Argentinian football is known as a place where the league system confuses you more than usual.
This season, Argentina reached another high level of bizarre in its league, thanks to Tigre, who surprised everyone.
Tigre was ranked in the 9th place at the end of the league, a place that should worth them a place at the Copa Sudamericana in the next season. It could be an excellent achievement for the club that reached the final of the tournament in 2012 and didn’t take part in continental competition since 2015.
Things got more complicated in the race against the relegation. In Argentina, the relegated teams are decided by their points average from the last three years, Tigre found themselves in the 23rd place out of 26. It means that Tigre was relegated and missed the survival by two points. Moreover, CONMEBOL doesn’t allow to second division teams to play in the Copa Sudamericana, which means that Tigre lost their berth.
Last night, Tigre amazed Argentina. They have defeated Boca Juniors 2-0 in the Copa de la Superliga final and won the title. There is one more thing that should be mentioned – The AFA, Argentinian Football Association, decided that the winners will earn a Copa Libertadores berth. As the second division rule is not applied at the top continental competition, Tigre will eventually play at the Copa Libertadores instead of playing at the Sudamericana.
Tigre will be the first team from a second tier to play in the Copa Libertadores group stage since Bolivian Jorge Wilsterman has done it in 2011. Moreover, they will be the first ever Argentinian club to take part in a continental competition while playing in the second division. South American football will never make you bored.