Independiente vs Racing Club

Independiente ended a five-year derby drought with a 1-0 victory over Racing Club at the Libertadores de América, courtesy of a late Gabriel Ávalos strike on matchday 13 of the Torneo Apertura. Racing should have been ahead long before the decisive moment. Maravilla Martínez had a golden opportunity from the penalty spot in the first half after VAR spotted a handball, but his cheeky chip sailed clean over the crossbar. It proved costly. Ávalos made them pay in the 80th minute, finishing coolly inside the box after a sharp ball from Santiago Montiel. It was the Paraguayan's eighth goal of the tournament, keeping him at the top of the scoring charts. The win lifts Independiente into eighth in Zone A and into playoff territory, while Racing sit fifth in Zone B and will be left to rue that missed spot kick.