Argentine Professional League 🏆

League Format

The Argentine Professional League is one of the best leagues in South America and the entire continent. Its format is based on two zones: Zone 1 and Zone 2. Clubs are divided according to their classic rivals; that is, two teams with the same rivalry are not placed in the same zone. For example: Boca Juniors in Zone 1 and River Plate in Zone 2. The league has 30 clubs, with 15 clubs in each zone. Each club plays a total of 16 matches (14 in its zone, 1 against a team from the other zone, and its classic rival). The top 8 teams from each zone will face off in a play-off phase, where the top teams from Zone A will play against the bottom teams from Zone B. For example: Estudiantes de la Plata, who finished first in Zone A, will play against Defensa y Justicia, who finished eighth in Zone B. After the play-offs, the qualified clubs will be randomly drawn for their quarter-final matches, continuing until the final, where one team will win the league. The league also uses an Apertura and Clausura format, where it has the same functions every year, changing the clubs and their zones. For example: Banfield was in Zone A in the Apertura 2025, and in the Clausura it will be in Zone B with different or the same clubs in this new zone.

Annual Table Format

The Annual Table in the Argentine Professional League is based on the two parts into which the League is divided: the Argentine Professional League and the Professional League Cup. Points are added from all matches played in these two parts of the league. The Annual Table also serves as a "single league," meaning that classifications for international tournaments are pending. All points from the two parts of the league are added together, and the clubs with the most points are placed higher. The slots are valid depending on their position: positions 1 to 3 are in the Qualifying Zone for the Group Stage of the Copa Libertadores; the club in position 4 will be in the Copa Libertadores Repechage; and clubs in positions 5 to 9 will be in the Group Stage of the Copa Sudamericana. Additional slots for the Copa Libertadores group stage are: winning the League (either the Apertura or Clausura), which frees up a slot for other clubs; winning the League Cup, which frees up a slot for other clubs; or winning the Copa Argentina, which frees up a slot in the League for other clubs.

Average Format

In the Argentine Football League, the average points system is used to determine which teams are relegated to the second division (Primera Nacional). This method averages the points obtained by each team over the last three seasons (or less, if the team has been in the category for less time) and divides that total by the number of matches played during that period. How to apply: • At the end of each season, the teams with the worst averages are relegated. • If a team is newly promoted, its average is calculated only using the season it has played, making it more vulnerable to relegation if it has a bad campaign. Criticisms of the system: • It favors large teams, since a bad season doesn't immediately condemn them if they had good previous seasons. • It harms newly promoted teams, as a bad start leaves them with little chance of recovery. • It is a complex and often unfair system, which generates debate about its continuation.

Second Division Promotion Format

The Primera Nacional (Second Division) is the second tier of Argentine football. Its promotion format is divided into two zones, Zone A and Zone B, with 18 clubs in each zone. Each club plays home and away matches, for a total of 34 matches per team. There are two methods of promotion: First Promotion and Second Promotion. The First Promotion occurs when the two clubs in first place in each zone play a single match to determine which one will be promoted to the top division. And the Second Ascent is formed through a reduced tournament, where the clubs that qualified from positions 2 to 8 in each zone will enter this reduced tournament. Participating clubs face each other in a direct elimination phase, and the last one to win the final will have the spot to ascend to the first division.

Teams and their Leagues 2025

Argentine Professional League: Boca Juniors, River Plate, Independiente, Racing Club, San Lorenzo, Estudiantes de la Plata, Vélez Sarsfield, Argentinos Juniors, Defensa y Justicia, Platense, Lanús, Talleres, Instituto, Tigre, Sarmiento de Junín, Unión de Santa Fe, Godoy Cruz, Belgrano, Rosario Central, Aldosivi, Gimnasia de la Plata, Newell's, Huracán, Independiente Rivadavia, Central Córdoba, Banfield, Deportivo Riestra, Atlético Tucumán, San Martín de San Juan, Barracas Central. Primera Nacional: Atlanta, San Martín de Tucumán, Ferrocarril Oeste, Racing de Córdoba, Chacarita, Quilmes, Los Andes, Colegiales, Deportivo Maipú, Gimnasia y Tiro, Tristan Suárez, San Miguel, Deportivo Madryn, All Boys, Almagro, Patronato, Alvarado, Arsenal de Sarandí, Güemes, Gimnasia de Mendoza, Estudiantes, Colón, Gimnasia de Jujuy, Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, Defensores de Belgrano, San Telmo, Chaco For Ever, Deportivo Morón, Agropecuario, Mitre SdE, Central Norte, Temperley, Almirante Brown, Nueva Chicago, Defensores Unidos, Talleres RE.

Other Argentine Tournaments

Professional League Cup: It's the Clausura of the Argentine Professional League but with a different league format. Copa Argentina: The country's National Cup. Argentine Super Cup: The country's other national cup, where the national Superchampion is decided. Champions Trophy: The trophy where part of the Argentine Professional League champion and the Professional League Cup champion are determined.