# 1997–98 Primera B Nacional

The 1997–98 Argentine Primera B Nacional was the 12th season of second division professional of football in Argentina. A total of 32 teams competed; the champion and runner-up were promoted to Argentine Primera División.

## Club information
### Interior Zone

| Club | City | Stadium |
| Aldosivi | Mar del Plata | José María Minella |
| Almirante Brown | Arrecifes | Estadio Municipal |
| Atlético de Rafaela | Rafaela | Nuevo Monumental |
| Atlético Tucumán | San Miguel de Tucumán | Monumental Presidente Jose Fierro |
| Belgrano | Córdoba | El Gigante de Alberdi |
| Chaco For Ever | Resistencia | Juan Alberto García |
| Cipolletti | Cipolletti | La Visera de Cemento |
| Douglas Haig | Pergamino | Miguel Morales |
| Godoy Cruz | Mendoza | Malvinas Argentinas |
| Huracán Corrientes | Corrientes | José Antonio Romero Feris |
| Instituto | Córdoba | Presidente Perón |
| Olimpo | Bahía Blanca | Roberto Natalio Carminatti |
| San Martín | Mendoza | San Martín |
| San Martín | San Juan | Ing. Hilario Sánchez |
| San Martín | San Miguel de Tucumán | La Ciudadela |
| Talleres | Córdoba | Estadio La Boutique |

### Metropolitana Zone

| Club | City | Stadium |
| All Boys | Floresta | Islas Malvinas |
| Almagro | José Ingenieros | Tres de Febrero |
| Almirante Brown | Isidro Casanova | Fragata Presidente Sarmiento |
| Arsenal | Sarandí | Julio H. Grondona |
| Atlanta | Villa Crespo | León Kolbovski |
| Banfield | Banfield | Florencio Solá |
| Central Córdoba | Rosario | Gabino Sosa |
| Chacarita Juniors | Villa Maipú | Chacarita Juniors |
| Defensa y Justicia | Florencio Varela | Norberto "Tito" Tomaghello |
| Deportivo Morón | Morón | Francisco Urbano |
| Estudiantes | Caseros | Ciudad de Caseros |
| Los Andes | Lomas de Zamora | Eduardo Gallardón |
| Nueva Chicago | Mataderos | Nueva Chicago |
| Quilmes | Quilmes | Centenario |
| San Miguel | Los Polvorines | Malvinas Argentinas |
| Sportivo Italiano | Ciudad Evita | Republica de Italia |

## Interior Zone standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Instituto | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 38 | 22 | +16 | 58 | Championship Group |
| 2 | Belgrano | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 52 | 32 | +20 | 54 | Championship Group |
| 3 | Talleres (C) | 30 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 38 | 22 | +16 | 51 | Championship Group |
| 4 | San Martín (SJ) | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 51 | 33 | +18 | 48 | Championship Group |
| 5 | San Martín (T) | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 49 | 43 | +6 | 47 | Championship Group |
| 6 | Almirante Brown (A) | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 44 | 34 | +10 | 45 | Championship Group |
| 7 | Atlético de Rafaela | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 45 | 38 | +7 | 45 | Championship Group |
| 8 | Atlético Tucumán | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 47 | 43 | +4 | 43 | Championship Group |
| 9 | Godoy Cruz | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 47 | 50 | −3 | 42 | Relegation Group |
| 10 | Aldosivi | 30 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 45 | 50 | −5 | 36 | Relegation Group |
| 11 | Huracán Corrientes | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 41 | 57 | −16 | 35 | Relegation Group |
| 12 | Cipolletti | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 34 | 45 | −11 | 34 | Relegation Group |
| 13 | Chaco For Ever | 30 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 39 | 52 | −13 | 30 | Relegation Group |
| 14 | Olimpo | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 32 | 46 | −14 | 29 | Relegation Group |
| 15 | San Martín (M) | 30 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 29 | 44 | −15 | 28 | Relegation Group |
| 16 | Douglas Haig | 30 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 32 | 52 | −20 | 25 | Relegation Group |

## Metropolitana Zone standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Banfield | 30 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 69 | 28 | +41 | 62 | Championship Group |
| 2 | Chacarita Juniors | 30 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 44 | 32 | +12 | 49 | Championship Group |
| 3 | Los Andes | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 51 | 42 | +9 | 48 | Championship Group |
| 4 | Quilmes | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 41 | 32 | +9 | 48 | Championship Group |
| 5 | Central Córdoba (R) | 30 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 38 | 30 | +8 | 48 | Championship Group |
| 6 | Arsenal | 30 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 41 | 36 | +5 | 46 | Championship Group |
| 7 | All Boys | 30 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 47 | 43 | +4 | 46 | Championship Group |
| 8 | Estudiantes (BA) | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 43 | 37 | +6 | 45 | Championship Group |
| 9 | San Miguel | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 33 | 27 | +6 | 45 | Relegation Group |
| 10 | Defensa y Justicia | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 46 | 35 | +11 | 42 | Relegation Group |
| 11 | Nueva Chicago | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 37 | 36 | +1 | 40 | Relegation Group |
| 12 | Sportivo Italiano | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 33 | 52 | −19 | 31 | Relegation Group |
| 13 | Deportivo Morón | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 36 | 56 | −20 | 30 | Relegation Group |
| 14 | Atlanta | 30 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 33 | 46 | −13 | 27 | Relegation Group |
| 15 | Almagro | 30 | 3 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 42 | −23 | 22 | Relegation Group |
| 16 | Almirante Brown | 30 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 23 | 60 | −37 | 18 | Relegation Group |

## Championship Group

It was divided in 2 groups with the 16 teams that qualified from Interior and Metropolitana Zone placed 1st to 8th and were mixed. The team placed 1st of each group qualified for the Promotion Playoff, and the teams placed 2nd and 3rd qualified for the Second Promotion Playoff.

### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Talleres (C) | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 11 | +14 | 27 | Promotion Playoff |
| 2 | Quilmes | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 26 | 19 | +7 | 26 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 3 | Chacarita Juniors | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 16 | +4 | 22 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 4 | Instituto | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 18 | +1 | 21 | |
| 5 | Estudiantes (BA) | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 22 | −4 | 19 | |
| 6 | Los Andes | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 27 | −4 | 15 | |
| 7 | Atlético Tucumán | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 24 | −9 | 15 | |
| 8 | Almirante Brown (A) | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 22 | −9 | 9 | |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Belgrano | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 29 | 17 | +12 | 27 | Promotion Playoff |
| 2 | All Boys | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 16 | +8 | 27 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 3 | Banfield | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 26 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 4 | San Martín (SJ) | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 27 | −4 | 16 | |
| 5 | Central Córdoba (R) | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 16 | |
| 6 | San Martín (T) | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 23 | −3 | 15 | |
| 7 | Arsenal | 14 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 36 | −9 | 12 | |
| 8 | Atlético de Rafaela | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 28 | −10 | 12 | |

## Relegation Group

It was divided in 2 groups with the 16 teams that qualified from Interior and Metropolitana Zone placed 9th to 16th. The team placed 1st of each group qualified for the Second Promotion Playoff.

### Interior Group

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Aldosivi | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 26 | 19 | +7 | 29 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 2 | Cipolletti | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 25 | |
| 3 | San Martín (M) | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 23 | 13 | +10 | 24 | |
| 4 | Olimpo | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 18 | +8 | 24 | |
| 5 | Godoy Cruz | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 22 | −2 | 14 | |
| 6 | Chaco For Ever | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 28 | −8 | 14 | |
| 7 | Douglas Haig | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 27 | −13 | 13 | |
| 8 | Huracán Corrientes | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 18 | 30 | −12 | 11 | |

### Metropolitano Group

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Almagro | 14 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 16 | +9 | 31 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 2 | San Miguel | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 15 | +7 | 22 | |
| 3 | Sportivo Italiano | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 27 | 30 | −3 | 21 | |
| 4 | Deportivo Morón | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 21 | 18 | +3 | 20 | |
| 5 | Atlanta | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 16 | +1 | 20 | |
| 6 | Defensa y Justicia | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 22 | 20 | +2 | 19 | |
| 7 | Nueva Chicago | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 13 | |
| 8 | Almirante Brown | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 28 | −12 | 12 | |

## Promotion playoff

The promotion playoff was played by the winner of Group A, Talleres (C) and the winner of Group B, Belgrano. The winning team was declared champion and was automatically promoted to Primera Division. The losing team joined in semifinals of the Second Promotion Playoff.
In the series, nicknamed the final of the century, Talleres 4–3 on penalties after both teams tied 2–2 on aggregate.

### Match details

Team details :
Belgrano (C)
Talleres (C)
GK1 Bernardo Ragg
DF 4Cosme Zaccanti
DF2 Diego Alarcón
DF6Hernán Medina 58'
DF3Norberto Testa
MF8Horacio García 58'
MF5Adrián Ávalos
MF10Hernán Manrique
MF11Guillermo Guendulain
FW9Luis E. Sosa (c)
FW7Cristian Carnero
Substitutes:
DF Carlos Gómez 58' 90'
FW16Luis F. Artime 58'
DF Cristian Binetti 90'
Manager:
Ricardo Rezza
GK1Mario Cuenca
DF4David Díaz
DF2Horacio Humoller
DF3José M. Rozzi
MF6Andrés Cabrera
MF 5Javier Villarreal
MF11Fernando Clementz
MF8Daniel Albornós 82'
MF10Diego Garay 74'
FW9José Zelaya 86'
FW7Ramón Medina Bello
Substitutes:
FW25Rodrigo Astudillo 74'
MF Gustavo Lillo 82'
FW Roberto Oste 86'
Manager:
Ricardo Gareca :
Note: As the series had ended 2–2 on aggregate, Talleres won 4–3 on penalties, promoting to Primera División

## Second Promotion Playoff

The Second promotion playoff or Torneo Reducido was played by the teams placed 2nd and 3rd of each group of the Championship Group: Quilmes and Chacarita Juniors (Group A), All Boys and Banfield (Group B), and the teams placed 1st of each group of the Relegation Group: Aldosivi (Interior Group) and Almagro (Metropolitano Group). In the semifinals joined Belgrano, the losing team of the First Promotion Playoff. The winner was promoted to Primera Division.

### First round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| First Round |||||
| Quilmes | 4-1 | Almagro | 2-1 | 2-0 |
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| First Round |||||
| All Boys | 2-3 | Aldosivi | 0-1 | 2-2 |
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| First Round |||||
| Banfield | 3-2 | Chacarita Juniors | 0-0 | 3-2 |

### Semifinals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Semifinals |||||
| Quilmes | 0-2 | Aldosivi | 0-0 | 0-2 |
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Semifinals |||||
| Belgrano | 3-2 | Banfield | 1-1 | 2-1 |

### Final

Team details :
Belgrano (C)
Aldosivi
GK Bernardo Ragg
DF Cosme Zaccanti
DF Diego Alarcón
DF Jaime Garcete
DF Norberto Testa
MF Hernán Manrique
MF Adrián Avalos
MF Guillermo Guendulain
MF Luis E. Sosa
FW Luis F. Artime 76'
FW Cristian Carnero 84'
Substitutions:
Horacio García 76'
César L. Torres 84'
Manager:
Ricardo Rezza
GK Néstor Merlo
DF Gustavo Garat
DF Daniel Valdez
DF Miguel A. Lizza 71'
MF Maximiliano Lucero 64'
MF Martín Ruiz
MF Salvador Mónaco
MF César G. Ortega 52'
MF César Serradell
FW Pablo Corti
FW Marcelo G. Ríos
Substitutions:
Osvaldo Rizzo 52'
Adrián Hormaechea 64'
Juan R. Balmaceda 71'
Manager:
Jorge Solari :
Note: Belgrano won 4–1 on aggregate, promoting to Primera División.

## Relegation

Note: Clubs with indirect affiliation with AFA were relegated to the Torneo Argentino A, while clubs directly affiliated faced relegation to Primera B Metropolitana. Clubs with direct affiliation were all from Greater Buenos Aires, with the exception of Newell's, Rosario Central, Central Córdoba, and Argentino de Rosario, all from Rosario, and Unión and Colón from Santa Fe.

### Interior Zone

| Pos | Team | 1995–96 Pts | 1996–97 Pts | 1997–98 Pts | Total Pts | Total Pld | Avg | Situation | Affiliation |
| 1 | Godoy Cruz | 66 | 28 | 56 | 150 | 102 | 1.471 | | Indirect |
| 2 | Huracán Corrientes | 75 | — | 46 | 121 | 86 | 1.407 | | Indirect |
| 3 | Aldosivi | — | 17 | 65 | 82 | 60 | 1.367 | | Indirect |
| 4 | Olimpo | — | 26 | 53 | 79 | 60 | 1.317 | | Indirect |
| 5 | Cipolletti | — | 15 | 59 | 74 | 60 | 1.233 | | Indirect |
| 6 | San Martín (M) | — | — | 52 | 52 | 44 | 1.182 | | Indirect |
| 7 | Douglas Haig | 65 | 13 | 38 | 116 | 102 | 1.137 | Relegation Playoff Matches | Indirect |
| 8 | Chaco For Ever | — | 16 | 44 | 60 | 60 | 1 | Relegation Playoff Matches | Indirect |

### Metropolitana Zone

| Pos | Team | 1995–96 Pts | 1996–97 Pts | 1997–98 Pts | Total Pts | Total Pld | Avg | Situation | Affiliation |
| 1 | San Miguel | — | — | 67 | 67 | 44 | 1.523 | | Indirect |
| 2 | Defensa y Justicia | — | — | 61 | 61 | 44 | 1.386 | | Indirect |
| 3 | Almagro | — | 27 | 53 | 80 | 60 | 1.333 | | Indirect |
| 4 | Nueva Chicago | 52 | 26 | 53 | 131 | 102 | 1.284 | | Indirect |
| 5 | Atlanta | 55 | 22 | 47 | 124 | 102 | 1.216 | | Indirect |
| 6 | Deportivo Morón | 43 | 27 | 50 | 120 | 102 | 1.176 | | Indirect |
| 7 | Sportivo Italiano | — | 15 | 52 | 67 | 60 | 1.117 | Relegated to Primera B Metropolitana | Indirect |
| 8 | Almirante Brown | — | 14 | 30 | 44 | 60 | 0.733 | Relegated to Primera B Metropolitana | Indirect |

## Promotion/relegation playoff

Teams placed 7th and 8th of the Relegation Table Interior Zone (Douglas Haig and Chaco For Ever), played a promotion/relegation playoff or Torneo Reclasificatorio, with Huracán (SR) and Villa Mitre, teams from Torneo Argentino A. The winner was Douglas Haig and remained in the Primera B Nacional, while Huracán (SR) and Villa Mitre remained in Torneo Argentino A and Chaco For Ever was relegated to it.

### Semifinals

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Douglas Haig | 4-2 | Villa Mitre |
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Huracán (SR) | 2-5 | Chaco For Ever |

### Final

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Douglas Haig | 4-3 (a.e.t.) | Chaco For Ever |
Note: Chaco for Ever was relegated.