The Liga Profesional Argentina enters Clausura Matchweek 13 from 15 October to 20 October 2026, delivering 15 fixtures across both zones as the regular phase nears its decisive stretch. With position in the top four of each section dictating playoff qualification, every point carries weight in both Group A and Group B. Published forecasts for the remaining fixtures appear on each match page the day before kickoff as team news settles.
The match of the round: Huracan vs Gimnasia L.P.
Huracan host Gimnasia on 15 October in a Group B meeting between two teams locked on 19 points and separated only by goal difference. Huracan enter fifth in the standings, while Gimnasia sit sixth. The hosts suffered a 2-0 defeat away at Barracas Central in their last outing, but their home record remains sturdy. Huracan are unbeaten in six matches on their own ground, collecting clean sheets in two of those victories. Scoring has been their primary issue, having drawn a blank in four of their last ten matches across all competitions. Top scorer Jordy Caicedo, who has 13 goals in all competitions this season, remains their primary route to goal.
Gimnasia make the trip following three consecutive draws in league action, most recently finishing 1-1 at home against Atletico Tucuman and 1-1 away at Independiente Rivadavia. They enter without three confirmed absentees, as Gonzalo Errecalde, Jeremías Merlo, and Pedro Silva Torrejón are all sidelined with injuries. Marcelo Torres leads the visitors in scoring with eight goals, but breaking through a disciplined home defence will test their forward line.
Our forecasting model leans toward a Huracan win, though with low confidence given how evenly matched both sides have been across the campaign. The model shows stronger belief in a low-scoring encounter, projecting fewer than 2.5 goals in the match with medium confidence and calling for at least one side to be kept off the scoresheet. On a more speculative note, the model offers a 1-0 home victory as a low-confidence scoreline projection.
Match-by-match
Group A leaders Instituto Cordoba travel to second-placed Defensa y Justicia on 16 October in the round's biggest positional contest. Instituto lead the section with 26 points after a 2-2 draw with Boca Juniors, powered by Alex Luna's seven goals this season, though Luca Rafaelli is injured. Defensa y Justicia sit two points behind following back-to-back clean-sheet wins, but must cope without Aarón Molinas, Fernando Román, and Lucas Souto.
Boca Juniors host Talleres Cordoba later that night sitting third in Group A on 21 points. Miguel Merentiel has eight goals for Boca, though Adam Bareiro, Agustín Marchesín, and Alan Velasco are out injured. Talleres sit bottom of the section with nine points and are winless in three matches, missing Matías Gómez through injury.
Banfield meet Argentinos Juniors on 17 October in Group B. Argentinos Juniors sit third on 22 points following a 1-1 draw at Platense, missing Emiliano Viveros. Banfield are 11th on 13 points, having won 2-1 at Tigre in their last fixture, but miss Alexander Machado, Favio Álvarez, and Lautaro Gómez.
Independiente Rivadavia face Tigre aiming to steady their campaign after a heavy 5-0 loss at Rosario Central. The home side miss Ezequiel Bonifacio and Maximiliano Salas, while Tigre have lost three consecutive games and travel without Gonzalo Martínez, Mauro Méndez, and Nicolás Dubersarsky.
Platense host Lanus on 17 October in Group A. Platense are 13th with 11 points after consecutive draws, though Gonzalo Goñi, Héctor Bobadilla, and Ignacio Vázquez are out. Lanus sit fifth with 20 points following a 2-0 win over Velez Sarsfield, with Luciano Romero their sole confirmed absentee.
Group B leaders Rosario Central travel to Atletico Tucuman on 17 October. Rosario Central hold 22 points after a 5-0 win over Independiente Rivadavia, led by Ángel Di María's 10 goals, though Alan Rodríguez, Axel Werner, and Gaspar Duarte are injured. Atletico Tucuman have taken one point from their last three matches, with Gastón Suso, Kevin Ortíz, and top scorer Leandro Díaz sidelined.
Velez Sarsfield host Gimnasia Mendoza with just one point separating them in Group A. Velez sit fourth on 21 points despite a 2-0 loss to Lanus, but miss Emanuel Mammana, Matías Pellegrini, and top scorer Manuel Lanzini. Gimnasia Mendoza are sixth on 20 points after beating Newell's 1-0, with Agustín Módica holding 13 goals, though Franco Saavedra and Imanol González are out.
Racing Club face Independiente on 18 October in an Avellaneda derby. Racing are 13th in Group B with 11 points after a 2-0 defeat to Belgrano, missing Alan Forneris, Leandro Córdoba, and Marco Di Césare. Independiente sit seventh in Group A with 18 points, led by Gabriel Ávalos with 11 goals, while Facundo Zabala and Jonathan De Irastorza are out injured.
Estudiantes de La Plata host San Lorenzo with both sides level on 14 points in Group A. Estudiantes drew 2-2 at Central Cordoba de Santiago, but Alexander Medina is suspended alongside injuries to Eric Meza and Gabriel Neves. San Lorenzo beat Deportivo Riestra 1-0, though Cristian Nahuel Barrios, Ezequiel Cerutti, and Gastón Hernández remain out.
Estudiantes de Rio Cuarto meet Aldosivi in a contest between the bottom two clubs in Group B. The hosts sit 15th with six points after three consecutive defeats, missing Francesco Lo Celso, Juan Fernando Garro, and Lucas González. Aldosivi have eight points and enter without Alan Sosa, Leonardo Sigali, and top scorer Andrés Vombergar.
Belgrano Cordoba host River Plate on 18 October in Group B. Belgrano are second with 22 points after three consecutive wins and have no reported injuries, with Nicolás Fernández scoring six goals. River Plate sit ninth on 17 points following a 1-1 draw at Sarmiento Junin, missing Agustín Ruberto and Juan Carlos Portillo.
Newell's Old Boys host Central Cordoba de Santiago on 19 October. Newell's sit eighth in Group A after a 1-0 loss at Gimnasia Mendoza, missing Gabriel Arias, Lautaro Giannetti, and Marcelo Esponda. Central Cordoba have drawn three matches in a row, with Fernando Juárez and Santiago Moyano unavailable.
Sarmiento Junin welcome Barracas Central in Group B action. Sarmiento sit fourth on 20 points, led by Junior Marabel's 14 goals, with Carlos Villalba injured. Barracas Central sit seventh on 18 points following back-to-back wins, but miss Lucas Emanuel Gamba, Manuel Duarte, and Tomás Porra.
Deportivo Riestra and Union Santa Fe conclude the round on 20 October. Riestra sit 12th in Group A with 11 points and have no injuries listed. Union are 11th with 13 points after three straight defeats, travelling without Federico Gomes Gerth, Lautaro Vargas, and Lucas Menossi, though Cristian Tarragona has 14 goals this season.
This round holds significant implications for the upper tier of both groups. The direct battle between Defensa y Justicia and Instituto Cordoba could produce a change at the top of Group A, while Rosario Central and Belgrano Cordoba look to protect their advantages at the summit of Group B.
