The Apertura Tournament 2026 is progressing with the completion of the fifth round, marking the first third of the regular phase, which will lead to the playoffs for the championship. River Plate is currently in a downward spiral, having not won in three matches and suffering two straight losses, with the latest being a 1-0 defeat against Argentinos Juniors. This ongoing decline puts River's performance under scrutiny as they navigate through a critical juncture in the tournament.

In contrast, Tigre has capitalized on River's misfortunes, achieving a 1-0 victory over Aldosivi from Mar del Plata, which positions them as the sole leader in Zone B. Meanwhile, Independiente Rivadavia from Mendoza remains the only team in the league that has won all of its matches, indicating their strong form as the competition intensifies.

The relevance of the tournament extends beyond just playoff qualifications as it also impacts yearly standings that determine league champions and participants in international cups. Additionally, the accumulation of points influences relegation to the Primera Nacional, making every match critical for teams at both the top and bottom of the table as the tournament progresses.