# 2020 Primera Nacional

The 2020 Argentine Primera Nacional, also known as the 2020 Campeonato de Transición Primera Nacional, was the 36th season of the Primera Nacional, the second tier of Argentine football. The season began on 28 November 2020 and concluded on 31 January 2021. The competition was contested by the thirty-two teams that took part in the 2019–20 season, which was suspended and subsequently abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Format

The competition was split into two stages: First Promotion and Second Promotion, which in turn, were split into two groups according to the groupings and placements of teams in the previous season. The top eight teams of each group at the time of suspension of the previous season played in the First Promotion stage, where they were split into two groups, while the remaining eight teams from each group played in the first round of the Second Promotion stage. In both stages, the teams were placed in groups according to the ones they were in for the previous season. In the First Promotion stage, each team played against the other teams in their group once, with the group winners playing a final match on neutral ground to decide the first promoted team to the Liga Profesional for the 2021 season.
In the Second Promotion stage, each team also played against the other teams in their group once, with the top two in each group qualifying for a knockout tournament where they were joined by the teams that failed to earn promotion in the First Promotion stage, with the two group runners-up from that stage having a bye to the third knockout round and the loser from the First Promotion final having a bye to the semi-finals. The winners of that knockout tournament earned the second promotion berth to the Liga Profesional.

## Club information
### Stadia and locations

| Club | City | Stadium |
| Agropecuario Argentino | Carlos Casares | Ofelia Rosenzuaig |
| All Boys | Buenos Aires | Islas Malvinas |
| Almagro | José Ingenieros | Tres de Febrero |
| Alvarado | Mar del Plata | José María Minella |
| Atlanta | Buenos Aires | Don León Kolbowsky |
| Atlético de Rafaela | Rafaela | Nuevo Monumental |
| Belgrano | Córdoba | Julio César Villagra |
| Barracas Central | Buenos Aires | Claudio Chiqui Tapia |
| Brown | Adrogué | Lorenzo Arandilla |
| Chacarita Juniors | Villa Maipú | Chacarita Juniors |
| Defensores de Belgrano | Buenos Aires | Juan Pasquale |
| Deportivo Morón | Morón | Nuevo Francisco Urbano |
| Deportivo Riestra | Buenos Aires | Guillermo Laza |
| Estudiantes (BA) | Caseros | Ciudad de Caseros |
| Estudiantes (RC) | Río Cuarto | Antonio Candini |
| Ferro Carril Oeste | Buenos Aires | Arquitecto Ricardo Etcheverry |
| Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) | Jujuy | 23 de Agosto |
| Gimnasia y Esgrima (M) | Mendoza | Víctor Legrotaglie |
| Guillermo Brown | Puerto Madryn | Raúl Conti |
| Independiente Rivadavia | Mendoza | Bautista Gargantini |
| Instituto | Córdoba | Presidente Perón |
| Mitre (SdE) | Santiago del Estero | Doctores José y Antonio Castiglione |
| Nueva Chicago | Buenos Aires | Nueva Chicago |
| Platense | Florida Este | Ciudad de Vicente López |
| Quilmes | Quilmes | Centenario |
| San Martín (SJ) | San Juan | Ingeniero Hilario Sánchez |
| San Martín (SJ) | San Juan | Estadio del Bicentenario |
| San Martín (T) | Tucumán | La Ciudadela |
| Santamarina | Tandil | Municipal Gral. San Martín |
| Sarmiento | Junín | Eva Perón |
| Temperley | Temperley | Alfredo Beranger |
| Tigre | Victoria | José Dellagiovanna |
| Villa Dálmine | Campana | Villa Dálmine |

## First Promotion stage
### Zone A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ERC | PLA | EBA | AGA | ATL | DMO | TEM | FCO |
| 1 | Estudiantes (RC) | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 13 | Advance to Championship final | — | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | — | 0–0 | — | 2–1 |
| 2 | Platense | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 13 | Advance to Eliminatory stage third knockout round | — | — | — | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–1 | — |
| 3 | Estudiantes (BA) | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 12 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–3 | — | — | — |
| 4 | Agropecuario Argentino | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 10 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | — | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| 5 | Atlanta | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 8 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | 1–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–3 | — | — | 1–1 | — |
| 6 | Deportivo Morón | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 6 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | — | — | 2–1 | — | 1–2 | — | — | 2–3 |
| 7 | Temperley | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 6 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | 0–0 | — | 0–1 | — | — | 0–0 | — | 1–0 |
| 8 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 6 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | — | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 0–3 | — | — | — |

### Zone B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SAR | ATR | DBE | TIG | GEM | DRI | VDA | SMT |
| 1 | Sarmiento (J) | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 15 | Advance to Championship final | — | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | — | — | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Atlético de Rafaela | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 14 | Advance to Eliminatory stage third knockout round | 0–0 | — | — | 3–2 | 2–1 | — | — | — |
| 3 | Defensores de Belgrano | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 13 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | — | 2–0 | — | — | 0–0 | 1–0 | — | 0–1 |
| 4 | Tigre | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 8 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | — | — | 0–1 | — | — | 1–2 | 3–1 | — |
| 5 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (M) | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | 2–3 | — | — | 1–1 | — | — | 1–1 | — |
| 6 | Deportivo Riestra | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 11 | −3 | 6 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | 1–2 | 3–3 | — | — | 1–3 | — | — | 0–0 |
| 7 | Villa Dálmine | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 6 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | — | 0–2 | 1–2 | — | — | 1–1 | — | — |
| 8 | San Martín (T) | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 5 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | — | 0–3 | — | 0–1 | 2–2 | — | 0–1 | — |

### Championship final
#### Match details

Team details :
Sarmiento (J)
Estudiantes (RC)
GK1 Manuel Vicentini (c)
DF4 Martín García
DF2 Federico Mancinelli
DF6 Brian Salvareschi
DF3 Facundo Castet
MF7 Gabriel Graciani
MF5 Federico Vismara
MF10 Sergio Quiroga
FW8 Claudio Pombo
FW9 Jonathan Torres
FW11 Mauro Albertengo
Substitutions:
DF13 Francisco Oliver
DF14 Yamil Garnier
MF15 Fabio Vázquez
FW16 Benjamín Borasi
Manager:
Mario Sciacqua
GK1 Luis Ardente
DF4 Gastón Benavídez
DF2 Nicolás Ferreyra
DF6 Gonzalo Maffini
DF3 Lucas Suárez
MF7 Nahuel Cainelli
MF5 Gastón Bottino (c)
MF10 Víctor Beraldi
MF8 Maximiliano Comba
FW11 Bruno Sepúlveda
FW9 Ibrahim Hesar
Substitutions:
DF13 Alan Vester
DF14 Maximiliano Padilla
MF15 Néstor Ortigoza
FW17 Yair Arismendi
FW18 Javier Ferreira
Manager:
Marcelo Vázquez :

## Second Promotion stage
### Zone A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SMA | BAC | BEL | ALV | MIT | GBR | NCH | IND |
| 1 | San Martín (SJ) | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 15 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | — |
| 2 | Barracas Central | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 14 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | — | — | 1–0 | — | — | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 |
| 3 | Belgrano | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 12 | | — | — | — | 2–2 | — | — | 2–0 | 3–0 |
| 4 | Alvarado | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 9 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | — | — | — | 0–0 | — | 3–0 |
| 5 | Mitre (SdE) | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 9 | −1 | 8 | | — | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | — | — | 1–1 | — |
| 6 | Guillermo Brown | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 6 | | 0–1 | — | 0–1 | — | 4–2 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Nueva Chicago | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12 | −6 | 5 | | — | — | — | 2–5 | — | 1–1 | — | 1–2 |
| 8 | Independiente Rivadavia | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 4 | | 0–1 | — | — | — | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | — |

### Zone B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | QUI | INS | ALM | SAN | BRO | GEJ | ALL | CHA |
| 1 | Quilmes | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 13 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | 3–2 | — | 3–2 |
| 2 | Instituto | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 12 | Advance to Eliminatory stage first knockout round | 2–1 | — | 0–1 | 3–2 | — | — | — | 2–1 |
| 3 | Almagro | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 12 | | 0–1 | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| 4 | Santamarina | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 10 | | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | — | 1–3 | — | — | 3–1 |
| 5 | Brown | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 9 | | — | 1–1 | 0–1 | — | — | 2–1 | 0–0 | — |
| 6 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 8 | | — | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | — | — | 2–0 | — |
| 7 | All Boys | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 7 | | 0–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Chacarita Juniors | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 5 | | — | — | — | — | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | — |

### Eliminatory stage
#### First knockout round

The first knockout round was contested by 16 teams: the 12 teams ranked from third to eighth place in their groups of the First Promotion stage and the top two teams from each group of the Second Promotion stage. In this round, the 16 teams were seeded according to their performance and placements in the previous stage of the competition, with teams coming from the First Promotion stage being given a higher seed, and paired against a rival according to their seed: Team 1 vs. Team 16, Team 2 vs. Team 15 and so on, playing a single match on neutral ground. The eight winners advanced to the second knockout round.
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | B | Defensores de Belgrano | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 13 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 2 | A | Estudiantes (BA) | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 12 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 3 | A | Agropecuario Argentino | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 10 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 4 | B | Tigre | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 8 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 5 | A | Atlanta | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 8 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 6 | B | Gimnasia y Esgrima (M) | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 7 | A | Deportivo Morón | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 6 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 8 | B | Deportivo Riestra | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 11 | −3 | 6 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 9 | A | Temperley | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 6 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 10 | B | Villa Dálmine | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 6 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 11 | A | Ferro Carril Oeste | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 6 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 12 | B | San Martín (T) | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 5 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 13 | A | San Martín (SJ) | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 15 | Qualified from Second Promotion stage |
| 14 | B | Quilmes | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 13 | Qualified from Second Promotion stage |
| 15 | A | Barracas Central | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 14 | Qualified from Second Promotion stage |
| 16 | B | Instituto | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 12 | Qualified from Second Promotion stage |

#### Second knockout round

The second knockout round was contested by the eight winners from the previous stage. In this round, the eight teams were once again seeded according to their performance and placements in the first stage of the competition, with teams coming from the First Promotion stage being given a higher seed and paired against a rival according to their seed, playing a single match on neutral ground. The four winners advanced to the third knockout round.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Defensores de Belgrano | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 13 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 2 | Estudiantes (BA) | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 12 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 3 | Atlanta | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 8 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 4 | Deportivo Morón | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 6 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 5 | Deportivo Riestra | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 11 | −3 | 6 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 6 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 6 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 7 | San Martín (SJ) | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 15 | Qualified from Second Promotion stage |
| 8 | Quilmes | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 13 | Qualified from Second Promotion stage |

#### Third knockout round

The third knockout round was contested by the four winners from the previous stage, as well as the two group runners-up from the First Promotion stage, Platense and Atlético de Rafaela. In this round, the six teams were once again seeded according to their performance and placements in the first stage of the competition, with teams coming from the First Promotion stage being given a higher seed and paired against a rival according to their seed, playing a single match on neutral ground. The three winners advanced to the semi-finals.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Atlético de Rafaela | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 14 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 2 | Platense | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 13 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 3 | Estudiantes (BA) | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 12 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 4 | Atlanta | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 8 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 5 | Deportivo Riestra | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 11 | −3 | 6 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 6 | Quilmes | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 13 | Qualified from Second Promotion stage |

#### Semi-finals

The semi-finals were contested by the three winners from the previous stage, as well as the First Promotion final losers Estudiantes (RC). In this round, the four teams were once again seeded according to their performance and placements in the first stage of the competition, with teams coming from the First Promotion stage being given a higher seed and paired against a rival according to their seed, playing a single match on neutral ground. The two winners advanced to the final.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Estudiantes (RC) | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 13 | Qualified from First Promotion final |
| 2 | Atlético de Rafaela | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 14 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 3 | Platense | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 13 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |
| 4 | Estudiantes (BA) | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 12 | Qualified from First Promotion stage |

#### Final

Team details :
Estudiantes (RC)
Platense
GK1 Brian Olivera
DF4 Gastón Benavídez
DF2 Nicolás Ferreyra
DF6 Gonzalo Maffini
DF3 Lucas Suárez a'
MF8 Nahuel Cainelli b'
MF5 Gastón Bottino (c)
MF10 Víctor Beraldi e'
MF11 Bruno Sepúlveda c'
FW7 Yair Arismendi d'
FW9 Ibrahim Hesar
Substitutes:
DF13 Maximiliano Padilla a'
MF15 Néstor Ortigoza e'
FW16 Maximiliano Comba b'
MF17 Marcos G. Fernández d'
FW18 Javier Ferreira c'
Manager:
Marcelo Vázquez
GK1 Jorge De Olivera
DF4 Brian Lluy
DF2 Nicolás Zalazar
DF6 Luciano Recalde
DF3 Juan Infante
MF11 Franco Baldassarra a'
MF8 Mauro Bogado
MF5 Hernán Lamberti (c)
MF10 José Luis Sinisterra b'
FW7 Matías Tissera
FW9 Facundo Curuchet c'
Substitutes:
MF15 Roberto Bochi a'
MF16 Tiago Palacios b'
MF17 Ignacio Schor c'
Manager:
Juan Manuel Llop :

## Season statistics
### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Claudio Bieler | Atlético de Rafaela | 6 |
| 2 | Enzo Copetti | Atlético de Rafaela | 5 |
| 2 | Neri Bandiera | Estudiantes (BA) | 5 |
| 2 | Ibrahim Hesar | Estudiantes (RC) | 5 |
| 2 | Mariano Pavone | Quilmes | 5 |
| 6 | Julián Marcioni | Atlanta | 4 |
| 6 | Bruno Sepúlveda | Estudiantes (RC) | 4 |
| 6 | Matías Tissera | Platense | 4 |
| 6 | Jonathan Torres | Sarmiento (J) | 4 |