The 2019 Categoría Primera A season (officially known as the 2019 Liga Águila season for sponsorship reasons) was the 72nd season of Colombia's top-flight football league. The season began on 25 January and concluded on 7 December. Junior entered the season as defending champions having won the 2018 Finalización tournament and successfully defended the title in the Torneo Apertura, beating Deportivo Pasto 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw on aggregate to claim their ninth domestic league title on 12 June. [1] Junior's winning streak was stopped in the Torneo Finalización by América de Cali, who won their fourteenth Primera A title and first since 2008 on 7 December by defeating the defending champions 2–0 on aggregate in the finals. [2]
For this season, the league was played as follows:
20 teams competed, eighteen of them returning from last season plus Cúcuta Deportivo and Unión Magdalena, who were promoted from the 2018 Primera B. Both promoted teams replaced Boyacá Chicó and Leones who were relegated at the end of the previous season.
a: Deportes Tolima played their Torneo Apertura home match against Rionegro Águilas at
Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in
Bogotá due to maintenance works at their regular stadium
Estadio Manuel Murillo Toro.
b: Deportivo Pasto will temporarily play their home matches at
Estadio Municipal de Ipiales in
Ipiales due to remodeling works at
Estadio Departamental Libertad.
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Torneo Apertura | ||||||
Millonarios |
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Mutual consent | 11 November 2018 [4] | Pre-season |
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13 November 2018 [5] |
Deportivo Cali |
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11 November 2018 [6] |
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2 December 2018 [7] | ||
Deportivo Pasto |
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End of caretaker spell | 11 November 2018 |
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28 November 2018 [8] | |
Jaguares |
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11 November 2018 [9] |
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12 November 2018 [9] | ||
Atlético Bucaramanga |
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21 November 2018 [10] |
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21 November 2018 [10] | ||
Cúcuta Deportivo |
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Signed by Deportivo Cali | 2 December 2018 [7] |
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24 December 2018 [11] | |
Junior |
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End of contract | 19 December 2018 [12] |
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21 December 2018 [13] | |
La Equidad |
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Signed by Junior | 20 December 2018 [13] |
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26 December 2018 [14] | |
Santa Fe |
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Mutual consent | 10 February 2019 [15] | 20th |
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10 February 2019 [15] [note 1] |
Atlético Bucaramanga |
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Sacked | 18 February 2019 [17] | 19th |
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18 February 2019 [18] |
Rionegro Águilas |
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Mutual consent | 1 March 2019 [19] | 20th |
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1 March 2019 [20] |
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End of caretaker spell | 11 March 2019 | 20th |
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11 March 2019 [21] | |
Jaguares |
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Resigned | 14 March 2019 [22] | 17th |
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15 March 2019 [22] |
Atlético Huila |
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Mutual consent | 18 March 2019 [23] | 18th |
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19 March 2019 [23] |
Rionegro Águilas |
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Resigned | 4 April 2019 [24] | 20th |
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4 April 2019 [24] |
Independiente Medellín |
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Sacked | 5 April 2019 [25] | 13th |
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5 April 2019 [25] |
América de Cali |
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15 April 2019 [26] | 5th |
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15 April 2019 [26] | |
Atlético Bucaramanga |
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23 April 2019 [27] | 13th |
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24 April 2019 [27] | |
Junior |
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3 May 2019 [28] | 4th |
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3 May 2019 [28] | |
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End of caretaker spell | 5 May 2019 | 7th |
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5 May 2019 [29] | |
Independiente Medellín |
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5 May 2019 | 9th |
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14 May 2019 [30] | |
Atlético Bucaramanga |
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8 May 2019 | 17th |
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9 May 2019 [31] | |
Cúcuta Deportivo |
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Mutual consent | 8 May 2019 [32] | 11th |
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10 May 2019 [33] |
Santa Fe |
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Replaced | 8 May 2019 | 20th |
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12 April 2019 [34] [note 2] |
Atlético Nacional |
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Resigned | 24 May 2019 [35] | 4th, Group B |
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24 May 2019 [35] |
Torneo Finalización | ||||||
América de Cali |
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End of caretaker spell | 5 June 2019 [36] | Pre-tournament |
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13 June 2019 [37] |
Atlético Nacional |
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5 June 2019 |
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10 June 2019 [38] | ||
Unión Magdalena |
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Mutual consent | 5 June 2019 [39] |
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12 June 2019 [40] | |
Rionegro Águilas |
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End of caretaker spell | 12 June 2019 |
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12 June 2019 | |
Santa Fe |
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Mutual consent | 7 August 2019 [41] | 20th |
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7 August 2019 [41] |
Cúcuta Deportivo |
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13 August 2019 [42] | 9th |
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14 August 2019 [43] | |
Atlético Huila |
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Sacked | 13 August 2019 [44] | 11th |
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15 August 2019 [45] |
Jaguares |
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Resigned | 27 August 2019 [46] | 16th |
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27 August 2019 [46] |
La Equidad |
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31 August 2019 [47] | 19th |
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1 September 2019 [47] | |
Independiente Medellín |
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2 September 2019 [48] | 15th |
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4 September 2019 [49] | |
Atlético Bucaramanga |
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9 September 2019 [50] | 14th |
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9 September 2019 [50] | |
Deportivo Pasto |
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15 September 2019 [51] | 10th |
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16 September 2019 | |
Unión Magdalena |
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Sacked | 16 September 2019 [52] | 20th |
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16 September 2019 [53] |
Envigado |
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Mutual consent | 23 September 2019 [54] | 16th |
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23 September 2019 [54] |
Jaguares |
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End of caretaker spell | 30 September 2019 [55] | 20th |
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30 September 2019 [55] |
Deportivo Pasto |
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2 October 2019 | 12th |
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2 October 2019 [56] | |
Patriotas |
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Training trip | 3 October 2019 [57] | 12th |
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3 October 2019 [57] |
Atlético Huila |
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Sacked | 26 October 2019 [58] | 19th |
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26 October 2019 [58] |
The First stage began on 25 January and consisted of twenty rounds with teams playing each other once plus an extra match against their regional rival. It ended on 5 May with the top eight teams at the end of this stage advancing to the semifinals.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Millonarios | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 30 | 15 | +15 | 39 | Advance to the semifinals |
2 | Deportivo Cali | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 17 | +5 | 33 | |
3 | Deportes Tolima | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 16 | +11 | 32 | |
4 | América de Cali | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 20 | +6 | 32 | |
5 | Atlético Nacional | 20 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 24 | 19 | +5 | 31 | |
6 | Deportivo Pasto | 20 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 31 | |
7 | Junior | 20 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 30 | |
8 | Unión Magdalena | 20 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 30 | |
9 | Independiente Medellín | 20 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 30 | 24 | +6 | 28 | |
10 | Once Caldas | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 16 | +4 | 28 | |
11 | Cúcuta Deportivo | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 25 | 27 | −2 | 27 | |
12 | Patriotas | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 20 | 31 | −11 | 27 | |
13 | Envigado | 20 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 22 | 20 | +2 | 24 | |
14 | Alianza Petrolera | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 19 | −2 | 23 | |
15 | Jaguares | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 20 | 27 | −7 | 23 | |
16 | La Equidad | 20 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 21 | 22 | −1 | 22 | |
17 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 20 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 17 | 26 | −9 | 21 | |
18 | Atlético Huila | 20 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 19 | 32 | −13 | 19 | |
19 | Rionegro Águilas | 20 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 30 | −13 | 16 | |
20 | Santa Fe | 20 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 17 | 24 | −7 | 14 |
The eight teams that advanced to the semifinals were drawn into two groups of four teams. The winners of each group advanced to the finals.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | PAS | MIL | AME | MAG | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Deportivo Pasto | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 13 | Advance to the Finals | — | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | |
2 | Millonarios | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 11 | 1–0 | — | 1–2 | 1–0 | ||
3 | América de Cali | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 9 | 0–3 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | ||
4 | Unión Magdalena | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 14 | −12 | 1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | JUN | TOL | CAL | NAC | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Junior | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 12 | Advance to the Finals | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | |
2 | Deportes Tolima | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 12 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–1 | ||
3 | Deportivo Cali | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 4 | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 0–1 | ||
4 | Atlético Nacional | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 4 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | — |
Junior | 1–0 | Deportivo Pasto |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
Deportivo Pasto | 1–0 | Junior |
---|---|---|
|
Report | |
Penalties | ||
4–5 |
Tied 1–1 on aggregate, Junior won on penalties.
Liga Águila 2019 Apertura Champions |
---|
Junior 9th title |
Source: Soccerway
The First stage began on 13 July and will feature the same format used in the Torneo Apertura, with reversed fixtures. It ended on 29 October with the top eight teams at the end of this stage advancing to the semifinals.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Atlético Nacional | 20 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 30 | 17 | +13 | 35 | Advance to the semifinals |
2 | América de Cali | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 29 | 26 | +3 | 35 | |
3 | Deportivo Cali | 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 34 | 25 | +9 | 34 | |
4 | Junior | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 9 | +7 | 33 | |
5 | Santa Fe | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 12 | +10 | 32 | |
6 | Deportes Tolima | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 16 | +8 | 32 | |
7 | Alianza Petrolera | 20 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 17 | 14 | +3 | 32 | |
8 | Cúcuta Deportivo | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 32 | |
9 | Independiente Medellín | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 26 | +6 | 31 | |
10 | Once Caldas | 20 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 26 | 20 | +6 | 28 | |
11 | Millonarios | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 24 | 27 | −3 | 28 | |
12 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 25 | |
13 | Rionegro Águilas | 20 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 25 | 27 | −2 | 24 | |
14 | Deportivo Pasto | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 24 | 25 | −1 | 23 | |
15 | Patriotas | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 20 | −1 | 23 | |
16 | Envigado | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 28 | −5 | 23 | |
17 | La Equidad | 20 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 24 | −5 | 20 | |
18 | Atlético Huila | 20 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 24 | −11 | 16 | |
19 | Jaguares | 20 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 34 | −23 | 15 | |
20 | Unión Magdalena | 20 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 14 | 28 | −14 | 14 |
The eight teams that advanced to the semifinals were drawn into two groups of four teams. The winners of each group advanced to the finals.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | JUN | TOL | NAC | CUC | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Junior | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 11 | Advance to the Finals | — | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–0 | |
2 | Deportes Tolima | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 9 | 2–2 | — | 1–0 | 0–1 | ||
3 | Atlético Nacional | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | ||
4 | Cúcuta Deportivo | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 4 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–1 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AME | CAL | SFE | APE | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | América de Cali | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 12 | Advance to the Finals | — | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | |
2 | Deportivo Cali | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | 0–0 | ||
3 | Santa Fe | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 8 | 2–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | ||
4 | Alianza Petrolera | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 5 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | — |
This final series featured the use of VAR for the first time in Colombian domestic football. [59]
Junior | 0–0 | América de Cali |
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Report |
América de Cali | 2–0 | Junior |
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Report |
América de Cali won 2–0 on aggregate.
Liga Águila 2019 Finalización Champions |
---|
América de Cali 14th title |
Source: Soccerway
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | América de Cali (C) | 54 | 27 | 11 | 16 | 75 | 58 | +17 | 92 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
2 | Junior (C) | 56 | 22 | 24 | 10 | 61 | 43 | +18 | 90 | |
3 | Deportes Tolima | 52 | 23 | 16 | 13 | 67 | 43 | +24 | 85 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores second stage |
4 | Deportivo Cali | 52 | 22 | 13 | 17 | 68 | 57 | +11 | 79 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage |
5 | Atlético Nacional | 52 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 67 | 53 | +14 | 78 | |
6 | Millonarios | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 61 | 47 | +14 | 78 | |
7 | Deportivo Pasto | 48 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 55 | 43 | +12 | 70 | |
8 | Cúcuta Deportivo | 46 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 56 | 63 | −7 | 63 | |
9 | Alianza Petrolera | 46 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 39 | 41 | −2 | 60 | |
10 | Independiente Medellín | 40 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 62 | 50 | +12 | 59 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores second stage [a] |
11 | Once Caldas | 40 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 46 | 36 | +10 | 56 | |
12 | Santa Fe | 46 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 44 | 42 | +2 | 54 | |
13 | Patriotas | 40 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 39 | 51 | −12 | 50 | |
14 | Envigado | 40 | 10 | 17 | 13 | 45 | 48 | −3 | 47 | |
15 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 40 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 40 | 49 | −9 | 46 | |
16 | Unión Magdalena | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 40 | 66 | −26 | 45 | |
17 | La Equidad | 40 | 8 | 18 | 14 | 40 | 46 | −6 | 42 | |
18 | Rionegro Águilas | 40 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 42 | 57 | −15 | 40 | |
19 | Jaguares | 40 | 8 | 14 | 18 | 31 | 61 | −30 | 38 | |
20 | Atlético Huila | 40 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 32 | 56 | −24 | 35 |
A separate table is kept to determine the teams that get relegated to the Categoría Primera B for the next season. This table is elaborated from a sum of all first stage games played for the current season and the previous two seasons. For purposes of elaborating the table, promoted teams are given the same point and goal tallies as the team in the 18th position at the start of the season.
Pos |
Team |
2017 Pts |
2018 Pts |
2019 Pts |
Total Pld |
Total GF |
Total GA |
Total GD |
Total Pts |
Relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Atlético Nacional | 87 | 71 | 66 | 118 | 162 | 87 | 75 | 224 | |
2 | Independiente Medellín | 69 | 69 | 59 | 118 | 181 | 135 | 46 | 197 | |
3 | Deportes Tolima | 53 | 72 | 64 | 118 | 156 | 116 | 40 | 189 | |
4 | Junior | 62 | 62 | 63 | 118 | 148 | 101 | 47 | 187 | |
5 | Millonarios | 69 | 51 | 67 | 118 | 151 | 114 | 37 | 187 | |
6 | Deportivo Cali | 53 | 58 | 67 | 118 | 153 | 126 | 27 | 178 | |
7 | América de Cali | 60 | 47 | 67 | 118 | 141 | 132 | 9 | 174 | |
8 | Santa Fe | 67 | 56 | 46 | 118 | 123 | 98 | 25 | 169 | |
9 | Once Caldas | 42 | 63 | 56 | 118 | 131 | 131 | 0 | 161 | |
10 | La Equidad | 53 | 61 | 42 | 118 | 120 | 111 | 9 | 156 | |
11 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 47 | 58 | 46 | 118 | 120 | 135 | −15 | 151 | |
12 | Cúcuta Deportivo | 46 | 42 | 59 | 118 | 139 | 166 | −27 | 147 | |
13 | Deportivo Pasto | 56 | 35 | 54 | 118 | 125 | 128 | –3 | 145 | |
14 | Patriotas | 45 | 49 | 50 | 118 | 108 | 137 | −29 | 144 | |
15 | Alianza Petrolera | 46 | 42 | 55 | 118 | 120 | 144 | −24 | 143 | |
16 | Envigado | 44 | 46 | 47 | 118 | 121 | 144 | −23 | 137 | |
17 | Rionegro Águilas | 39 | 57 | 40 | 118 | 111 | 145 | −34 | 136 | |
18 | Jaguares | 59 | 39 | 38 | 118 | 103 | 150 | −47 | 136 | |
19 | Unión Magdalena (R) | 46 | 42 | 44 | 118 | 124 | 163 | −39 | 132 | Relegation to Categoría Primera B |
20 | Atlético Huila (R) | 48 | 48 | 35 | 118 | 102 | 138 | −36 | 131 |
Source:
Dimayor
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored; 4th away goals scored.