# 2002–03 Primera B Nacional

The 2002–03 Argentine Primera B Nacional was the 17th season of second division professional of football in Argentina. A total of 20 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 |
| Argentinos Juniors | Buenos Aires | Diego Armando Maradona |
| Atlético de Rafaela | Rafaela | Nuevo Monumental |
| Belgrano | Córdoba | El Gigante de Alberdi |
| CAI | Comodoro Rivadavia | Municipal de Comodoro Rivadavia |
| Defensa y Justicia | Florencio Varela | Norberto "Tito" Tomaghello |
| Defensores de Belgrano | Núñez | Juan Pasquale |
| Deportivo Español | Parque Avellaneda | Nueva España |
| 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 |
| Instituto | Córdoba | Presidente Perón |
| Juventud Antoniana | Salta | Fray Honorato Pistoia |
| Los Andes | Lomas de Zamora | Eduardo Gallardón |
| Quilmes | Quilmes | Centenario |
| San Martín | Mendoza | San Martín |
| San Martín | San Juan | Ing. Hilario Sánchez |

## Torneo Apertura Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Atlético de Rafaela | 19 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 28 | 16 | +12 | 38 | Promotion Playoff |
| 2 | Argentinos Juniors | 19 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 15 | +14 | 36 | |
| 3 | Quilmes | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 34 | 17 | +17 | 33 | |
| 4 | Instituto | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 29 | 17 | +12 | 32 | |
| 5 | Defensa y Justicia | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 28 | 21 | +7 | 31 | |
| 6 | San Martín (M) | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 16 | +8 | 29 | |
| 7 | Juventud Antoniana | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 22 | −2 | 29 | |
| 8 | Huracán (TA) | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 26 | 23 | +3 | 27 | |
| 9 | Almagro | 19 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 19 | 23 | −4 | 27 | |
| 10 | Godoy Cruz | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 30 | 28 | +2 | 26 | |
| 11 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) | 19 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 23 | 21 | +2 | 26 | |
| 12 | Deportivo Español | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 29 | −10 | 24 | |
| 13 | El Porvenir | 19 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 17 | 22 | −5 | 23 | |
| 14 | Los Andes | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 25 | 28 | −3 | 22 | |
| 15 | CAI | 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 27 | −11 | 22 | |
| 16 | Defensores de Belgrano | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 17 | −1 | 21 | |
| 17 | Belgrano | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 20 | 25 | −5 | 21 | |
| 18 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 19 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 31 | −6 | 18 | |
| 19 | San Martín (SJ) | 19 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 17 | 25 | −8 | 18 | |
| 20 | Almirante Brown (A) | 19 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 17 | 39 | −22 | 12 | |

## Torneo Clausura Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Atlético de Rafaela | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 35 | 26 | +9 | 39 | Promotion Playoff |
| 2 | Argentinos Juniors | 19 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 30 | 11 | +19 | 38 | |
| 3 | San Martín (M) | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 27 | 20 | +7 | 33 | |
| 4 | Godoy Cruz | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 19 | +12 | 32 | |
| 5 | Almagro | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 22 | +9 | 32 | |
| 6 | Belgrano | 19 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 21 | 15 | +6 | 31 | |
| 7 | Quilmes | 19 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 28 | 23 | +5 | 31 | |
| 8 | Huracán (TA) | 19 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 30 | 23 | +7 | 28 | |
| 9 | Defensores de Belgrano | 19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 28 | 26 | +2 | 28 | |
| 10 | Instituto | 19 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 28 | |
| 11 | Juventud Antoniana | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 18 | −2 | 24 | |
| 12 | Defensa y Justicia | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 22 | −4 | 24 | |
| 13 | Los Andes | 19 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 25 | 30 | −5 | 23 | |
| 14 | CAI | 19 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 24 | 33 | −9 | 23 | |
| 15 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 26 | −7 | 22 | |
| 16 | Almirante Brown (A) | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 25 | 33 | −8 | 21 | |
| 17 | El Porvenir | 49 | 5 | 4 | 40 | 21 | 28 | −7 | 19 | |
| 18 | San Martín (SJ) | 19 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 23 | −5 | 18 | |
| 19 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 19 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 41 | −15 | 15 | |
| 20 | Deportivo Español | 19 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 34 | −16 | 7 | |

## Overall standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
| 1 | Atlético de Rafaela | 38 | 22 | 11 | 5 | 63 | 42 | +21 | 77 | Primera División |
| 2 | Argentinos Juniors | 38 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 59 | 26 | +33 | 74 | Promotion Playoff |
| 3 | Quilmes | 38 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 62 | 40 | +22 | 64 | Promotion Playoff |
| 4 | San Martín (M) | 38 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 51 | 36 | +15 | 62 | Promotion Playoff Primera División-Primera B Nacional |
| 5 | Instituto | 38 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 49 | 37 | +12 | 60 | |
| 6 | Almagro | 38 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 50 | 45 | +5 | 59 | |
| 7 | Godoy Cruz | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 61 | 47 | +14 | 58 | |
| 8 | Huracán (TA) | 38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 56 | 46 | +10 | 55 | |
| 9 | Defensa y Justicia | 38 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 55 | |
| 10 | Juventud Antoniana | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 36 | 40 | −4 | 53 | |
| 11 | Belgrano | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 41 | 40 | +1 | 52 | |
| 12 | Defensores de Belgrano | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 44 | 43 | +1 | 49 | |
| 13 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 42 | 47 | −5 | 48 | |
| 14 | Los Andes | 38 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 50 | 58 | −8 | 45 | |
| 15 | CAI | 38 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 40 | 60 | −20 | 45 | |
| 16 | El Porvenir | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 38 | 50 | −12 | 42 | |
| 17 | San Martín (SJ) | 38 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 35 | 48 | −13 | 36 | |
| 18 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 38 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 51 | 72 | −21 | 33 | |
| 19 | Almirante Brown (A) | 38 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 42 | 72 | −30 | 33 | |
| 20 | Deportivo Español | 38 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 37 | 63 | −26 | 31 | |

## Promotion Playoff

This leg was played between the Apertura and the Clausura winner, but as Atlético de Rafaela won both tournaments, was declared champion and was automatically promoted to 2003–04 Primera División, so the match was played between the best teams placed in the overall standings under Atlético de Rafaela; Argentinos Juniors and Quilmes. The winning team was promoted to 2003–04 Primera División and the losing team played the Promotion Playoff Primera División-Primera B Nacional.

### Match details

Team details :
Argentinos Jrs.
Quilmes
GK Raúl Sanzotti
DF Germán Centurión a'
DF Walter García
DF Alejandro Castro
DF Norberto Testa
MF Gustavo Arriola b'
MF Ceferino Díaz
MF Juan Carlos Mariño
MF Walter Coyette c'
FW Roberto González
FW Leonardo Pisculichi
Substitutes:
DF Pablo Barzola a'
FW Oscar A. Gómez b'
FW Ramiro Leone c'
Manager:
Ricardo Gareca
GK Marcelo Elizaga
DF Danilo Gerlo
DF Gustavo Raggio
DF Leandro Desábato
DF Raúl Saavedra
MF Rodrigo Braña
MF Héctor Aguilar
MF Leandro Benítez b'
FW Darío Fernández
FW Alejandro Abaurre a'
FW Darío Cigogna c'
Substitutes:
MF Cristian Torres a'
DF Agustín Alayes b'
MF Santiago Raymonda c'
Manager:
Gustavo Alfaro :
Note: Quilmes won 1–0 on aggregate, promoting to Primera División.

## Promotion Playoff Primera División-Primera B Nacional

The Promotion playoff loser (Argentinos Juniors) and the team placed 4th in the overall standings (San Martín (M)) played against the 18th and the 17th placed of the Relegation Table of 2002–03 Primera División.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Relegation/promotion playoff 1 |||||
| San Martín (M) | 0–2 | Talleres (C) | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| Relegation/promotion playoff 2 |||||
| Argentinos Juniors | 0–3 | Nueva Chicago | 0-1 | 0-2 |
* Talleres (C) remains in Primera División after winning the playoff.
* Nueva Chicago remains in Primera División after winning the playoff.

## Relegation

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.

### Metropolitana Zone

| Pos | Team | 2000–01 Pts | 2001–02 Pts | 2002–03 Pts | Total Pts | Total Pld | Avg | Situation | Affiliation |
| 1 | Argentinos Juniors | — | — | 74 | 74 | 38 | 1.947 | | Direct |
| 2 | Quilmes | 50 | 65 | 64 | 179 | 100 | 1.79 | | Direct |
| 3 | Defensa y Justicia | 29 | 57 | 55 | 141 | 100 | 1.41 | | Direct |
| 4 | Defensores de Belgrano | — | 56 | 49 | 105 | 76 | 1.382 | | Direct |
| 5 | Almagro | — | 40 | 59 | 99 | 76 | 1.303 | | Direct |
| 6 | Los Andes | — | 49 | 45 | 94 | 76 | 1.237 | | Direct |
| 7 | El Porvenir | 19 | 59 | 42 | 120 | 100 | 1.2 | Relegation Playoff Matches | Direct |
| 8 | Deportivo Español | — | — | 31 | 31 | 38 | 0.816 | Primera B Metropolitana | Direct |

### Interior Zone

| Pos | Team | 2000–01 Pts | 2001–02 Pts | 2002–03 Pts | Total Pts | Total Pld | Avg | Situation | Affiliation |
| 1 | Instituto | 71 | 59 | 60 | 190 | 108 | 1.759 | | Indirect |
| 2 | Atlético de Rafaela | 45 | 59 | 77 | 181 | 108 | 1.676 | | Indirect |
| 3 | Huracán (TA) | — | 63 | 55 | 118 | 76 | 1.553 | | Indirect |
| 4 | San Martín (M) | 51 | 50 | 62 | 163 | 108 | 1.509 | | Indirect |
| 5 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (J) | 50 | 58 | 48 | 156 | 108 | 1.444 | | Indirect |
| 6 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CdU) | 55 | 64 | 33 | 152 | 108 | 1.407 | | Indirect |
| 7 | Belgrano | — | — | 52 | 52 | 38 | 1.368 | | Indirect |
| 8 | Godoy Cruz | 44 | 47 | 58 | 149 | 108 | 1.38 | | Indirect |
| 9 | Juventud Antoniana | 43 | 51 | 52 | 146 | 108 | 1.352 | | Indirect |
| 10 | San Martín (SJ) | 50 | 57 | 36 | 143 | 108 | 1.324 | | Indirect |
| 11 | CAI | — | — | 45 | 45 | 38 | 1.184 | Relegation Playoff Matches | Indirect |
| 12 | Almirante Brown (A) | 50 | 44 | 33 | 127 | 108 | 1.176 | Torneo Argentino A | Indirect |

## Relegation Playoff Matches

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Relegation/promotion playoff 1 (Direct affiliation vs. Primera B Metropolitana) |||||
| All Boys | 2–2 | El Porvenir | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Relegation/promotion playoff 2 (Indirect affiliation vs. Torneo Argentino A) |||||
| Racing (C) | 3–4 | CAI | 1–1 | 2–3 |
* El Porvenir remains in Primera B Nacional after a 1-1 aggregate tie by virtue of a "sports advantage". In case of a tie in goals, the team from the Primera B Nacional gets to stay in it.
* CAI remains in the Primera B Nacional by winning the playoff.