BUENOS AIRES — The Argentine Liga Profesional de Fútbol takes center stage tonight, February 12, 2026, as River Plate travels to the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona to face Argentinos Juniors in a high-stakes Round 5 clash of the Torneo Apertura.
Match Details and Kickoff Time
The match is scheduled to kick off at 9:15 PM local time (7:15 PM ET). Fans in Argentina can catch the live broadcast on TNT Sports. This fixture marks a critical juncture for Marcelo Gallardo’s side, who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing home defeat against Tigre in the previous round.
Current Standings and Form
Entering tonight’s match, the two sides find themselves in contrasting positions in the early Apertura table:
- River Plate: Currently sits in 4th place. Despite a recent 2-0 victory over La Plata featuring a brace from Juanfer Quintero, the “Millonario” has struggled with consistency, recently suffering a historic slump of home form.
- Argentinos Juniors: Occupies 10th place. “El Bicho” is looking to recover from a narrow 2-1 home loss to Racing Club. Historically, they have been a “bogey team” for River, particularly when playing in the tight confines of their home stadium in La Paternal.
Head-to-Head History
The rivalry between these two historic Buenos Aires clubs has been remarkably balanced in recent years. According to historical data since 2004:
- In their last 33 meetings, River Plate holds a slight edge with 8 wins to Argentinos Juniors’ 4, with 9 draws recorded in major tracking databases.
- Recent momentum favors the home side; in the last 12 months, Argentinos Juniors won two out of three head-to-head encounters, while River Plate failed to secure a victory in that span.
- The average scoring output in this fixture is approximately 1.03 goals per match, suggesting a tactical, low-scoring affair is likely tonight.
Projected Lineups and Tactical Outlook
Marcelo Gallardo is expected to field a strong starting XI to avoid falling further behind the league leaders. Reports indicate a focus on defensive stability following recent lapses. Argentinos Juniors, known for their technical proficiency and tactical awareness, will likely look to exploit the wings and pressure River’s build-up play.
With River Plate desperate to prove their title credentials and Argentinos Juniors aiming to maintain their home dominance in this fixture, tonight’s match promises to be an intense chapter in the 2026 Apertura season.