# 1985–86 Argentine Primera División

The 1985–86 Argentine Primera División was the 95th season of top-flight football in Argentina. The season began on July 6, 1985 and ended on April 20, 1986.
This tournament saw a major reform in Argentine football, as the European calendar was adopted for the tournament format. River Plate won the league title for the 21st time.

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | River Plate | 36 | 23 | 10 | 3 | 74 | 26 | +48 | 56 |
| 2 | Newell's Old Boys | 36 | 15 | 16 | 5 | 46 | 30 | +16 | 46 |
| 3 | Deportivo Español | 36 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 41 | 35 | +6 | 46 |
| 4 | Argentinos Juniors | 36 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 47 | 39 | +8 | 44 |
| 5 | Boca Juniors | 36 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 57 | 47 | +10 | 41 |
| 6 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 36 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 45 | 33 | +12 | 40 |
| 7 | San Lorenzo | 36 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 43 | 33 | +10 | 40 |
| 8 | Talleres (C) | 36 | 10 | 17 | 9 | 43 | 37 | +6 | 37 |
| 9 | Independiente | 36 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 38 | 36 | +2 | 36 |
| 10 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 36 | 9 | 18 | 9 | 29 | 36 | −7 | 36 |
| 11 | Instituto | 36 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 35 |
| 12 | Vélez Sársfield | 36 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 48 | 48 | 0 | 34 |
| 13 | Huracán | 36 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 44 | 47 | −3 | 32 |
| 14 | Unión | 36 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 38 | −11 | 31 |
| 15 | Temperley | 36 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 44 | 60 | −16 | 29 |
| 16 | Estudiantes (LP) | 36 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 33 | 47 | −14 | 27 |
| 17 | Platense | 36 | 7 | 13 | 16 | 37 | 55 | −18 | 27 |
| 18 | Racing (C) | 36 | 6 | 14 | 16 | 31 | 52 | −21 | 26 |
| 19 | Chacarita Juniors | 36 | 5 | 11 | 20 | 24 | 53 | −29 | 21 |

## Relegation

Relegation was determined by averaging the number of points obtained over the three previous seasons

### Relegation table

| Team | 1983 | 1984 | 1985–86 | Total points | Seasons | Points average |
| Deportivo Español | N/A | N/A | 46 | 46 | 1 | 46.00 |
| Ferro Carril Oeste | 46 | 50 | 40 | 136 | 3 | 45.33 |
| Argentinos Juniors | 36 | 51 | 44 | 131 | 3 | 43.66 |
| River Plate | 29 | 43 | 56 | 128 | 3 | 42.33 |
| San Lorenzo | 47 | 37 | 40 | 124 | 3 | 41.33 |
| Vélez Sársfield | 44 | 42 | 34 | 120 | 3 | 40.00 |
| Newell's Old Boys | 35 | 38 | 46 | 119 | 3 | 39.67 |
| Independiente | 48 | 31 | 36 | 115 | 3 | 38.33 |
| Estudiantes (LP) | 38 | 48 | 27 | 113 | 3 | 37.67 |
| Boca Juniors | 37 | 30 | 41 | 108 | 3 | 36.00 |
| Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | N/A | N/A | 36 | 36 | 1 | 36.00 |
| Talleres (C) | 33 | 34 | 37 | 104 | 3 | 34.67 |
| Instituto | 35 | 33 | 35 | 103 | 3 | 34.33 |
| Unión | 38 | 30 | 31 | 99 | 3 | 33.00 |
| Racing (C) | 27 | 43 | 26 | 96 | 3 | 32.00 |
| Platense | 34 | 33 | 27 | 94 | 3 | 31.33 |
| Temperley | 33 | 31 | 29 | 93 | 3 | 31.00 |
| Huracán | 32 | 27 | 32 | 91 | 3 | 30.33 |
| Chacarita Juniors | N/A | 34 | 21 | 55 | 2 | 27.50 |
* Chacarita Juniors were relegated directly
* Huracán played in the Octagonal promotion tournament.

## Qualification for Copa Libertadores 1986

* River Plate qualified as League champions
* Argentinos Juniors qualified as Copa Libertadores holders
* The remaining qualification place was determined by the Liguella Pre-Libertadores

### Liguilla Pre-Libertadores

Qualifying round
| Home (1st leg) | Home (2nd leg) | 1st Leg | 2nd leg | Aggregate |
| Alianza (CCo) | Boca Juniors | 1-2 | 1-2 | 2-4 |
| Concepción | Vélez Sársfield | 0-3 | 1-2 | 1-5 |
| Ferro Carril Oeste | Güemes | 2-1 | 2-1 | 4-2 |
| San Lorenzo | Guaraní Antonio Franco | 4-1 | 3-0 | 7-1 |
Quarter-finals
| | | Score |
| Ferro Carril Oeste | Deportivo Español | 4-1 (aet) |
| Newell's Old Boys | Belgrano | 2-1 |
| Olimpo | Boca Juniors | 2-3 |
| San Lorenzo | Vélez Sársfield | 0-0 (4-3 p.k.) |
Semi-finals
| Home (1st leg) | Home (2nd leg) | 1st Leg | 2nd leg | Aggregate |
| Newell's Old Boys | Ferro Carril Oeste | 1-0 | 1-1 | 2-1 |
| San Lorenzo | Boca Juniors | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1-2 |
Final
| Home (1st leg) | Home (2nd leg) | 1st Leg | 2nd leg | Aggregate |
| Boca Juniors | Newell's Old Boys | 0-2 | 4-1 | 4-3 |
* Boca Juniors qualified for the 1986 Copa Libertadores.