Belgrano stun River Plate to win historic first league title

Underdogs Belgrano came from behind to beat River Plate 3-2 in Córdoba on Sunday, clinching the Apertura title and securing the first top-flight crown in the club’s 121-year history.

The triumph also booked Belgrano a place in the 2027 Copa Libertadores group stage and extended River’s trophy drought to three years, with the Buenos Aires giants still without a title since 2023.

Built around grit rather than star power, the modest Córdoba side once again became River’s nightmare opponent, producing another unforgettable chapter in one of Argentine football’s most unlikely rivalries.

Fifteen years after condemning River to the only relegation in the club’s history, Belgrano once again inflicted heartbreak on the Millonario in a dramatic final played at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium – barely seven kilometres from the newly crowned champions’ home ground.

Belgrano started aggressively, pressing high and unsettling River from the opening whistle. Young goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán kept the favourites alive early on with sharp saves from Lucas Passerini and Emiliano Rigoni.

Despite Belgrano’s strong start, River struck first after 18 minutes when Marcos Acuña released Tomás Galván down the left flank. Galván’s low cross found Facundo Colidio, who swept home from close range.

But River’s lead lasted just eight minutes.

From a corner, Leonardo Morales powered in a header to level the match and ignite the packed Córdoba crowd.

River improved after the break and regained control of possession. On 59 minutes, Colidio turned provider, switching play before Galván finished clinically across goal to restore the Buenos Aires club’s advantage.

Ricardo Zielinski’s side refused to collapse. With Belgrano struggling to create chances, the veteran coach introduced Nicolás 'Uvita' Fernández in the 76th minute for Passerini – a substitution that transformed both the match and the club’s history.

Belgrano began bombarding River’s area with crosses and pressure. Fernández equalised from the penalty spot on 84 minutes after a VAR review spotted a handball by Lautaro Rivero.

The decision enraged River coach Eduardo 'Chacho' Coudet, who furiously protested the officiating before being sent off deep into stoppage time. “You robbed us of the final,” the former coach shouted after the match.

Three minutes after the penalty, Belgrano completed the stunning comeback.

Franco 'Mudo' Vázquez won possession down the left and delivered a cross into the area, where Fernández struck first time with a scuffed left-footed finish  to seal one of the greatest victories in the club’s history.

“My heart is full of happiness. The Pirata people deserve this,” Fernández said after the final whistle. “A club this big needed a title and we managed to achieve it.”

Now presided over by former striker Luis Fabián Artime, Belgrano also leaned heavily on the experience of Zielinski, who returned to the club in February 2025 for a second spell in charge.

The 66-year-old had already secured legendary status in Córdoba after guiding Belgrano to promotion in 2011 at River’s expense – a result that remains one of the darkest moments in Millo history.

“We fought for the title and did everything necessary to be better than River,” Zielinski said after the triumph. “Winning a championship against an opponent like River is hugely significant.”

Another key figure was Argentine-born Armenia international Lucas Zelarayán, a hometown hero whose return to the club last year after a decade abroad helped reignite a sense of identity within the dressing room.

The playmaker, who previously featured for Tigres in Mexico, MLS side Columbus Crew and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Fateh, was widely credited by teammates for inspiring the squad’s belief during the campaign.

“This group deserved it,” Morales said. “We went through good moments and bad moments, but this is for the Chino [Zelarayán], because he passed on his passion for Belgrano. We were hungry for glory and we achieved it.”

Line-ups

River Plate: Santiago Beltrán; Fabricio Bustos, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Lautaro Rivero, Marcos Acuña (Germán Pezzella, 70’); Aníbal Moreno (Kendry Páez, 90+1’); Tomás Galván (Maximiliano Salas, 90+1’), Fausto Vera, Juan Cruz Meza (Juan Fernando Quintero, 88’); Facundo Colidio, Joaquín Freitas. Coach: Eduardo Coudet.

Belgrano: Thiago Cardozo; Agustín Falcón, Leonardo Morales, Alexis Maldonado (Álvaro Ocampo, 46’), Adrián Spörle; Santiago Longo (Franco Vázquez, 63’), Adrián Sánchez; Emiliano Rigoni (Federico Ricca, 90’), Lucas Zelarayán, Juan Velázquez (Ramiro Hernandes, 63’); Lucas Passerini (Nicolás Fernández, 76’). Coach: Ricardo Zielinski.

– TIMES/AFP