# 2012 Categoría Primera A season

The 2012 Categoría Primera A season (officially known at the 2012 Liga Postobón season for sponsorship reasons) was the 65th season of Colombia's top-flight football league.

## Format

Both the Apertura and Finalización had an identical format. Each championship was divided into three stages. The First Stage was contested on a home-and-away basis, with each team playing the other teams once and playing a regional rival once more. The top eight teams after eighteen rounds advanced to a semifinal round, of two groups of four playing once more on a home-and-away basis. The winner of each semifinal group advanced to the final of the tournament, which was played as a double-legged series. The winner of the final was declared the tournament champion and participated in the 2013 Copa Libertadores.

## Teams

| Team | City | Stadium |
| Atlético Huila | Neiva | Guillermo Plazas Alcid |
| Atlético Nacional | Medellín | Atanasio Girardot |
| Boyacá Chicó | Tunja | La Independencia |
| Cúcuta Deportivo | Cúcuta | General Santander |
| Deportes Quindío | Armenia | Centenario |
| Deportes Tolima | Ibagué | Manuel Murillo Toro |
| Deportivo Cali | Cali | Deportivo Cali |
| Deportivo Pasto | Pasto | Departamental Libertad |
| Envigado | Envigado | Polideportivo Sur |
| Independiente Medellín | Medellín | Atanasio Girardot |
| Itagüí | Itagüí | Ciudad de Itagüí |
| Junior | Barranquilla | Metropolitano |
| La Equidad | Bogotá | Metropolitano de Techo |
| Millonarios | Bogotá | Nemesio Camacho |
| Once Caldas | Manizales | Palogrande |
| Patriotas | Tunja | La Independencia |
| Real Cartagena | Cartagena | Jaime Morón León |
| Santa Fe | Bogotá | Nemesio Camacho |

## Torneo Apertura
### First stage

The First Stage began on January 27 and consisted of eighteen rounds and a series of regional rivalries on the ninth round. The top eight teams out of this stage advanced to the Semifinals. The first stage ended on May 27.

#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Deportes Tolima | 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 16 | +12 | 36 | Advanced to the Semifinals |
| 2 | Santa Fe | 18 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 29 | 19 | +10 | 29 | Advanced to the Semifinals |
| 3 | Itagüí | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 18 | +7 | 29 | Advanced to the Semifinals |
| 4 | Atlético Huila | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 17 | +6 | 29 | Advanced to the Semifinals |
| 5 | La Equidad | 18 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 19 | 16 | +3 | 28 | Advanced to the Semifinals |
| 6 | Deportivo Pasto | 18 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 27 | Advanced to the Semifinals |
| 7 | Boyacá Chicó | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 26 | 22 | +4 | 27 | Advanced to the Semifinals |
| 8 | Deportivo Cali | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 18 | +1 | 27 | Advanced to the Semifinals |
| 9 | Patriotas | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 17 | −4 | 27 | |
| 10 | Junior | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 28 | 24 | +4 | 25 | |
| 11 | Envigado | 18 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 23 | 24 | −1 | 23 | |
| 12 | Atlético Nacional | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 22 | |
| 13 | Millonarios | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 22 | 23 | −1 | 20 | |
| 14 | Real Cartagena | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 22 | 31 | −9 | 20 | |
| 15 | Deportes Quindío | 18 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 20 | 29 | −9 | 18 | |
| 16 | Independiente Medellín | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 24 | −7 | 17 | |
| 17 | Once Caldas | 18 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 22 | 26 | −4 | 14 | |
| 18 | Cúcuta Deportivo | 18 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 35 | −23 | 11 | |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | HUI | NAC | BOY | CUC | QUI | TOL | CAL | PAS | ENV | EQU | DIM | ITA | JUN | MIL | ONC | PAT | RCA | SFE |
| Atlético Huila | | | 3–0 | | | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | | 0–0 | 1–0 | | 1–3 | | 3–2 | 3–0 | | |
| Atlético Nacional | 1–2 | | 4–0 | 1–1 | | 0–1 | 4–0 | 0–1 | | | 1–2 | | 3–1 | | 1–0 | 1–0 | | |
| Boyacá Chicó | | | | 5–2 | 2–0 | | 3–1 | | 4–1 | 1–1 | | | | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | | 2–0 |
| Cúcuta Deportivo | 1–0 | 1–0 | | | | | | 2–2 | | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | | 2–1 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | |
| Deportes Quindío | 0–2 | 2–2 | | 1–0 | | | | 2–2 | | | | 2–1 | | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | |
| Deportes Tolima | 1–1 | | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | | 1–1 | | 0–1 | 1–1 | | | | | 1–0 | | | 2–1 |
| Deportivo Cali | | | | 1–0 | 1–1 | | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | | 0–1 | | 1–0 | 2–1 | | | 2–0 |
| Deportivo Pasto | | | 2–0 | | | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | | 1–1 | | 4–1 | | | 1–1 |
| Envigado | 1–1 | 0–0 | | 2–2 | 3–0 | | | | | | | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | | 2–0 | 1–0 | |
| La Equidad | | 3–2 | | 4–1 | 2–1 | | | | 1–0 | | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | | | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Independiente Medellín | | 1–0 | 0–3 | | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | | 2–2 | 0–1 | | | | | 2–1 | | | 1–1 |
| Itagüí | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | | | 2–3 | | 3–0 | 4–2 | | 1–1 | | 1–1 | | | 1–1 | 3–1 | |
| Junior | | | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | | | | 1–0 | 2–1 | | 1–3 | | | 3–1 | |
| Millonarios | 1–1 | 2–3 | | | | 1–1 | | 1–2 | | | 2–1 | 1–0 | | | | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–4 |
| Once Caldas | | | | 4–0 | 0–0 | | | | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | | | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Patriotas | | | 0–0 | | | 0–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | | 0–2 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | | 1–0 | | | 0–0 |
| Real Cartagena | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | | | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | | | 3–2 | | 2–1 | 0–2 | | 2–2 | | |
| Santa Fe | 4–0 | 2–2 | | 2–0 | 1–1 | | | | 1–1 | | | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | | | 5–0 | |

### Semifinals

The Semifinal stage began on June 13 and ended on July 8. The eight teams that advanced were sorted into two groups of four teams. The winner of each group advanced to the finals.

#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | PAS | CAL | TOL | HUI |
| 1 | Deportivo Pasto | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 11 | Advanced to the Finals | | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| 2 | Deportivo Cali | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 11 | | 3–0 | | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| 3 | Deportes Tolima | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 10 | | 0–1 | 1–0 | | 2–0 |
| 4 | Atlético Huila | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 1 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SFE | EQU | BOY | ITA |
| 1 | Santa Fe | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 14 | Advanced to the Finals | | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| 2 | La Equidad | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 8 | | 2–2 | | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| 3 | Boyacá Chicó | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 7 | | 2–2 | 2–1 | | 0–1 |
| 4 | Itagüí | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 4 | | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | |

### Finals

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Santa Fe | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | 2013 Copa Libertadores Second Stage |
| 2 | Deportivo Pasto | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 1 | |
* Liga Postobón 2012 Apertura champion
* Santa Fe 7th title

### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Nationality | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Robin Ramírez | Paraguayan | Deportes Tolima | 13 |
| 2 | Giovanni Hernández | Colombian | Junior | 11 |
| 2 | Humberto Osorio | Colombian | Millonarios | 11 |
| 4 | Efraín Viáfara | Colombian | Itagüí Ditaires | 10 |
| 5 | Diego Cabrera | Bolivian | Santa Fe | 9 |
| 5 | Edwards Jiménez | Colombian | Deportivo Pasto | 9 |
| 5 | Omar Sebastián Pérez | Argentinian | Santa Fe | 9 |
| 5 | Milton Rodríguez | Colombian | Atlético Huila | 9 |
Source:

## Torneo Finalización
### First stage
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Millonarios | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 9 | +16 | 37 | Advance to the Semifinals |
| 2 | La Equidad | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 26 | 17 | +9 | 33 | Advance to the Semifinals |
| 3 | Junior | 18 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 27 | 15 | +12 | 32 | Advance to the Semifinals |
| 4 | Itagüí | 18 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 23 | 12 | +11 | 32 | Advance to the Semifinals |
| 5 | Atlético Nacional | 18 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 25 | 14 | +11 | 30 | Advance to the Semifinals |
| 6 | Deportes Tolima | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 20 | +6 | 29 | Advance to the Semifinals |
| 7 | Independiente Medellín | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 18 | +5 | 26 | Advance to the Semifinals |
| 8 | Deportivo Pasto | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 22 | 20 | +2 | 25 | Advance to the Semifinals |
| 9 | Cúcuta Deportivo | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 24 | |
| 10 | Santa Fe | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 22 | −4 | 23 | |
| 11 | Deportivo Cali | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 22 | −1 | 22 | |
| 12 | Boyacá Chicó | 18 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 19 | 22 | −3 | 22 | |
| 13 | Deportes Quindío | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 25 | −5 | 22 | |
| 14 | Envigado | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 18 | −3 | 21 | |
| 15 | Once Caldas | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 19 | 27 | −8 | 19 | |
| 16 | Patriotas | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 28 | −11 | 17 | |
| 17 | Real Cartagena | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 33 | −18 | 12 | |
| 18 | Atlético Huila | 18 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 31 | −19 | 12 | |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | HUI | NAC | BOY | CUC | QUI | TOL | CAL | PAS | ENV | EQU | DIM | ITA | JUN | MIL | ONC | PAT | RCA | SFE |
| Atlético Huila | | 0–0 | | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | | | 1–0 | | | 2–3 | | 0–4 | | | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| Atlético Nacional | | | | 1–1 | 1–1 | | | | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | | 0–0 | | | 2–1 | 2–2 |
| Boyacá Chicó | 2–0 | 1–1 | | | | 1–1 | | 1–1 | | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | | 0–1 | 3–0 | |
| Cúcuta Deportivo | | | 2–0 | | 1–0 | 0–5 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 1–3 | | | 1–1 | | 4–1 | | | 4–0 |
| Deportes Quindío | | | 4–1 | | | 1–2 | 2–1 | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | | 0–0 | | 0–1 | | | 1–0 |
| Deportes Tolima | 1–1 | 1–3 | | | | | | 2–1 | | | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | | 2–1 | 3–0 | |
| Deportivo Cali | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | | | 1–3 | | 0–1 | | | 2–0 | | 1–1 | | | 3–0 | 2–0 | |
| Deportivo Pasto | 3–1 | 0–2 | | 2–1 | 3–0 | | 3–0 | | | | | 1–1 | | 3–1 | | 1–1 | 0–0 | |
| Envigado | | | 0–0 | | | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | | | 2–1 | | | 1–1 |
| La Equidad | 5–1 | | 1–1 | 3–1 | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | | | 1–3 | | | | 1–0 | 2–1 | | |
| Independiente Medellín | 0–0 | 0–3 | | 1–1 | | | | 1–0 | | | | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | | 2–0 | 5–0 | |
| Itagüí | | | | 0–0 | 4–0 | | 2–0 | | 1–1 | 3–0 | | | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | | 0–0 |
| Junior | 4–0 | 1–0 | | | | | | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | | | | | 2–0 | 4–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Millonarios | | | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | | 0–0 | | 2–0 | 2–0 | | | 2–0 | | 2–1 | | | 2–0 |
| Once Caldas | 3–1 | 0–2 | 5–2 | | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | | | 0–1 | | | | | 1–1 | | |
| Patriotas | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | | | | 1–2 | | | 1–0 | | 0–2 | | | 1–1 | |
| Real Cartagena | | | | 0–1 | 2–1 | | | | 2–3 | 0–2 | | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–2 | | | 2–1 |
| Santa Fe | | | 1–0 | | | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | | 1–2 | 1–1 | | | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | | |

### Semifinals

The Semifinal stage began on November and ended on December. The eight teams that advanced were sorted into two groups of four teams. The winner of each group advanced to the finals.

#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | MIL | PAS | JUN | TOL |
| 1 | Millonarios | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 10 | Advanced to the Finals | | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 |
| 2 | Deportivo Pasto | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 10 | | 3–1 | | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| 3 | Junior | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 8 | | 2–1 | 1–3 | | 1–1 |
| 4 | Deportes Tolima | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 5 | | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–1 | |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | DIM | NAC | ITA | EQU |
| 1 | Independiente Medellín | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 11 | Advanced to the Finals | | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Atlético Nacional | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 10 | | 0–1 | | 1–0 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Itagüí | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | | 0–1 | 2–0 | | 0–1 |
| 4 | La Equidad | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 6 | | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | |

### Finals

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Millonarios | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2013 Copa Libertadores Second Stage |
| 2 | Independiente Medellín | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
* Liga Postobón 2012 Clausura champion
* Millonarios 14th title

## Relegation

A separate table is kept to determine the teams that get relegated to the Categoría Primera B for the next season. The table includes an average of all first stage games played for the current season and the previous two seasons.
| Pos | Team | 2010 Pts | 2011 Pts | 2012 Pts | Total Pts | Total Pld | Avg | Relegation |
| 1 | Deportes Tolima | 70 | 56 | 65 | 191 | 108 | 1.769 |
| 2 | Atlético Nacional | 61 | 55 | 52 | 168 | 108 | 1.556 |
| 3 | Santa Fe | 65 | 49 | 52 | 166 | 108 | 1.537 |
| 4 | La Equidad | 59 | 45 | 61 | 165 | 108 | 1.528 |
| 5 | Once Caldas | 61 | 65 | 33 | 159 | 108 | 1.472 |
| 6 | Itagüí | 41 | 54 | 61 | 156 | 108 | 1.444 |
| 7 | Junior | 48 | 50 | 57 | 155 | 108 | 1.435 |
| 8 | Deportivo Cali | 56 | 50 | 49 | 155 | 108 | 1.435 |
| 9 | Millonarios | 41 | 56 | 57 | 154 | 108 | 1.426 |
| 10 | Boyacá Chicó | 50 | 53 | 49 | 152 | 108 | 1.407 |
| 11 | Deportivo Pasto | 48 | 41 | 52 | 141 | 108 | 1.343 |
| 12 | Independiente Medellín | 57 | 37 | 43 | 137 | 108 | 1.269 |
| 13 | Envigado | 32 | 60 | 44 | 136 | 108 | 1.259 |
| 14 | Atlético Huila | 54 | 39 | 41 | 134 | 108 | 1.241 |
| 15 | Deportes Quindío | 45 | 47 | 40 | 132 | 108 | 1.222 |
| 16 | Patriotas | 43 | 42 | 44 | 129 | 108 | 1.194 |
| 17 | Cúcuta Deportivo (O) | 48 | 41 | 35 | 124 | 108 | 1.148 | Relegation/promotion playoff |
| 18 | Real Cartagena (R) | 43 | 42 | 32 | 117 | 108 | 1.083 | Relegation to the Categoría Primera B |
Rules for classification: 1st average; 2nd goal difference; 3rd number of goals scored; 4th away goals scored.

## Aggregate table

An aggregate table including all games that a team plays during the year; is used to determine the First Stage berths to both the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana. The best-placed non-champion will go to the first stage of the 2013 Copa Libertadores and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th best-placed non-champions will go to the first stage of the 2013 Copa Sudamericana. Atlético Nacional is already qualified to the 2013 Copa Sudamericana as the champion of the 2012 Copa Colombia.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Deportes Tolima | 48 | 22 | 14 | 12 | 67 | 48 | +19 | 80 | 2013 Copa Libertadores First Stage |
| 2 | La Equidad | 48 | 20 | 15 | 13 | 60 | 49 | +11 | 75 | 2013 Copa Sudamericana First Stage |
| 3 | Deportivo Pasto | 50 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 62 | 53 | +9 | 74 | 2013 Copa Sudamericana First Stage |
| 4 | Itagüí | 48 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 56 | 41 | +15 | 72 | 2013 Copa Sudamericana First Stage |
| 5 | Santa Fe (C) | 44 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 59 | 48 | +11 | 70 | 2013 Copa Libertadores Second Stage |
| 6 | Millonarios (C) | 44 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 56 | 39 | +17 | 69 | 2013 Copa Libertadores Second Stage |
| 7 | Junior | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 60 | 44 | +16 | 65 | |
| 8 | Atlético Nacional | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 56 | 38 | +18 | 62 | 2013 Copa Sudamericana First Stage |
| 9 | Deportivo Cali | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 60 | |
| 10 | Boyacá Chicó | 42 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 51 | 52 | −1 | 56 | |
| 11 | Independiente Medellín | 44 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 45 | 47 | −2 | 56 | |
| 12 | Envigado | 36 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 38 | 42 | −4 | 44 | |
| 13 | Patriotas | 36 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 30 | 45 | −15 | 44 | |
| 14 | Atlético Huila | 42 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 37 | 56 | −19 | 42 | |
| 15 | Deportes Quindío | 36 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 40 | 54 | −14 | 40 | |
| 16 | Cúcuta Deportivo | 36 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 34 | 57 | −23 | 35 | |
| 17 | Once Caldas | 36 | 8 | 9 | 19 | 41 | 53 | −12 | 33 | |
| 18 | Real Cartagena | 36 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 35 | 65 | −30 | 32 | |
* ↑ Santa Fe and Millonarios are qualified for the 2013 Copa Libertadores as the Apertura and Finalización champions respectively.
* ↑ Atlético Nacional are qualified for the 2013 Copa Sudamericana as the 2012 Copa Colombia champion.