2018–19 Liga Primera de Nicaragua
The 2018–19 Liga Primera de Nicaragua season was divided into two tournaments (Apertura and Clausura) and determined the 71st and 72nd 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 2018, while the Clausura was played in the first half of 2019. 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 eight sides from the 2017–18 Primera División, and two sides from the 2017–18 Segunda División. FC San Francisco Masachapa finished last in the aggregate table and were relegated to the Segunda División . The champions from the Segunda División, ART Municipal Jalapa were promoted in their place. The 9th place team in the aggregate table, Chinandega FC, faced the second place team from the Segunda División, Deportivo Sebaco, in a playoff for a spot in the Primera División. However, due to Sebaco's financial problems, they were not allowed in the playoff, meaning Chinandega remained in Primera División. Promotion and relegation. Promoted from Segunda División as of July, 2018. Relegated to Segunda División as of July, 2018. Apertura. Standings. <onlyinclude> </onlyinclude> Playoffs. Quarterfinals. "Juventus Managua progressed." "Diriangén progressed." Semifinals . TBD wins on away goals Second leg. "Real Esteli won 7-3 on aggregate." "Managua won 4-1 on aggregate." Final. Second leg. "Managua won 1-0 on aggregate." Clausura. Standings. <onlyinclude> </onlyinclude> Playoffs. Quarterfinals. "Walter Ferretti progressed." "Diriangén progressed." Semifinals. Second leg. "Real Esteli progressed 3-1 on aggregate." "Managua F.C. advances 1-0 on away goals." Final. Second leg. "3-3, Real Esteli won on away goal." Aggregate table. <onlyinclude> </onlyinclude> List of foreign players in the league. This is a list of foreign players in the 2018–19 season. The  following players: 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.