Primera Nacional
Founded1986; 38 years ago (1986)
First season1986–87
Country Argentina
ConfederationCONMEBOL
Number of teams37 (38 in 2024)
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toPrimera División
Relegation toPrimera B Metropolitana [note 1]
Torneo Federal A [note 2]
Current championsIndependiente Rivadavia
(2023)
Most championshipsBanfield
Olimpo (3 titles each)
Top goalscorerAdrián Czornomaz (160)[1]
TV partnersArgentina:
TyC Sports
DirecTV Sports
International:
TNT Sports
TyC Max
Websiteafa.com.ar/primerabnacional
Current: 2024 Primera Nacional

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 37 teams.

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

Main article: 2023 Primera Nacional

Thirty-seven teams play each other once for a total of thirty-six rounds. The top-placed team will be the champion and will also earn promotion to the Primera División. The teams placed from 2nd to 13th place will compete in the "Torneo Reducido" for the second promotion berth after the regular season ends, with the team placed 2nd entering in the third round, the team placed 3rd entering in the second round and the teams placed 4th to 13th entering in the first round.

List of champions

Since the first season held in 1986–87, the following teams have crowned champions of the division:[4] In case of championships defined by final, they are indicated.

Ed. Season Champion Final score Runner-up Third Place
1
 1986–87 Deportivo Armenio (1)
– [n1 1]
 Banfield Belgrano (C)
2
 1987–88 Deportivo Mandiyú (1)
– [n1 1]
 Quilmes Cipolletti
3
 1988–89 Chaco For Ever (1)
– [n1 1]
 Lanús Unión
4
 1989–90 Huracán (1)
– [n1 1]
 Quilmes Douglas Haig
5
 1990–91 Quilmes (1)
– [n1 1]
 Atlético Tucumán Belgrano (C)
6
 1991–92 Lanús (1)
– [n1 1]
 Almirante Brown Colón
7
 1992–93 Banfield (1)
0–0 (5–4 p)
 Colón Gimnasia y Tiro
8
 1993–94 Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) (1)
– [n1 1]
 Quilmes San Martin (T)
9
 1994–95 Estudiantes (LP) (1)
– [n1 1]
 Atlético de Rafaela Colón
10
 1995–96 Huracán (C) (1)
2–2, 4–1
 Talleres (C) Atlético Tucumán
11
 1996–97 Argentinos Juniors (1)
– [n1 1]
 Talleres (C) Godoy Cruz
12
 1997–98 Talleres (C) (1)
1–0, 1–2 (4–3 p)
 Belgrano (C) No third-place awarded
13
 1998–99 Instituto (1)
3–0, 0–1
 Chacarita Juniors No third-place awarded
14
 1999–00 Huracán (2)
1–0, 1–1
 Quilmes No third-place awarded
15
 2000–01 Banfield (2)
2–1, 4–2
 Quilmes No third-place awarded
16
 2001–02 Olimpo (1)
– [n1 1]
 Quilmes San Martín (M)
17
 2002–03 Atlético de Rafaela (1)
– [n1 1]
 Argentinos Juniors Quilmes
18
 2003–04 Instituto (C) (2)
0–1, 2–0
 Almagro Huracán (TA)
19
 2004–05 Tiro Federal (1)
1–0, 1–1
 Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) Huracán
20
 2005–06 Godoy Cruz (1)
1–1, 3–1 (a.e.t.)
 Nueva Chicago Belgrano (C)
21
 2006–07 Olimpo (2)
– [n1 1]
 San Martín (SJ) Huracán
22
 2007–08 San Martín (T) (1)
– [n1 1]
 Godoy Cruz Unión
23
 2008–09 Atlético Tucumán (1)
– [n1 1]
 Chacarita Juniors Atlético de Rafaela
24
 2009–10 Olimpo (3)
– [n1 1]
 Quilmes Atlético de Rafaela
25
 2010–11 Atlético de Rafaela (2)
– [n1 1]
 Unión San Martín (SJ)
26
 2011–12 River Plate (1)
– [n1 1]
 Quilmes Instituto
27
 2012–13 Rosario Central (1)
– [n1 1]
 Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) Olimpo
28
 2013–14 Banfield (3)
– [n1 1]
 Defensa y Justicia Independiente
29
 2014
(no champion crowned) [n1 2]
30
 2015 Atlético Tucumán (2)
– [n1 1]
 Patronato Ferro Carril Oeste
31
 2016 Talleres (C) (2)
– [n1 1]
 Chacarita Juniors Gimnasia y Esgrima (J)
32
 2016–17 Argentinos Juniors (2)
– [n1 1]
 Chacarita Juniors Guillermo Brown
33
 2017–18 Aldosivi (1)
3–1
 Almagro San Martin (T)
34
 2018–19 Arsenal (1)
1–0
 Sarmiento (J) Nueva Chicago
35
 2019–20
(not completed due to COVID-19 pandemic) [n1 3]
36
 2020 Sarmiento (J) (1)
1–1 (4–3 p)
 Estudiantes (RC) No third-place awarded
37
 2021 Tigre (1)
1–0
 Barracas Central No third-place awarded
38
 2022 Belgrano (1)
– [n1 1]
 Instituto San Martín (T)
39
 2023 Independiente Rivadavia (1)
2–0 (a.e.t.)
 Almirante Brown No third-place awarded
Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Championship won on points at the end of the season.
  2. ^ At the end of the season, the 10 best-placed teams were directly promoted to Primera División.
  3. ^ On 28 April 2020, AFA decided to abandon the competition and declare the season finished due to the COVID-19 pandemic with no champion crowned. All official football competitions were suspended on 17 March 2020.

Titles by club

Club Titles Runn. Seasons won
Banfield
3
1
 1992–93, 2000–01, 2013–14
Olimpo
3
—
 2001–02, 2006–07, 2009–10
Talleres (C)
2
2
 1997–98, 2016
Atlético Tucumán
2
1
 2008–09, 2015
Atlético de Rafaela
2
1
 2002–03, 2010–11
Argentinos Juniors
2
1
 1996–97, 2016–17
Huracán
2
—
 1989–90, 1999–00
Instituto
2
—
 1998–99, 2003–04
Quilmes
1
8
 1990–91
Arsenal
1
1
 2018–19
Belgrano
1
1
 2022
Gimnasia y Esgrima (J)
1
1
 1993–94
Godoy Cruz
1
1
 2005–06
Lanús
1
1
 1991–92
Sarmiento (J)
1
1
 2020
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
Independiente Rivadavia
1
—
 2023
River Plate 1 — 2011–12
Rosario Central 1 — 2012–13
San Martín (T) 1 — 2007–08
Tigre 1 — 2021
Tiro Federal 1 — 2004–05

Seasons in Primera Nacional

Notes
Club/s Seasons
Instituto
31
Atlético de Rafaela
28
Quilmes
26
Chacarita Juniors, Defensa y Justicia, Gimnasia y Esgrima (J), Nueva Chicago 24
Ferro Carril Oeste. San Martín (SJ) 23
Atlético Tucumán, San Martín (T) 22
Independiente Rivadavia 21
All Boys, Almagro 20
Almirante Brown, Belgrano (C), Douglas Haig, Los Andes 19
Deportivo Morón 17
Aldosivi 16
Unión (SF), Tigre 15
Banfield, Godoy Cruz, Huracán, Villa Dálmine 13
Olimpo 12
Arsenal, Atlanta, Central Córdoba (R), Guillermo Brown, Sportivo Italiano, Talleres (C), Temperley 11
Boca Unidos, Brown (A), Central Córdoba (SdE), Chaco For Ever, Cipolletti, Colón, Defensores de Belgrano, Platense, Santamarina, Sarmiento (J)
10
Comisión de Actividades Infantiles, Deportivo Maipú, Estudiantes (BA), Juventud Antoniana, San Martín (M)
9
El Porvenir, Racing (C)
9
Agropecuario, Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU), Gimnasia y Esgrima (M), Mitre (SdE), Patronato, Talleres (RE), Tiro Federal (R) 7
Almirante Brown (A), Deportivo Riestra, Gimnasia y Tiro 6
Alvarado, Argentinos Juniors, Crucero del Norte, Huracán (TA), Laferrere, Estudiantes (RC), Lanús 5
Deportivo Merlo, Estudiantes (SL), Flandria, Guaraní Antonio Franco, Juventud Unida (G), San Miguel, Villa Mitre 4
Atlético Paraná, Barracas Central, Ben Hur, Deportivo Español, Güemes (SdE), Huracán Corrientes, Rosario Central, San Telmo, Sportivo Belgrano, Tristán Suárez 3
Deportivo Armenio, Deportivo Madryn, Deportivo Mandiyú, Ferro Carril Oeste (GP), Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP), Ituzaingó 2
Atlético Concepción, Argentino (R), Central Norte, Defensores Unidos, Desamparados, Estación Quequén, Estudiantes (LP), General Paz Juniors, Independiente, Juventud Unida Universitario, River Plate, Sacachispas, Unión (MdP), Unión de Villa Krause, Villa San Carlos 1

Top scorers

Season Player Team Goals
1986–87 Argentina José Raúl Iglesias Huracán 36
1987–88 Argentina Daniel Leani Quilmes 24
1988–89 Argentina Daniel Aquino Banfield 24
Argentina Sergio Recchiutti Almirante Brown
1989–90 Argentina Juan Almada Defensa y Justicia 20
Argentina Abel Blasón Quilmes
1990–91 Argentina Roberto Oste Defensa y Justicia 24
1991–92 Argentina Carlos Cardozo Almirante Brown 26
1992–93 Argentina Miguel Amaya Gimnasia y Tiro (S) 21
1993–94 Argentina Dante Fernández Quilmes 29
1994–95 Argentina Alejandro Abaurre Godoy Cruz 29
1995–96 Argentina Adrián Czornomaz Los Andes 22
1996–97 Honduras Eduardo Bennett Argentinos Juniors 23
1997–98 Argentina Alejandro Glaría Banfield 30
1998–99 Argentina Adrián Czornomaz Atlético Tucumán 26
1999–00 Argentina Gastón Casas Huracán 30
2000–01 Argentina Daniel Jiménez Instituto 23
2001–02 Argentina Diego Ceballos Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) 26
2002–03 Argentina Daniel Giménez Godoy Cruz 13
Argentina Diego Torres Quilmes
2003–04 Argentina Julio Bevacqua Comisión de Actividades Infantiles 13
2004–05 Argentina Rubén Ramírez Tiro Federal 15
2005–06 Argentina Daniel Bazán Vera Unión (SF) 18
2006–07 Argentina Ismael Blanco Olimpo 29
2007–08 Argentina Cristian Milla Chacarita Juniors 20
Argentina Leandro Zárate Unión
2008–09 Argentina Luis Rodríguez Atlético Tucumán 20
2009–10 Argentina Leandro Armani Tiro Federal 19
2010–11 Argentina César Carignano Atlético de Rafaela 21
2011–12 Argentina Gonzalo Castillejos Rosario Central 26
2012–13 Argentina Luis Rodríguez Atlético Tucumán 20
2013–14 Argentina Juan M. Lucero Defensa y Justicia 24
2014 Argentina Ramón Ábila Huracán 9
Argentina Nicolás Mazzola Instituto (C)
2015 Argentina Fernando Zampedri Juventud Unida (G)
25
2016 Argentina Germán Lesman All Boys
17
2016–17 Argentina Rodrigo Salinas Chacarita Juniors
30
2017–18 Argentina Jonathan Herrera Deportivo Riestra / Ferro Carril Oeste 13
2018–19 Argentina Patricio Cucchi Gimnasia y Esgrima (M) 15
2019–20 Argentina Pablo Magnín Sarmiento (J)
15
2020 Ecuador Claudio Bieler Atlético Rafaela
5
2021 Argentina Pablo Magnín Tigre
22
2022 Argentina Pablo Vegetti Belgrano (C)
17
2023 Paraguay Alex Arce Independiente Rivadavia
25

Notes

  1. ^ Clubs from Buenos Aires (autonoumous city and suburban areas)
  2. ^ Clubs from the rest of the Argentine provinces

References

  1. ^ "Y se sacó el parche" on Olé, 28 Jan 2007
  2. ^ La AFA le cambió el nombre a la Primera B Nacional, Infobae, 10 Jul 2019
  3. ^ La Primera B Nacional renueva su formato, Diario Uno, 10 Jul 2019
  4. ^ List of Argentine second division champions at RSSSF

External links

Primera Nacional
Primera Nacional venues, 2024
Football in Argentina
Second level football leagues of South America (CONMEBOL)
Categories