# 2019–20 Liga Primera de Nicaragua

The 2019–20 Liga Primera de Nicaragua season was divided into two tournaments (Apertura and Clausura) and will determine the 73rd and 74th champions in the history of the Liga Primera de Nicaragua, the top division of football in Nicaragua. The Apertura tournament was played in the second half of 2019, while the Clausura was played in the first half of 2020.
The league was one of the only football leagues in the world, along with the Belarus, that did not suspend their season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Format

The Apertura play-off format was changed from previous years, while the Clausura will use the same 4-team play-off format. For the Apertura, the top four teams from the regular stage advanced to a "quadrangular" double-round robin instead of a play-off stage. The regular stage and quadrangular winners would have played to decide the tournament's champion, but ultimately the same team won both and the final was not necessary. The same format was recently adopted by the Costa Rican Primera División, but for both half seasons.

## Team information

A total of ten teams contested the league, including nine sides from the 2018–19 Primera División, and one side from the 2018–19 Segunda División.
UNAN Managua finished last in the aggregate table and were relegated to the Segunda División. The champions from the Segunda División, Deportivo Las Sabanas were promoted in their place.
The 9th place team in the aggregate table, Chinandega FC, faced the second place team from the Segunda División, FC Gutiérrez, in a playoff for a spot in the Primera División. Chinandega won 4–3 over two legs, meaning Chinandega remained in Primera División.

### Promotion and relegation

Promoted from Segunda División as of July, 2019.
* Champions: Deportivo Las Sabanas
Relegated to Segunda División as of July, 2019.
* Last Place: UNAN Managua

### Stadia and locations

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Chinandega | Chinandega | Estadio Efraín Tijerino | 3,000 |
| Deportivo Las Sabanas | Las Sabanas | Municipal de Las Sabanas | 1,000 |
| Deportivo Ocotal | Ocotal | Estadio Roy Fernando Bermúdez | 3,000 |
| Diriangén | Diriamba | Estadio Cacique Diriangén | 8,500 |
| Juventus Managua | Managua | Estadio Olímpico del IND Managua | 15,000 |
| Managua | Managua | Estadio Olímpico del IND Managua | 15,000 |
| Municipal Jalapa | Jalapa | Estadio Alejandro Ramos | 1,000 |
| Real Estelí | Estelí | Estadio Independencia | 5,000 |
| Real Madriz | Somoto | Estadio Solidaridad | 3,000 |
| Walter Ferretti | Managua | Estadio Olímpico del IND Managua | 15,000 |

## Managerial changes
### During the Apertura season

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
| Diriangen FC | Mauricio Cruz | Sacked | September 2019 | Flavio da Silva | September 2019 | 9th (Apertura 2019) |
| CD Ocotal | Mario Alfaro | Sacked | October 2019 | Marcos Rivera (Interim) | October 2019 | 10th (Apertura 2019) |
| CD Ocotal | Marcos Rivera | Interimship finished | October 2019 | Reynaldo Clavasquín | October 2019 | 10th (Apertura 2019) |
| ART Jalapa | Leonidas Rodríguez | Sacked | October 2019 | Angel Orellana | October 2019 | 9th (Apertura 2019) |
| Real Esteli | Sergio Ivan Rodriguez | Resigned | November 2019 | Holver Flores ‘’’Interim’’’ | November 2019 | 3rd (Apertura 2019) |
| Real Madriz | Miguel Angel Sanchez | Resigned | November 2019 | Carlos Matamoros ‘’’Interim’’’ | November 2019 | 9th (Apertura 2019) |

### Between the Aperutra and Clasura season

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
| Juventus Managua | Roberto Armando Chanampe | Sacked | December 2019 | Héctor Medina | December 2019 | TBD (Apertura 2019) |
| Real Madriz | Carlos Matamoros | Interimship finished | December 2019 | Juan Ramirez | January 2020 | TBD (Apertura 2019) |

## Apertura
### Personnel and sponsoring

| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Kit sponsors |
| ART Municipal Jalapa | Leonidas Rodríguez | Luis Manuel Galeano | Joma | Agrotris |
| Chinandega | Reyna Espinoza | Lester Espinoza | Nil | Nil |
| Diriangén FC | Mauricio Cruz | Jason Coronel | Joma | Claro, Ocal, Victoria frost |
| Juventus Managua | Roberto Chanampe | Darwin Guity | TBD | TBD |
| Managua | Emilio Aburto | Cristiano Fernández da Lima | Joma | Brini |
| Ocotal | Mario Alfaro | Guillermo Espino | Nil | Alcadia Ocotal |
| Real Estelí | Sergio Ivan Rodriguez | Jason Casco | Kappa | Beco, Movi star, La Curaçao, Banpro, Vitalsis |
| Real Madriz | Miguel Angel Sanchez | Alvaro Bermúdez | TBD | Alcadia Somoto |
| Deportivo Las Sabanas | Luis Vega | Marvin Fletes | Joma | Nil |
| Walter Ferretti | Henry Urbina | René Huete | Umbro | Claro, Iniser, Disnorte Dissur |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Walter Ferretti | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 23 | 14 | +9 | 33 | Advance to Playoffs (Semifinals) |
| 2 | Diriangén | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 25 | 15 | +10 | 32 | Advance to Playoffs (Semifinals) |
| 3 | Real Estelí | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 14 | +12 | 28 | Advance to Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 4 | Managua | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 25 | +10 | 27 | Advance to Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 5 | Juventus Managua | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 21 | 18 | +3 | 24 | Advance to Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 6 | Deportivo Las Sabanas | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 23 | Advance to Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 7 | Chinandega | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 17 | 30 | −13 | 22 | |
| 8 | Deportivo Ocotal | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 26 | −8 | 21 | |
| 9 | Real Madriz | 18 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 17 | 25 | −8 | 19 | |
| 10 | Municipal Jalapa | 18 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 23 | −11 | 12 | |

### Results

| Home \ Away | CHI | DLS | DPO | DIR | JVM | MAN | MCJ | REE | RMA | WAF |
| Chinandega | — | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| Deportivo Las Sabanas | 1–0 | — | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 |
| Deportivo Ocotal | 3–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Diriangén | 0–1 | 4–0 | 0–0 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 |
| Juventus Managua | 1–1 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 |
| Managua | 3–3 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | — | 4–1 | 0–3 | 5–0 | 0–1 |
| Municipal Jalapa | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Real Estelí | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Real Madriz | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | — | 2–1 |
| Walter Ferretti | 1–2 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | — |

### Finals
#### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| | | | 4 | Managua (p) | 2 | 2 | 4 (5) | | | | | |
| 4 | Managua (p) | 0 (7) | 1 | Walter Ferretti | 2 | 2 | 4 (3) | | | | | |
| 5 | Juventus Managua | 0 (6) | | | | | | 4 | Managua | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | 3 | Real Esteli (a.e.t.) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| | | | 3 | Real Esteli (a.e.t.) | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| 3 | Real Esteli | 1 | 2 | Diriangén | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| 6 | Las Sabanas | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
Key: (a) = Wins because of away goals rule, (a.e.t.) = Wins after extra time in second leg, (p) = Wins after penalty shoot-out.

#### Quarterfinals

Managua progressed.
Real Estelí progressed.

#### Semi-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Real Esteli | 1–1 (a) | Diriangén | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| Managua F.C. | 4–4 (5–3 p) | Walter Ferretti | 2–2 | 2–2 (a.e.t.) |
1–1, Real Estelí won on away goals.
4–4, Managua won 5–3 on penalties.

#### Final

Real Estelí won 2–1 on aggregate.
* Apertura 2019 champions
* Real Esteli F.C. 15th title

### Statistics
#### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1. | Carlos Félix | Managua | 10 |
| 2. | Robinson Luiz | Juventus Managua | 7 |
| 2. | Ulises Rayo | Real Madriz | 7 |
| 4. | Christiano | Managua | 6 |
| 4. | Luis Galeano | Municipal Jalapa | 6 |
| 4. | Pablo Gállego | Managua | 6 |
| 4. | Eulises Pavón | Juventus Managua | 6 |

#### Records

* Top goalscorer: Mexican Carlos Felix (10 goals)
* Most goals scored: Managua FC (35 goals)
* Fewest goals scored: ART Jalapa (12 goals)
* Fewest goals conceded : Walter Ferretti and Real Esteli (14 goals)
* Most goals conceded : Chinandega (30 goals)

## Clausura
### Personnel and sponsoring

| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Kit sponsors |
| ART Municipal Jalapa | Angel Orellana | Luis Manuel Galeano | Joma | Agrotris |
| Chinandega | Reyna Espinoza | Lester Espinoza | Nil | Nil |
| Diriangén FC | Flavio da Silva | Jason Coronel | Joma | Claro, Ocal, Victoria frost |
| Juventus Managua | Hector Medina | Darwin Guity | TBD | TBD |
| Managua | Emilio Aburto | Cristiano Fernández da Lima | Joma | Brini |
| Ocotal | Reynaldo Clavasquín | Guillermo Espino | Nil | Alcadia Ocotal |
| Real Estelí | Holver Flores | Jason Casco | Kappa | Beco, Movi star, La Curaçao, Banpro, Vitalsis |
| Real Madriz | Juan Ramirez | Alvaro Bermúdez | TBD | Alcadia Somoto |
| Deportivo Las Sabanas | Luis Vega | Marvin Fletes | Joma | Nil |
| Walter Ferretti | Henry Urbina | René Huete | Umbro | Claro, Iniser, Disnorte Dissur |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Managua | 18 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 34 | 15 | +19 | 42 | Advance to Playoffs (Semifinals) |
| 2 | Real Estelí | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 29 | 11 | +18 | 35 | Advance to Playoffs (Semifinals) |
| 3 | Diriangén | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 11 | +11 | 35 | Advance to Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 4 | Walter Ferretti | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 31 | 18 | +13 | 30 | Advance to Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 5 | Municipal Jalapa | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 23 | Advance to Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 6 | Juventus Managua | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 21 | Advance to Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 7 | Chinandega | 18 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 31 | −13 | 18 | |
| 8 | Real Madriz | 18 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 15 | 27 | −12 | 17 | |
| 9 | Deportivo Ocotal | 18 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 26 | −12 | 16 | |
| 10 | Deportivo Las Sabanas | 18 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 31 | −20 | 12 | |

### Results

| Home \ Away | CHI | DLS | DPO | DIR | JVM | MAN | MCJ | REE | RMA | WAF |
| Chinandega | — | 3–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| Deportivo Las Sabanas | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 |
| Deportivo Ocotal | 1–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| Diriangén | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| Juventus Managua | 1–1 | 5–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | — | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
| Managua | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 | — | 6–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 |
| Municipal Jalapa | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 |
| Real Estelí | 5–1 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | — | 4–0 | 0–0 |
| Real Madriz | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | — | 1–2 |
| Walter Ferretti | 7–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–0 | — |

### Finals
#### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| | | | 3 | Diriangén | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | |
| 3 | Diriangén | 1 | 2 | Real Estelí | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | |
| 6 | Juventus Managua | 0 | | | | | | 2 | Real Estelí | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | 1 | Managua | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | | | 4 | Walter Ferretti | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| 4 | Walter Ferretti | 5 | 1 | Managua | 0 | 4 | 4 | | | | | |
| 5 | Municipal Jalapa | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
Key: (a) = Wins because of away goals rule, (a.e.t.) = Wins after extra time in second leg, (p) = Wins after penalty shoot-out.

#### Quarterfinals

Diriangén progressed.
Walter Ferretti progressed.

#### Semi-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Diriangén | 0–1 | Real Estelí | 0–1 | 0–0 |
| Walter Ferretti | 2–4 | Managua | 0–0 | 2–4 |
Real Estelí won 1–0 on aggregate.
Managua won 4–2 on aggregate.

#### Final

Real Estelí won 4–2 on aggregate.

### Statistics
#### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1. | Fernando Villalpando | Walter Ferretti | 10 |
| 2. | Pablo Gállego | Managua | 8 |
| 3. | Christiano | Managua | 6 |
| 3. | Leandro Figueroa | Walter Ferretti | 6 |
| 3. | Dshon Forbes | Walter Ferretti | 6 |
| 3. | Ulises Rayo | Real Madriz | 6 |

#### Discipline

* Most yellow cards: 8
** Daniel Rodríguez (Chinandega)
* Most red cards: 2
** Jonathan Moncada (Deportivo Ocotal)

## Aggregate table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Managua (Q) | 36 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 69 | 40 | +29 | 69 | CONCACAF League preliminary round |
| 2 | Diriangén | 36 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 47 | 26 | +21 | 67 | |
| 3 | Real Estelí (Q) | 36 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 55 | 25 | +30 | 63 | CONCACAF League round of 16 |
| 4 | Walter Ferretti | 36 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 54 | 32 | +22 | 63 | |
| 5 | Juventus Managua | 36 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 44 | 41 | +3 | 45 | |
| 6 | Chinandega | 36 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 35 | 61 | −26 | 40 | |
| 7 | Deportivo Ocotal | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 32 | 52 | −20 | 37 | |
| 8 | Real Madriz | 36 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 32 | 52 | −20 | 36 | |
| 9 | Municipal Jalapa (O) | 36 | 8 | 11 | 17 | 29 | 44 | −15 | 35 | Relegation play-offs |
| 10 | Deportivo Las Sabanas (R) | 36 | 8 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 52 | −24 | 35 | Relegated to Segunda División |
* ↑ As Apertura and Clausura runners-up (NCA2)
* ↑ As Apertura and Clausura champions (NCA1)

## Relegation play-offs

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Deportivo Masaya | 3–4 | Municipal Jalapa | 2–1 | 1–3 |

## List of foreign players in the league

This is a list of foreign players in the 2019–20 season. The following players:
* Have played at least one game for the respective club.
* Have not been capped for the Nicaragua national football team on any level, independently from the birthplace
A new rule was introduced this season, that clubs can have four foreign players per club and can only add a new player if there is an injury or a player/s is released and it is before the close of the season transfer window.
(player released during the Apertura season) (player released between the Apertura and Clausura seasons) (player released during the Clausura season)