# 1991–92 Argentine Primera División

The 1991–92 Argentine Primera División was the 101st season of top-flight professional football in Argentina. Starting with this season, both Apertura and Clausura tournaments were recognised as separate championships, and no final decider was played between the winners of each tournament. River Plate won the Apertura and Newell's Old Boys won the Clausura.
The season ran from 10 September 1991 to 5 July 1992, with Quilmes and Unión de Santa Fe being relegated.

## Competition format

The tournament for the 1991–92 season was composed of 20 teams. Each team played each other in a single round-robin tournament. The season was divided in two separate championships, called Apertura (Opening) and Clausura (Closing). If each tournament was won by a different team, they played a two-legged qualifier for the 1993 Copa Libertadores. To decide the remaining berth for the Copa Libertadores, the four runners-up from the Apertura tournaments and the four runners-up from the Clausura tournament (not already qualified in the Apertura tournament) competed in an eight-team knockout round. The winning team played against the losing team from the two-legged qualifier and was granted a berth in the 1993 Copa Libertadores. The losing team plus the finalist and best semi-finalist of the eight-team knockout round competed in the 1992 Copa CONMEBOL. Relegation occurred at the end of the Clausura stage, with the two teams with the worst three-year point average (Primera División competition only) being relegated to Primera B Nacional competition.

## Apertura Tournament

The Apertura Tournament began on 29 August 1991 and finished on 22 December 1991. River Plate won the tournament. The match between River Plate and Racing was suspended, with the victory being awarded later to River Plate.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | River Plate | 19 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 32 | 11 | +21 | 30 | Qualified to 1993 Copa Libertadores qualifier final |
| 2 | Boca Juniors | 19 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 22 | 15 | +7 | 24 | Qualified to 1993 Copa Libertadores qualifier |
| 3 | San Lorenzo | 19 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 20 | 14 | +6 | 22 | Qualified to 1993 Copa Libertadores qualifier |
| 4 | Vélez Sarsfield | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 18 | +9 | 21 | Qualified to 1993 Copa Libertadores qualifier |
| 5 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 19 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 17 | −1 | 21 | Qualified to 1993 Copa Libertadores qualifier |
| 6 | Deportivo Mandiyú | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 22 | 20 | +2 | 20 | |
| 7 | Platense | 19 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 14 | +2 | 20 | |
| 8 | Talleres (C) | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 19 | 21 | −2 | 20 | |
| 9 | Argentinos Juniors | 19 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 19 | |
| 10 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 19 | |
| 11 | Independiente | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 20 | 21 | −1 | 19 | |
| 12 | Huracán | 19 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 18 | 21 | −3 | 19 | |
| 13 | Racing | 19 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 19 | |
| 14 | Deportivo Español | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 25 | −2 | 18 | |
| 15 | Belgrano | 19 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 17 | |
| 16 | Rosario Central | 19 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 17 | |
| 17 | Estudiantes (LP) | 19 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 16 | |
| 18 | Newell's Old Boys | 19 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 16 | −2 | 15 | |
| 19 | Unión | 19 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 21 | −8 | 14 | |
| 20 | Quilmes | 19 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 25 | −16 | 10 | |

## Clausura Tournament

The Clausura Tournament began on 21 February 1992 and finished on 5 July 1992. Newell's Old Boys won their fourth title. Quilmes was deducted two points following incidents in their match against Ferro Carril Oeste.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Newell's Old Boys | 19 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 27 | 18 | +9 | 29 | Qualified to 1993 Copa Libertadores qualifier final |
| 2 | Vélez Sarsfield | 19 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 29 | 16 | +13 | 27 | |
| 3 | Deportivo Español | 19 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 24 | 11 | +13 | 27 | Qualified to 1993 Copa Libertadores qualifier |
| 4 | Boca Juniors | 19 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 11 | +9 | 26 | |
| 5 | River Plate | 19 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 31 | 22 | +9 | 24 | |
| 6 | Platense | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 23 | 16 | +7 | 22 | Qualified to 1993 Copa Libertadores qualifier |
| 7 | Racing | 19 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 21 | Qualified to 1993 Copa Libertadores qualifier |
| 8 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 19 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 20 | |
| 9 | Huracán | 19 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 18 | 19 | −1 | 19 | Qualified to 1993 Copa Libertadores qualifier |
| 10 | Belgrano | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 18 | |
| 11 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 19 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 14 | −1 | 18 | |
| 12 | Independiente | 19 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 17 | |
| 13 | Talleres (C) | 19 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 17 | −3 | 17 | |
| 14 | Rosario Central | 19 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 19 | 24 | −5 | 17 | |
| 15 | Argentinos Juniors | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 19 | −3 | 16 | |
| 16 | Unión | 19 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 18 | −7 | 13 | |
| 17 | Estudiantes (LP) | 19 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 26 | −12 | 13 | |
| 18 | Deportivo Mandiyú | 19 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 30 | −14 | 13 | |
| 19 | San Lorenzo | 19 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 25 | −14 | 12 | |
| 20 | Quilmes | 19 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 14 | 32 | −18 | 11 | |

## Copa Libertadores qualification

Champions of the Apertura tournament River Plate faced Clausura champions Newell's Old Boys for a spot in the 1993 Copa Libertadores. The losing team would play against the winner of the eight-team knockout round for the remaining berth. River Plate won two of the three matches and qualified for the Copa Libertadores.
Team details :
River Plate
Newell's O.B.
GK1 José Miguel
DF4 Fabián Basualdo
DF2 Fernando Cáceres
DF6 Guillermo Rivarola
DF3 Diego Cocca
MF8 Gustavo Zapata
MF5 Leonardo Astrada
MF10 Julio Toresani
MF11 Hernán Díaz
FW7 Ramón Medina Bello 83'
FW9 Ramón Díaz 65'
Substitutes:
FW16 Walter Silvani 65'
MF13 Javier Claut 83'
Manager:
Daniel Passarella
GK1 Norberto Scoponi
DF4 Julio Saldaña 12'
DF2 Fernando Gamboa
DF6 Mauricio Pochettino
DF3 Eduardo Berizzo
MF10 Alfredo Berti
MF5 Juan Manuel Llop
MF8 Gerardo Martino
FW7 Julio Zamora
FW9 Cristian Domizzi 71'
FW11 Ricardo Lunari
Substitutes:
DF13 Gustavo Raggio 12'
FW16 Aldo Soria 71'
Manager:
Carlos Picerni :
The second qualifying instance to the 1993 Copa Libertadores began on 10 July 1992 and finished on 26 July 1992. Eight teams competed in a direct elimination knockout tournament with home and away matches, where the winning team faced the losing team from the first qualifier. The losing team from this qualifier plus the two best teams from the knockout phase qualified for the 1992 Copa CONMEBOL.
| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Final | Final |
| July 12 - El Palacio | July 12 - El Palacio | | | |
| Boca Juniors | 2 | | | |
| Boca Juniors | 2 | July 18 - José Amalfitani | July 18 - José Amalfitani | | |
| San Lorenzo | 0 | July 18 - José Amalfitani | July 18 - José Amalfitani | |
| San Lorenzo | 0 | Boca Juniors | 0 | |
| July 12 - El Doble Visera | July 12 - El Doble Visera | | Boca Juniors | 0 | |
| July 12 - El Doble Visera | July 12 - El Doble Visera | Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 1 | |
| Platense | 0 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 1 | |
| Platense | 0 | | | | July 26 - Monumental | July 26 - Monumental |
| Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 1 | | | | July 26 - Monumental | July 26 - Monumental |
| Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 1 | | | | Vélez Sarsfield | 3 |
| July 12 - Ricardo Etcheverry | July 12 - Ricardo Etcheverry | | | | | Vélez Sarsfield | 3 |
| July 12 - Ricardo Etcheverry | July 12 - Ricardo Etcheverry | | | | Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 0 |
| Vélez Sarsfield | 1 | | | | Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 0 |
| Vélez Sarsfield | 1 | July 19 - Ricardo Etcheverry | July 19 - Ricardo Etcheverry | | | |
| Huracán | 0 | July 19 - Ricardo Etcheverry | July 19 - Ricardo Etcheverry | | | |
| Huracán | 0 | Vélez Sarsfield | 1 (4) | | | |
| July 10 - El Palacio | July 10 - El Palacio | | Vélez Sarsfield | 1 (4) | | | |
| July 10 - El Palacio | July 10 - El Palacio | Deportivo Español | 1 (2) | |
| Deportivo Español | 1 | Deportivo Español | 1 (2) | |
| Racing | 0 | | | |

### 2nd. place match

Vélez Sarsfield played a final playoff match against Newell's Old Boys for the remaining berth in the 1993 Copa Libertadores.
Team details :
Newell's O.B.
Vélez Sarsfield
GK1 Norberto Scoponi
DF4 Julio Saldaña
DF2 Fernando Gamboa
DF6 Mauricio Pochettino
DF3 Eduardo Berizzo
MF11 Alfredo Berti
MF5 Juan Manuel Llop
MF8 Gerardo Martino
MF10 Juan J. Rossi 76'
FW7 Julio Zamora
FW9 Ricardo Lunari 89'
Substitutes:
FW16 Cristian Domizzi 76'
DF14 Fabián Garfagnoli 89'
Manager:
Carlos Picerni
GK1 José Luis Chilavert
DF4 Horacio Bidevich
DF2 José Almandoz
DF6 Roberto Trotta
DF3 Raúl Cardozo
MF8 Carlos Compagnucci 87'
MF5 Alejandro Mancuso
MF7 Christian Bassedas
MF10 Norberto Ortega Sánchez
FW9 Ricardo Gareca
FW11 José O. Flores
Substitutes:
Campos 87'
Manager:
Eduardo Luján Manera :

## Relegation

At the end of the season Quilmes and Unión were relegated after finishing with the two worst points averages.
| Team | Average | Points | Played | 1989–90 | 1990–91 | 1991–92 |
| River Plate | 1.342 | 153 | 114 | 53 | 45 | 55 |
| Boca Juniors | 1.263 | 144 | 114 | 43 | 51 | 50 |
| Vélez Sársfield | 1.184 | 135 | 114 | 42 | 45 | 48 |
| Newell's Old Boys | 1.123 | 128 | 114 | 36 | 48 | 44 |
| Independiente | 1.070 | 122 | 114 | 46 | 40 | 36 |
| Racing | 1.035 | 118 | 114 | 39 | 40 | 39 |
| Huracán | 1.026 | 78 | 76 | N/A | 40 | 38 |
| Rosario Central | 1.018 | 116 | 114 | 43 | 39 | 34 |
| Ferro Carril Oeste | 1.000 | 114 | 114 | 39 | 38 | 37 |
| San Lorenzo | 1.000 | 114 | 114 | 35 | 45 | 34 |
| Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 0.991 | 113 | 114 | 39 | 33 | 41 |
| Platense | 0.991 | 113 | 114 | 36 | 35 | 42 |
| Argentinos Juniors | 0.956 | 109 | 114 | 38 | 36 | 35 |
| Deportivo Mandiyú | 0.939 | 107 | 114 | 36 | 38 | 33 |
| Belgrano | 0.921 | 35 | 38 | N/A | N/A | 35 |
| Deportivo Español | 0.912 | 104 | 114 | 31 | 28 | 45 |
| Estudiantes (LP) | 0.895 | 102 | 114 | 34 | 39 | 29 |
| Talleres (C) | 0.895 | 102 | 114 | 36 | 29 | 37 |
| Unión | 0.825 | 94 | 114 | 36 | 31 | 27 |
| Quilmes | 0.500 | 19 | 38 | N/A | N/A | 19 |