The 2020 Chilean Primera División, known as Campeonato Nacional AFP PlanVital 2020 for sponsorship reasons, was the 90th season of the Chilean Primera División, Chile's top-flight football league. The season started on 24 January 2020 and ended on 17 February 2021 with the relegation play-off. Universidad Católica were the defending champions, having won the previous tournament. They successfully defended their title, winning their fifteenth league championship and third in a row with a game to spare on 10 February 2021 after tying 0–0 at home with eventual league runners-up Unión La Calera.

The competition was suspended from 18 March to 29 August 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Format changes

For this season, and given that the previous season was declared as concluded with no relegations to the Primera B, ANFP approved an expansion of the first tier to 18 teams, with two teams promoted from the second tier joining the 16 teams that competed in the top flight in 2019. The 18 teams played each other twice (once at home and once away) for a total of 34 matches. Qualification for the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana was awarded to the top eight teams at the end of the season. Originally, the Copa Chile champions would have been the fourth qualifier for the Copa Libertadores but since the 2020 Copa Chile would not be held before the start of the Copa Libertadores qualifying stages, its allocated berth was awarded to the fourth-placed team of the Campeonato Nacional instead.

Since there were no relegated teams in the previous season, in this season three teams were relegated to the second tier: the last-placed team in the standings of the 2020 season, the last-placed team in a relegation table which was elaborated considering the performance in both the 2019 and 2020 seasons, and the losers of a play-off between the teams placed second-to-last of both tables.

Teams

Eighteen teams took part in the league in this season: the sixteen teams from the previous season, plus the 2019 Primera B champions Santiago Wanderers and Deportes La Serena, winners of the Primera B promotion play-offs.

Stadia and locations

2020 Campeonato Nacional Primera División is located in Chile
Locations of the 2020 Chilean Primera División teams.
TeamCityStadiumCapacity
Audax ItalianoSantiago (La Florida)Bicentenario de La Florida12,000
CobresalEl SalvadorEl Cobre12,000
Colo-ColoSantiago (Macul)Monumental David Arellano47,347
Coquimbo UnidoCoquimboFrancisco Sánchez Rumoroso18,750
Curicó UnidoCuricóLa Granja8,278
Deportes AntofagastaAntofagastaCalvo y Bascuñán21,178
Deportes IquiqueIquiqueTierra de Campeones13,171
Deportes La SerenaLa SerenaLa Portada18,243
EvertonViña del MarSausalito22,360
HuachipatoTalcahuanoHuachipato-CAP Acero10,500
O'HigginsRancaguaEl Teniente13,849
PalestinoSantiago (La Cisterna)Municipal de La Cisterna8,000
Santiago WanderersValparaísoElías Figueroa Brander20,575
Unión EspañolaSantiago (Independencia)Santa Laura-Universidad SEK19,000
Unión La CaleraLa CaleraNicolás Chahuán Nazar9,200
Universidad CatólicaSantiago (Las Condes)San Carlos de Apoquindo14,118
Universidad de ChileSantiago (Ñuñoa)Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos48,665
Universidad de ConcepciónConcepciónAlcaldesa Ester Roa Rebolledo30,448

Personnel and kits

TeamHead coachKit manufacturerSponsors
Audax ItalianoArgentina Pablo SánchezMacronTraverso
CobresalChile Gustavo HuertaKS7PF
Colo-ColoArgentina Gustavo QuinterosUmbroMG Motor
Coquimbo UnidoChile Juan José RiberaCAFUPF
Curicó UnidoArgentina Martín PalermoOneFitMultihogar
Deportes AntofagastaChile Héctor TapiaCAFUMinera Escondida
Deportes IquiqueChile Cristian LeivaReteUNAP
Deportes La SerenaChile Miguel PonceOneFit
EvertonArgentina Roberto SensiniCharlyClaro
HuachipatoArgentina Juan Luvera (caretaker)OneFitPF
O'HigginsArgentina Dalcio GiovagnoliAdidasSun Monticello
PalestinoChile José Luis SierraCapelli SportBank of Palestine
Santiago WanderersChile Miguel RamírezMacronTPS
Unión EspañolaChile Jorge PellicerKappaUniversidad SEK
Unión La CaleraArgentina Juan Pablo VojvodaOneFitPF
Universidad CatólicaArgentina Ariel HolanUnder ArmourBICE
Universidad de ChileVenezuela Rafael DudamelAdidasPetrobras
Universidad de ConcepciónChile Hugo BalladaresKS7PF

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
O'HigginsChile Marco Antonio FigueroaEnd of contract1 December 2019Pre-seasonArgentina Patricio Graff11 December 2019
Curicó UnidoChile Hugo VilchesSacked3 December 2019Argentina Nicolás Larcamón5 December 2019
Universidad CatólicaArgentina Gustavo QuinterosSigned by Tijuana4 December 2019Argentina Ariel Holan12 December 2019
Unión La CaleraArgentina Walter CoyetteResigned5 December 2019Argentina Juan Pablo Vojvoda29 December 2019
Universidad de ConcepciónChile Francisco BozánEnd of contract10 December 2019Uruguay Eduardo Acevedo28 December 2019
Coquimbo UnidoArgentina Patricio GraffSigned by O'Higgins11 December 2018Argentina Germán Corengia18 December 2019
Audax ItalianoChile Juan José RiberaMutual consent12 December 2019Argentina Francisco Meneghini16 December 2019
Colo-ColoChile Mario SalasSacked25 February 202014thParaguay Gualberto Jara (caretaker)25 February 2020
Deportes AntofagastaArgentina Juan Manuel AzconzábalSigned by Unión de Santa Fe30 June 20205thArgentina Héctor Almandoz18 July 2020
Coquimbo UnidoArgentina Germán CorengiaSacked2 September 202016thChile Juan José Ribera6 September 2020
Deportes IquiqueChile Jaime VeraResigned24 September 202015thChile Cristian Leiva25 September 2020
Deportes La SerenaChile Francisco Bozán3 October 202018thChile Óscar Correa (caretaker)3 October 2020
Colo-ColoParaguay Gualberto JaraEnd of caretaker spell3 October 202017thArgentina Gustavo Quinteros3 October 2020
O'HigginsArgentina Patricio GraffMutual consent9 October 202015thChile Víctor Fuentes (caretaker)10 October 2020
Deportes La SerenaChile Óscar CorreaEnd of caretaker spell13 October 202018thChile Miguel Ponce13 October 2020
O'HigginsChile Víctor Fuentes15 October 202016thArgentina Dalcio Giovagnoli16 October 2020
Universidad de ChileChile Hernán CaputtoSacked3 November 20205thChile Marcelo Jara (caretaker)3 November 2020
PalestinoChile Ivo Basay9 November 202015thChile José Luis Sierra11 November 2020
Universidad de ChileChile Marcelo JaraEnd of caretaker spell19 November 20206thVenezuela Rafael Dudamel5 November 2020
Curicó UnidoArgentina Nicolás LarcamónResigned19 November 20205thChile Damián Muñoz (caretaker)19 November 2020
Chile Damián MuñozEnd of caretaker spell25 November 20204thArgentina Martín Palermo23 November 2020
Deportes AntofagastaArgentina Héctor AlmandozMutual consent2 December 20205thChile Diego Reveco (caretaker)2 December 2020
Audax ItalianoArgentina Francisco Meneghini4 December 202010thChile José Calderón (caretaker)9 December 2020
Deportes AntofagastaChile Diego RevecoEnd of caretaker spell10 December 20206thChile Héctor Tapia10 December 2020
EvertonArgentina Javier TorrenteSacked17 December 202012thArgentina Roberto Sensini20 December 2020
Audax ItalianoChile José CalderónEnd of caretaker spell20 December 202015thArgentina Pablo Sánchez20 December 2020
Universidad de ConcepciónUruguay Eduardo AcevedoResigned28 December 202013thChile Hugo Balladares30 December 2020
HuachipatoParaguay Gustavo FlorentínSacked6 January 202111thArgentina Juan Luvera (caretaker)6 January 2021
Unión EspañolaChile Ronald Fuentes28 January 20213rdChile César Bravo (caretaker)28 January 2021
Chile César BravoEnd of caretaker spell31 January 20213rdChile Jorge Pellicer1 February 2021

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

On 16 March 2020, the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (ANFP) announced the suspension of the Campeonato Nacional as well as the rest of its tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, starting from 18 March 2020.

On 8 June, ANFP's Council of Presidents decided to resume the league on 31 July with matches to be played behind closed doors and clubs having at least four weeks of training sessions, pending approval from the Chilean government. However, this original date had to be pushed back as clubs were only given approval to resume training sessions starting from 16 July, with the ANFP considering the weekend of 8 August as a new tentative date of resumption, following three weeks of training sessions.

On 19 August, in a press conference held at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera confirmed 29 August as the date of resumption of both the first and second tier seasons, with games to be played behind closed doors. The first matches to be played would be the ones postponed from previous rounds, while the ninth round of the Campeonato Nacional would be played on the weekend of 4–6 September.

On 26 September the match between Colo-Colo and Deportes Antofagasta, scheduled to be played on that day at 11:00, was suspended due to the discovery of a positive COVID-19 case in the former team following their return from Brazil where they played a Copa Libertadores group stage match against Athletico Paranaense. It was eventually rescheduled for 10 November at 11:00, with Colo-Colo fined for the postponement of the match as well as the delay to submit their PCR test results prior to said match.

On 11 December, the ANFP announced the suspension of the Round 23 matches between Universidad de Chile and Deportes Iquique and between Unión La Calera and O'Higgins due to positive cases for COVID-19 being reported in Deportes Iquique and Unión La Calera.

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Universidad Católica (C)34181156535+3065Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage
2Unión La Calera34176115941+1857
3Universidad de Chile34131384933+1652Qualification for Copa Libertadores second stage
4Unión Española341410105553+252
5Palestino34149114945+451Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage
6Deportes Antofagasta341212104342+148
7Cobresal34138134540+547
8Huachipato34137144344−146
9Curicó Unido34137144052−1246
10O'Higgins34129134039+145
11Santiago Wanderers34128144253−1144
12Everton341013113741−443
13Audax Italiano341011134750−341
14Universidad de Concepción34914113846−841
15Deportes La Serena34109153441−739
16Colo-Colo (O)34912133343−1039Qualification for Relegation play-off
17Deportes Iquique (R)34911143846−838Relegation to Primera B
18Coquimbo Unido (R)3498173346−1335

Results

Home \ AwayAUDCSLCCCOQCURANTIQQDLSEVEHUAOHIPALSWUEULCUCUCHUDC
Audax Italiano—4–12–12–00–03–01–12–11–22–02–10–11–12–21–32–21–31–1
Cobresal1–2—2–10–14–03–11–11–21–12–11–12–11–04–11–10–12–03–1
Colo-Colo1–00–0—2–10–21–00–20–21–00–10–13–02–33–52–10–20–02–2
Coquimbo Unido0–00–12–2—0–00–10–32–13–01–20–31–02–11–11–22–10–10–2
Curicó Unido4–10–11–02–1—2–01–01–01–31–01–31–01–32–40–23–20–02–2
Deportes Antofagasta2–22–10–12–10–0—3–12–21–12–11–01–11–12–03–12–31–01–1
Deportes Iquique2–10–00–02–21–20–4—2–02–21–01–00–22–01–10–30–10–24–0
Deportes La Serena0–21–21–21–02–00–11–0—1–11–01–14–23–00–20–31–20–00–1
Everton2–13–01–11–03–10–01–00–0—1–00–11–32–21–20–12–21–12–1
Huachipato2–11–02–20–11–00–01–11–11–0—2–01–04–04–14–31–32–11–1
O'Higgins0–00–21–11–42–20–12–21–11–22–1—1–02–11–31–22–02–30–0
Palestino1–03–23–12–24–22–22–01–31–01–00–0—3–12–23–11–42–20–1
Santiago Wanderers3–31–03–01–12–02–13–10–02–13–21–01–2—1–00–30–31–21–1
Unión Española1–21–01–20–12–11–13–21–12–04–40–21–12–1—3–21–13–11–1
Unión La Calera3–22–20–02–02–31–11–22–16–23–00–11–03–01–0—1–11–01–2
Universidad Católica3–02–10–04–11–15–33–13–01–13–03–22–31–10–10–0—3–01–1
Universidad de Chile2–22–11–11–15–13–12–23–00–02–20–11–13–03–03–00–0—2–0
Universidad de Concepción3–12–21–12–11–22–01–10–20–00–11–41–10–22–32–12–11–0—

Top goalscorers

RankNameClubGoals
1Argentina Fernando ZampedriUniversidad Católica20
2Argentina Joaquín LarriveyUniversidad de Chile19
3Panama Cecilio WatermanUniversidad de Concepción17
4Uruguay Cristian PalaciosUnión Española15
Argentina Juan Sánchez SoteloHuachipato
6Chile Andrés VilchesUnión La Calera14
7Argentina Juan CuevasEverton13
Argentina Enzo GutiérrezSantiago Wanderers
Chile Luis JiménezPalestino
10Argentina Luciano AuedUniversidad Católica10
Venezuela Eduard BelloDeportes Antofagasta
Argentina Federico CastroCuricó Unido
Chile Misael DávilaUnión Española

Source:

Relegation

Weighted table

For this season, a weighted table was elaborated by computing an average of the points earned per game over this season and the previous one, with the average of points earned in the 2019 season weighted by 60% and the average of points earned in the 2020 season weighted by 40%. Promoted teams only had their points in the 2020 season averaged, without weighting. The team placed last in this table at the end of the season was relegated, while the team placed second-to-last qualified for the relegation play-off.

PosTeam2019 Pts2019 Pld2019 WAvg2020 Pts2020 Pld2020 WAvgTotal WAvgRelegation
1Universidad Católica53241.32565340.7652.09
2Palestino38240.9551340.61.574
3Unión La Calera37250.88857340.6711.559
4Colo-Colo4024139340.4591.459
5Unión Española34250.81652340.6121.428
6Huachipato34240.8546340.5411.391
7O'Higgins34240.8545340.5291.379
8Cobresal34250.81647340.5531.369
9Audax Italiano34240.8541340.4821.332
10Santiago Wanderers———44341.2941.294
11Coquimbo Unido34240.8535340.4121.262
12Deportes Antofagasta27240.67548340.5651.24
13Everton29240.72543340.5061.231
14Universidad de Chile24240.652340.6121.212
15Curicó Unido26240.6546340.5411.191
16Deportes La Serena———39341.1471.147
17Universidad de Concepción (R)23240.57541340.4821.057Qualification for Relegation play-off
18Deportes Iquique (R)25250.638340.4471.047Relegation to Primera B

Source:

Relegation play-off

The relegation play-off was a single match played by the teams placed second-to-last in the season table and the weighted table, on neutral ground. If the same team was placed 17th in both tables, the play-off would not be played and that team would be automatically relegated, but if one of the teams in 17th position had been already relegated by placing last in either table, the team placed 16th in the table where the relegated team placed 17th would play the play-off. The losers were the third and last team relegated to the Primera B.

Colo-Colo1–0Universidad de Concepción
Solari 19'

Awards

AwardWinnerClub
Best PlayerArgentina Matías DituroUniversidad Católica
Top goalscorerArgentina Fernando ZampedriUniversidad Católica
Best Foreign PlayerArgentina Matías DituroUniversidad Católica
Best ManagerArgentina Ariel HolanUniversidad Católica
Best U-21 PlayerChile Carlos PalaciosUnión Española

Team of the Season

Dituro García Andía Huerta Wiemberg Saavedra Jiménez Palacios Leiva Zampedri Puch
Team of the Season
GoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwards
Argentina Matías Dituro (Universidad Católica)Chile Eric Wiemberg (Unión La Calera) Chile Valber Huerta (Universidad Católica) Argentina Santiago García (Unión La Calera) Chile Yonathan Andía (Unión La Calera)Chile Ignacio Saavedra (Universidad Católica) Chile Juan Leiva (Unión La Calera) Chile Luis Antonio Jiménez (Palestino)Chile Carlos Palacios (Unión Española) Argentina Fernando Zampedri (Universidad Católica) Argentina Edson Puch (Universidad Católica)

See also

External links

  • (in Spanish)