# 2001–02 Primera B Nacional

The 2001–02 Argentine Primera B Nacional was the 16th season of second division professional of football in Argentina. A total of 25 teams competed; the champion and runner-up were promoted to Argentine Primera División.

## Club information

| Club | City | Stadium |
| Almagro | José Ingenieros | Tres de Febrero |
| Almirante Brown | Arrecifes | Estadio Municipal |
| Arsenal | Sarandí | Julio H. Grondona |
| Atlético de Rafaela | Rafaela | Nuevo Monumental |
| Atlético Tucumán | San Miguel de Tucumán | Monumental Presidente Jose Fierro |
| Central Córdoba | Rosario | Gabino Sosa |
| Defensa y Justicia | Florencio Varela | Norberto "Tito" Tomaghello |
| Defensores de Belgrano | Núñez | Juan Pasquale |
| El Porvenir | Gerli | Gildo Francisco Ghersinich |
| Gimnasia y Esgrima | Concepción del Uruguay | Manuel y Ramón Núñez |
| Gimnasia y Esgrima | San Salvador de Jujuy | 23 de Agosto |
| Godoy Cruz | Mendoza | Malvinas Argentinas |
| Huracán | Tres Arroyos | Roberto Lorenzo Bottino |
| Independiente Rivadavia | Mendoza | Bautista Gargantini |
| Instituto | Córdoba | Presidente Perón |
| Juventud Antoniana | Salta | Fray Honorato Pistoia |
| Los Andes | Lomas de Zamora | Eduardo Gallardón |
| Olimpo | Bahía Blanca | Roberto Natalio Carminatti |
| Platense | Florida | Ciudad de Vicente López |
| Quilmes | Quilmes | Centenario |
| Racing | Córdoba | Miguel Sancho |
| San Martín | Mendoza | San Martín |
| San Martín | San Juan | Ing. Hilario Sánchez |
| Tigre | Victoria | José Dellagiovanna |
| Villa Mitre | Bahía Blanca | El Fortín |

## Torneo Apertura Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| 1 | Olimpo | 24 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 36 | 20 | +16 | 46 | Primera División |
| 2 | Quilmes | 24 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 36 | 24 | +12 | 45 | |
| 3 | San Martín (M) | 24 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 37 | 24 | +13 | 44 | |
| 4 | Huracán (TA) | 24 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 41 | |
| 5 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 35 | 29 | +6 | 39 | |
| 6 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 35 | 29 | +6 | 39 | |
| 7 | Juventud Antoniana | 24 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 32 | 27 | +5 | 38 | |
| 8 | Instituto | 24 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 38 | 34 | +4 | 38 | |
| 9 | El Porvenir | 24 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 24 | 20 | +4 | 38 | |
| 10 | Defensores de Belgrano | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 37 | 25 | +12 | 37 | |
| 11 | San Martín (SJ) | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 32 | 28 | +4 | 35 | |
| 12 | Atlético de Rafaela | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 33 | 30 | +3 | 35 | |
| 13 | Arsenal | 24 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 22 | −5 | 33 | |
| 14 | Los Andes | 24 | 10 | 3 | 11 | 25 | 28 | −3 | 33 | |
| 15 | Defensa y Justicia | 24 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 27 | −11 | 33 | |
| 16 | Almagro | 24 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 17 | −1 | 32 | |
| 17 | Independiente Rivadavia | 24 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 31 | 24 | +7 | 31 | |
| 18 | Atlético Tucumán | 24 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 35 | 40 | −5 | 29 | |
| 19 | Central Córdoba (R) | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 36 | 41 | −5 | 27 | |
| 20 | Almirante Brown (A) | 24 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 22 | 38 | −16 | 25 | |
| 21 | Platense | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 24 | 35 | −11 | 24 | |
| 22 | Villa Mitre | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 22 | 36 | −14 | 23 | |
| 23 | Godoy Cruz | 24 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 33 | 47 | −14 | 21 | |
| 24 | Racing (C) | 24 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 25 | 46 | −21 | 19 | |
| 25 | Tigre | 24 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 27 | 47 | −20 | 14 | |

## Torneo Clausura Standings

It was divided in 3 Zones with 8 teams in each zone. Olimpo did not compete as it was promoted to Primera División.

### Zone A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Arsenal | 14 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 8 | +19 | 31 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 2 | Central Córdoba (R) | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 30 | 21 | +9 | 30 | |
| 3 | Instituto | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 23 | −3 | 21 | |
| 4 | Quilmes | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 15 | +2 | 20 | |
| 5 | Almirante Brown (A) | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 19 | −1 | 19 | |
| 6 | Los Andes | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 23 | −3 | 16 | |
| 7 | Juventud Antoniana | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 23 | −11 | 13 | |
| 8 | Tigre | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 24 | −12 | 8 | |
* ↑ 3 points deducted in the overall standings

### Zone B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 16 | +9 | 25 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 2 | Platense | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 16 | +8 | 25 | |
| 3 | Defensa y Justicia | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 19 | +5 | 24 | |
| 4 | Atlético de Rafaela | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 28 | 23 | +5 | 24 | |
| 5 | Racing (C) | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 29 | 25 | +4 | 24 | |
| 6 | El Porvenir | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 23 | +2 | 21 | |
| 7 | San Martín (M) | 14 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 30 | −16 | 6 | |
| 8 | Atlético Tucumán | 14 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 25 | −17 | 4 | |

### Zone C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Godoy Cruz | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 15 | +7 | 26 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 2 | San Martín (SJ) | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 17 | +5 | 22 | |
| 3 | Huracán (TA) | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 20 | +4 | 22 | |
| 4 | Villa Mitre | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 18 | −1 | 21 | |
| 5 | Defensores de Belgrano | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 18 | +2 | 19 | |
| 6 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 17 | −1 | 19 | |
| 7 | Independiente Rivadavia | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 20 | −10 | 13 | |
| 8 | Almagro | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 23 | −6 | 11 | |

## Overall standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Arsenal | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 57 | 30 | +27 | 64 | |
| 2 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 60 | 45 | +15 | 64 | |
| 3 | Huracán (TA) | 38 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 57 | 52 | +5 | 63 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 4 | Quilmes | 38 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 53 | 39 | +14 | 62 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 5 | Atlético de Rafaela | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 61 | 53 | +8 | 59 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 6 | El Porvenir | 38 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 49 | 43 | +6 | 59 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 7 | Instituto | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 58 | 57 | +1 | 59 | Second Promotion Playoff |
| 8 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 51 | 40 | +11 | 58 | |
| 9 | San Martín (SJ) | 38 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 54 | 45 | +9 | 57 | |
| 10 | Central Córdoba (R) | 38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 66 | 61 | +5 | 57 | |
| 11 | Defensa y Justicia | 38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 56 | 55 | +1 | 57 | |
| 12 | Defensores de Belgrano | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 57 | 43 | +14 | 56 | |
| 13 | Juventud Antoniana | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 44 | 50 | −6 | 51 | |
| 14 | San Martín (M) | 38 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 51 | 54 | −3 | 50 | |
| 15 | Los Andes | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 56 | 58 | −2 | 49 | |
| 16 | Platense | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 48 | 51 | −3 | 49 | |
| 17 | Godoy Cruz | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 51 | 62 | −11 | 47 | |
| 18 | Independiente Rivadavia | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 41 | 44 | −3 | 44 | |
| 19 | Villa Mitre | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 39 | 54 | −15 | 44 | |
| 20 | Almirante Brown (A) | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 40 | 57 | −17 | 44 | |
| 21 | Almagro | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 52 | 56 | −4 | 43 | |
| 22 | Racing (C) | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 54 | 71 | −17 | 43 | |
| 23 | Atlético Tucumán | 38 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 43 | 65 | −22 | 33 | |
| 24 | Tigre | 38 | 5 | 7 | 26 | 39 | 72 | −33 | 22 | |
* 1 2 3 Already qualified to the Second Promotion Playoff by winning their zones
* ↑ 3 points deducted

## Second Promotion Playoff

The Second Promotion Playoff or Torneo Reducido was played by the teams who won their respective zones in the Torneo Clausura: Arsenal (winner of Zone A), Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) (winner of Zone B) and Godoy Cruz (winner of Zone C) and the five best teams placed in the overall standings: Huracán (TA) (3rd), Quilmes (4th), Atlético de Rafaela (5th), El Porvenir (6th) and Instituto (7th). The winner was promoted to Primera División.

### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Arsenal | 1 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Godoy Cruz | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Godoy Cruz | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Arsenal | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | El Porvenir | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | |
| 3 | Huracán (TA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | El Porvenir | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | |
| 6 | El Porvenir | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | El Porvenir | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | 1 | Arsenal | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 0 | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 7 | Instituto | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Instituto | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 2 | 4 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Atlético de Rafaela | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| 4 | Quilmes | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Atlético de Rafaela | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| 5 | Atlético de Rafaela | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
* Note: The team in the first line plays at home the second leg.

### Match details

Team details :
Arsenal
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU)
GK1Alejandro Limia
DF4Darío Espíndola
DF2Carlos Ruiz
DF6Víctor Molina
DF3Oscar Espíndola
MF7Patricio González
MF5Gastón Esmerado
MF10Rubén Palavecino
MF8Gustavo Grondona
FW9Facundo Gareca
FW11Javier Morales
Manager:
Jorge Burruchaga
GK Catriel Orcellet
DF Juan Monge
DF Luciano González
DF Mauricio Almada
MF Hernán Orcellet
MF Ricardo Vendakis
MF Oscar Sena
MF Pablo Cantero
FW Leonardo Colombo
FW Luciano Leguizamón
FW Diego Ceballos
Manager:
Jorge Vendakis :
Note: Arsenal won 3–2 on aggregate, promoting to Primera División.

## Promotion Playoff Primera División-Primera B Nacional

The best two teams in the overall standings that weren't promoted (Huracán (TA) and Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU)) played against the 18th and the 17th placed of the Relegation Table of 2001–02 Primera División.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Relegation/promotion playoff 1 |||||
| Huracán (TA) | 2–3 | Lanús | 1–2 | 1–1 |
| Relegation/promotion playoff 2 |||||
| Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 3–4 | Unión de Santa Fe | 3-1 | 0-3 |
* Lanus remains in Primera División after winning the playoff.
* Unión remains in Primera División after winning the playoff.

## Relegation

7 teams were relegated: 2 teams with the worst co-efficient from Interior Zone, 2 teams with the worst co-efficient from Metropolitana Zone and 3 more teams regardless their affiliation.
| Pos | Team | 1999–00 Pts | 2000–01 Pts | 2001–02 Pts | Total Pts | Total Pld | Avg | Situation | Affiliation |
| 1 | Instituto | — | 71 | 59 | 130 | 70 | 1.857 | | Indirect |
| 2 | Quilmes | 63 | 50 | 62 | 175 | 96 | 1.823 | | Direct |
| 3 | Arsenal | 55 | 44 | 64 | 163 | 96 | 1.698 | | Direct |
| 4 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 47 | 55 | 64 | 166 | 100 | 1.66 | | Indirect |
| 5 | Huracán (TA) | — | — | 63 | 63 | 38 | 1.658 | | Indirect |
| 6 | San Martín (SJ) | 49 | 50 | 57 | 156 | 100 | 1.56 | | Indirect |
| 7 | Los Andes | 63 | — | 49 | 112 | 72 | 1.556 | | Direct |
| 8 | Atlético de Rafaela | 51 | 45 | 59 | 155 | 100 | 1.55 | | Indirect |
| 9 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) | — | 50 | 58 | 108 | 70 | 1.543 | | Indirect |
| 10 | San Martín (M) | 50 | 51 | 50 | 151 | 100 | 1.51 | | Indirect |
| 11 | Defensores de Belgrano | — | — | 56 | 56 | 38 | 1.474 | | Direct |
| 12 | Defensa y Justicia | 52 | 29 | 57 | 138 | 96 | 1.438 | | Direct |
| 13 | Almagro | 62 | — | 40 | 102 | 72 | 1.417 | | Direct |
| 14 | Juventud Antoniana | 46 | 43 | 51 | 140 | 100 | 1.4 | | Indirect |
| 15 | Almirante Brown (A) | 40 | 50 | 44 | 134 | 100 | 1.34 | | Indirect |
| 16 | Godoy Cruz | 43 | 44 | 47 | 134 | 100 | 1.34 | | Indirect |
| 17 | El Porvenir | 50 | 19 | 59 | 128 | 96 | 1.333 | | Direct |
| 18 | Racing (C) | 38 | 52 | 43 | 133 | 100 | 1.33 | Torneo Argentino A | Indirect |
| 19 | Platense | 45 | 33 | 49 | 127 | 96 | 1.323 | Primera B Metropolitana | Direct |
| 20 | Central Córdoba (R) | 38 | 31 | 57 | 126 | 96 | 1.313 | Primera B Metropolitana | Direct |
| 21 | Villa Mitre | 41 | 43 | 44 | 128 | 100 | 1.28 | Torneo Argentino A | Indirect |
| 22 | Independiente Rivadavia | 45 | 35 | 44 | 124 | 100 | 1.24 | Torneo Argentino A | Indirect |
| 23 | Atlético Tucumán | 29 | 43 | 33 | 105 | 100 | 1.05 | Torneo Argentino A | Indirect |
| 24 | Tigre | 45 | 26 | 22 | 93 | 96 | 0.969 | Primera B Metropolitana | Direct |
Note: Clubs with indirect affiliation with AFA are relegated to the Torneo Argentino A, while clubs directly affiliated face relegation to Primera B Metropolitana. Clubs with direct affiliation are 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.