CÓRDOBA, Argentina — In a match brimming with tension but short on clear chances, Talleres and Belgrano played to a 0-0 draw Sunday evening at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, leaving both sides frustrated yet still very much alive in this season’s Liga Profesional Argentina’s second phase.

This latest edition of the city’s most heated rivalry found the stadium crackling with anticipation from the opening whistle. As dusk settled, the nearly 60,000 in attendance lent a cauldron-like atmosphere, their songs and jeers ricocheting off the stadium’s sweeping stands. Yet, when ninety-plus minutes elapsed, neither side had managed to break the deadlock, in a match defined by grit over guile and by duels rather than decisive moments.

First Half: Defensive Discipline and Cautious Play

The first period unfolded as a chess match, each team wary of overcommitting in the glare of such a high-stakes derby. Belgrano, disciplined in their approach, sat deep and looked to absorb pressure, while Talleres probed for openings, often finding space limited by their rivals’ compact lines.

The most notable event before the interval was the booking of Belgrano’s Federico González in the 37th minute, the forward cautioned after a late challenge in midfield that typified the contest’s physical edge.

Despite plenty of midfield industry, genuine scoring opportunities were scarce. Talleres’s attempts to quicken the tempo through transitions were suppressed by Belgrano’s organization, and an ambitious long-range effort from Ramón Sosa, the hosts’ brightest spark, sailed harmlessly over.

Second Half: Substitutions and Increased Intensity

After halftime, both managers looked to their benches in a bid to shift the momentum. The home side introduced Nahuel Bustos in the 58th minute, seeking a creative spark. Minutes later, Belgrano replied by sending on Guido Compagnucci.

By the 75th minute, tensions flared further. Juan Portilla of Talleres was shown yellow for a tactical foul — part of a string of infractions that brought regular halts to play. The cumulative fouls reflected the derby’s combustive energy.

Late substitutions followed, with Rick and Alan Sporle among those entering as each coach searched for a decisive influence. Still, defenses prevailed. Talleres’s forward line, led by Michael Santos, rarely found space behind a resolute Belgrano rearguard marshaled expertly by Alejandro Rébola.

Stoppage Time Drama but No Breakthrough

As the contest entered its closing chapter, physicality gave way to urgency. In the 90th minute, Talleres’s Gonzalo Báez Corradi received a booking after a forceful challenge, and soon after, Belgrano’s Santiago Longo followed suit, capping a derby played on the knife’s edge.

The best chance of the night came deep into added time, when Bustos latched onto a loose ball inside the area, only to lash a shot wide under heavy pressure. For all the effort and drama, a moment of quality in front of goal proved elusive.

Implications and Aftermath

The draw does little to clarify the race in Argentina’s fiercely contested second phase. Talleres, aiming for the summit, will rue the missed opportunity to capitalize at home, while Belgrano depart satisfied with a point from enemy territory, their unbeaten run in the derby extended for another chapter.

Supporters from both sides, for all their fiery passion, ultimately witnessed an encounter that showcased the defensive discipline and emotional stakes that define Córdoba’s most storied rivalry. The match was, in many senses, a celebration of Argentine football’s intensity — where even a scoreless draw reverberates far beyond the final whistle.

With more league action ahead, both clubs will turn to the coming weeks, the chase for silverware and city bragging rights set to continue. On this night, however, amidst the raucous stands and the city’s divided colors, honor — if not victory — was shared.