Gimnasia de Mendoza opened Matchday 3 of the Clausura with a 2-0 win over Unión
The third round of the Torneo Clausura began with a win for the Mendoza side and also featured a goalless draw between Estudiantes RC and Banfield. Meanwhile, the weekend schedule puts River and Rosario Central at the center of the spotlight.
Matchday 3 of the Torneo Clausura has already started to offer clues about how the championship is shaping up. Gimnasia de Mendoza were the ones to kick off the round with a 2-0 win over Unión, while Estudiantes RC and Banfield split the points in a 0-0 that completed the first stretch of action.
Even though there is still a long way to go in the regular phase, every result is beginning to matter in a table that, as always in Argentine football, offers no respite. And while some teams are celebrating a strong start, others are already glancing sideways at the need to add points so they do not fall too far behind too soon.
A start that moves the table and changes the mood
The first major story of the round was Gimnasia de Mendoza's victory, as they beat Unión and took three important points to establish themselves at the start of the tournament. In parallel, the draw between Estudiantes RC and Banfield left a different picture: a goalless match, points shared and not too much difference on the scoreboard.
In a short and demanding competition, every start carries a double reading: what it adds to the table and what it builds in terms of confidence. That is why an early win can be worth as much for the numbers as for the emotional lift it creates behind the scenes.
- Gimnasia de Mendoza 2-0 Unión: the first win of the round.
- Estudiantes RC 0-0 Banfield: a goalless draw in the other match already played.
- Matchday 3 continues with the rest of the schedule still to be completed.
River and Rosario Central, the focus of the round
This Saturday's schedule also includes a match that is stealing much of the attention: River host Rosario Central at the Monumental from 19:15. The Millonario arrive needing a win to snap a heavy run: they lost the three matches they played at the start of the season.
On the other side, Canalla also do not have much margin. The Rosario Central side is still searching for its first victory in the tournament, after a start of one draw and one defeat. The clash therefore looks like a test of character for two teams with different needs, but shared urgency.
The Millonario lost the three matches they played at the start of the season.
Rosario Central will look for their first victory in the tournament after a draw and a defeat.
A Clausura that is also watching the race for the Copas
Matchday 3 does more than just sort out the immediate present: it also begins to shape the race for the tabla anual, where the points from these 16 dates are added to those earned in the Apertura. According to the current outlook, River and Boca are in Sudamericana spots, a fact that adds pressure to every appearance and makes any recovery even more valuable.
In that context, the Clausura is entering a stage where every result is worth double. The teams that get off to a strong start are looking to maintain consistency; those coming in under pressure, like River, need to find quick answers so they do not lose ground either in the tournament or in the race for the Copas.
With the round only just getting underway, the championship is already offering a familiar picture: little room for error, plenty of tension and a table that can change within hours.
