teams, despite some struggles in the group stage.
