1985–86 in Argentine football saw the introduction of "European Style seasons" in the Argentine first division. The league title was won by River Plate. Argentinos Juniors were the winners of the Copa Libertadores 1985.
Primera División
League table PositionTeamPointsPlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstDifferenceRiver Plate563623103742648 2 Newell's Old Boys 46 36 15 16 5 46 30 16 3 Deportivo Español 46 36 18 10 8 41 35 6 4 Argentinos Juniors 44 36 16 12 8 47 39 8 5 Boca Juniors 41 36 14 13 9 57 47 10 6 Ferro Carril Oeste 40 36 12 16 8 45 33 12 7 San Lorenzo 40 36 14 12 10 43 33 10 8 Talleres de Córdoba 37 36 10 17 9 43 37 6 9 Independiente 36 36 15 6 15 38 36 2 10 Gimnasia de La Plata 36 36 9 18 9 29 36 -7 11 Instituto de Córdoba 35 36 11 13 12 33 33 0 12 Vélez Sársfield 34 36 11 12 13 48 48 0 13 Huracán 32 36 10 12 14 44 47 -3 14 Unión de Santa Fe 31 36 9 13 14 27 38 -11 15 Temperley 29 36 8 13 15 44 60 -16 16 Estudiantes de La Plata 27 36 10 7 19 33 47 -14 17 Platense 27 36 7 13 16 37 55 -18 18 Racing de Córdoba 26 36 6 14 16 31 52 -21 19 Chacarita Juniors 21 36 5 11 20 24 53 -31
Relegation Relegation was determined by averaging the number of points obtained over the three previous seasons
Relegation table Team198319841985-1986Total pointsSeasonsPoints averageDeportivo EspañolN/AN/A4646146.00Ferro Carril Oeste465040136345.33Argentinos Juniors365144131343.66River Plate294356128342.33San Lorenzo473740124341.33Vélez Sársfield444234120340.00Newell's Old Boys353846119339.67Independiente483136115338.33Estudiantes de La Plata384827113337.67Boca Juniors373041108336.00Gimnasia de La PlataN/AN/A3636136.00Talleres de Córdoba333437104334.67Instituto de Córdoba353335103334.33Unión de Santa Fe38303199333.00Racing de Córdoba27432696332.00Platense34332794331.33Temperley33312993331.00Huracán32273291330.33Chacarita JuniorsN/A342155227.50
Chacarita Juniors were relegated directly Huracán played in the Octagonal promotion tournament.
Octagonal tournament Quarter Finals Home (1st leg)Home (2nd leg)1st Leg2nd legAggregateHuracánLanús2-03-25-2Los AndesDeportivo Armenio1-02-23-2BanfieldDefensa y Justicia2-02-24-2Deportivo ItalianoTigre2-02-14-1 Semi-finals Home (1st leg)Home (2nd leg)1st Leg2nd legAggregateHuracánLos Andes1-03-14-1Deportivo ItalianoBanfield1-01-22-2 (4-3 p.k.) Final Home (1st leg)Home (2nd leg)1st Leg2nd legAggregateDeportivo ArmenioHuracán1-01-22-2 (4-2 p.k.)
Qualification for Copa Libertadores 1986 River Plate qualified as League champions Argentinos Juniors qualified as Copa Libertadores holders The remaining qualification place was determined by the Liguella Pre-Libertadores
Liguella Pre-Libertadores Qualifying round Home (1st leg)Home (2nd leg)1st Leg2nd legAggregateAlianza de Cutral CóBoca Juniors1-21-22-4ConcepciónVélez Sársfield0-31-21-5Ferro Carril OesteGüemes2-12-14-2San LorenzoGuaraní Antonio Franco4-13-07-1 Quarter-finals ScoreFerro Carril OesteDeportivo Español4-1 (aet)Newell's Old BoysBelgrano de Córdoba2-1Olimpo de Bahía BlancaBoca Juniors2-3San LorenzoVélez Sársfield0-0 (4-3 p.k.) Semi-finals Home (1st leg)Home (2nd leg)1st Leg2nd legAggregateNewell's Old BoysFerro Carril Oeste1-01-12-1San LorenzoBoca Juniors1-20-01-2 Final Home (1st leg)Home (2nd leg)1st Leg2nd legAggregateBoca JuniorsNewell's Old Boys0-24-14-3
Boca Juniors qualify for the Copa Libertadores 1986.
Copa Libertadores Argentine teams in Copa Libertadores 1985 Argentinos Juniors: Champions Independiente: Semi-finalists Ferro Carril Oeste: 1st round
References Argentina 1985 by Pablo Ciullini at rsssf. Copa Libertadores 1985 by Karel Stokkermans at rsssf.