Primera Nacional
 | |
| Founded | 1986 |
|---|---|
| First season | 1986–87 |
| Country |  Argentina |
| Confederation | CONMEBOL |
| Number of teams | 37 (2022) |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Primera División |
| Relegation to | Primera B Metropolitana [note 1] Torneo Federal A [note 2] |
| Current champions | Tigre (2021) |
| Most championships | Banfield Olimpo (3 titles each) |
| Top goalscorer | Adrián Czornomaz (160)[1] |
| TV partners | TNT Sports TyC Sports TyC Max |
| Website | AFA |
| Current: 2022 | |
Primera Nacional (usually called simply Nacional B, in English "National B Division", and known as Primera B Nacional until the 2019–20 season)[2][3] is the second division of the Argentine football league system. The competition is made up of 32 teams, divided into two zones.
It is played by teams from all over the country. Clubs from Buenos Aires surroundings, as well as some from Santa Fe Province, are promoted from or relegated to the Primera B Metropolitana ("Metropolitan B Division") while for teams from the other provinces the Torneo Federal A ("Federal A Tournament") is the next level down. In Argentine football, Nacional B is the second-highest league, and from it, the three best teams are automatically promoted to Primera División.
Primera B Nacional games are often transmitted to Argentina and abroad on television by TyC Sports.
History[]
It was created in 1986 to integrate unaffiliated clubs into the Argentine football structure, which until then had only participated in Nacional championships of Argentina's First Division tournament. It brought together teams from the old Primera B (until then, the second division) and regional leagues from several Argentine provinces.
After the 1985–86 season, the Primera B Nacional became the second hierarchical league in Argentina's professional football, after the Primera División, and it is above the Torneo Federal A and the Primera B Metropolitana, the last one started to act as a third division for the teams directly affiliated to AFA.
Beginning in the 2019–20 season, the name was changed dropping the B to simply be known as Primera Nacional.
Format[]
For the 2019–20 season, the number of teams has been increased from 25 to 32. Clubs will be divided into two zones of 16 teams each, playing each other in a double round-robin tournament. Teams will receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss, being ranked by total points.
The upcoming season incorporates 5 teams promoted from Primera B Metropolitana and 2 from Torneo Federal A, plus 4 relegated from Primera División, which add to the 23 remaining from the previous season.
The champion will automatically promote to the highest division. Teams placed from 2nd to 9th qualify to play the "Torneo Reducido", a small tournament in a double knock-out stage. Winner of Reducido will be the second team to promote to Primera División. On the other hand, the two teams with the worst average will be relegated to lower divisions (Primera B Metropolitana or Torneo Federal A whether the club is from the Buenos Aires metropolitan area or from any other province of Argentina).[4]
List of champions[]
Since the first season held in 1986–87, the following teams have crowned champions of the division:[5]
Titles by club[]
| Club | Titles | Runners-up | Seasons won | Seasons runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banfield | 3 | 1 | 1992–93, 2000–01, 2013–14 | 1986–87 |
| Olimpo | 3 | — | 2001–02, 2006–07, 2009–10 | — |
| Talleres (C) | 2 | 2 | 1997–98, 2016 | 1995–96, 1996–97 |
| Atlético Tucumán | 2 | 1 | 2008–09, 2015 | 1990–91 |
| Atlético de Rafaela | 2 | 1 | 2002–03, 2010–11 | 1994–95 |
| Argentinos Juniors | 2 | 1 | 1996–97, 2016–17 | 2002–03 |
| Huracán | 2 | — | 1989–90, 1999–00 | — |
| Instituto (C) | 2 | — | 1998–99, 2003–04 | — |
| Quilmes | 1 | 8 | 1990–91 | 1987–88, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2009–10, 2011–12 |
| Arsenal | 1 | 1 | 2018–19 | 2001–02 |
| Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) | 1 | 1 | 1993–94 | 2004–05 |
| Godoy Cruz | 1 | 1 | 2005–06 | 2007–08 |
| Lanús | 1 | 1 | 1991–92 | 1988–89 |
| Sarmiento (J) | 1 |
1 | 2020 | 2018–19 |
| Aldosivi | 1 | — | 2017–18 | — |
| Chaco For Ever | 1 | — | 1988–89 | — |
| Deportivo Armenio | 1 | — | 1986–87 | — |
| Deportivo Mandiyú | 1 | — | 1987–88 | — |
| Estudiantes (LP) | 1 | — | 1994–95 | — |
| Huracán (C) | 1 | — | 1995–96 | — |
| River Plate | 1 | — | 2011–12 | — |
| Rosario Central | 1 | — | 2012–13 | — |
| San Martín (T) | 1 | — | 2007–08 | — |
| Tigre | 1 | — | 2021 | — |
| Tiro Federal | 1 | — | 2004–05 | — |
Top scorers[]
Notes[]
- ^ Clubs from Buenos Aires (autonoumous city and suburban areas)
- ^ Clubs from the rest of the Argentine provinces
- ^ At the end of the season, the 10 best-placed teams were directly promoted to Primera División.
References[]
- ^ "Y se sacó el parche" on Olé, 28 Jan 2007
- ^ La AFA le cambió el nombre a la Primera B Nacional, Infobae, 10 Jul 2019
- ^ La Primera B Nacional renueva su formato, Diario Uno, 10 Jul 2019
- ^ Reglamento B Nacional 2018–19 on AFA website
- ^ List of Argentine second division champions at RSSSF
External links[]
- Official website
- Ascenso del Interior
- Interior Futbolero
- Promiedos
- Primera B Nacional summary on Soccerway
Primera B Nacional venues, 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
|  | |
- Primera B Nacional
- 1986 establishments in Argentina
- Football leagues in Argentina
- Professional sports leagues in Argentina
- Second level football leagues of South America
- Sports leagues established in 1986