The 2008 Categoría Primera A season was the 61st season of Colombia's top-flight football league. The season started on 1 February and ended with the finals on 21 December.
Boyacá Chicó won their first ever title in the Apertura tournament, beating America de Cali 4–2 on penalties. América de Cali won their thirteenth title in the Finalizacion tournament, beating Independiente Medellín 4–1 on aggregate.
Teams 18 teams competed this season. Real Cartagena was relegated in the previous season, and were replaced by the 2007 Categoría Primera B champions, Envigado.
Stadia & Locations Team Stadium Capacity Junior Estadio Metropolitano 46,000 Deportivo Cali Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero 45,000 Nacional, Medellín Estadio Atanasio Girardot 41,000 Millonarios, Santa Fe Estadio El Campín 36,000 América de Cali Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero 45,000 Cúcuta Deportivo Estadio General Santander 42,000 Once Caldas Estadio Palogrande 29,000 Deportes Tolima Estadio Manuel Murillo Toro 28,000 Deportivo Pereira Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas 30,000 Deportes Quindío Estadio Centenario 20,000 Deportivo Pasto Estadio Departamental Libertad 19,000 Atletico Bucaramanga Estadio Alfonso Lopez 28,000 Atlético Huila Estadio Guillermo Plazas Alcid 22,000 La Equidad Estadio Metropolitano de Techo 17,000 Envigado Estadio Polideportivo Sur 12,000 Boyacá Chicó Estadio La Independencia 10,000
Torneo Apertura Torneo Apertura began on 1 February and ended on 6 July.
Standings
Schedule
+ Fixture 1 - February 1 until February 3, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayFebruary 1Quindío1 - 1La EquidadFebruary 2Millonarios1 - 2MedellínAtlético Nacional0 - 1Santa FeFebruary 3América de Cali1 - 1HuilaPereira0 - 2EnvigadoCúcuta0 - 1BucaramangaJunior2 - 1Once CaldasPasto0 - 1Boyacá ChicóTolima2 - 0Deportivo Cali+ Fixture 2 - February 8 until February 10, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayFebruary 8Deportivo Cali0 - 0MillonariosFebruary 9Envigado2 - 1CúcutaSanta Fe2 - 1América de CaliMedellín2 - 0PereiraFebruary 10Boyacá Chicó1 - 1QuíndioHuila0 - 0PastoBucaramanga1 - 0JuniorLa Equidad2 - 0TolimaOnce Caldas1 - 0Atlético Nacional
+ Fixture 3 - February 15 until February 17, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayFebruary 15Atlético Nacional3 - 0BucaramangaFebruary 16América de Cali3 - 1Once CaldasJunior2 - 2EnvigadoFebruary 17Pasto1 - 2Santa FeTolima0 - 1QuindíoPereira1 - 3Deportivo CaliCúcuta0 - 1MedellínBoyacá Chicó2 - 0HuilaMillonarios2 - 1La Equidad+ Fixture 4 - February 20 until February 21, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayFebruary 20Quindío1 - 1HuilaSanta Fe2 - 2Boyacá ChicóOnce Caldas3 - 1PastoBucaramanga3 - 0América de CaliTolima1 - 1MillonariosMedellín2 - 0JuniorDeportivo Cali0 - 1CúcutaLa Equidad2 - 3PereiraFebruary 21Envigado1 - 0Atlético Nacional
+ Fixture 5 - February 23 until February 24, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayFebruary 23América de Cali3 - 0EnvigadoAtlético Nacional1 - 0MedellínFebruary 24Junior1 - 2Deportivo CaliMillonarios1 - 1QuíndioPereira0 - 0TolimaCúcuta0 - 1La EquidadPasto1 - 0BucaramangaBoyacá Chicó1 - 0Once CaldasHuila2 - 3Santa Fe+ Fixture 6 - February 29 until March 2, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayFebruary 29Medellín1 - 3América de CaliMarch 1Deportivo Cali2 - 1Atlético NacionalBucaramanga1 - 0Boyacá ChicóMarch 2Envigado0 - 1PastoOnce Caldas1 - 1HuilaMillonarios3 - 0PereiraLa Equidad2 - 0JuniorTolima0 - 0CúcutaQuindío2 - 1Santa Fe
+ Fixture 7 - March 7 until March 9, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayMarch 7Santa Fe 0 - 1Once CaldasMarch 8Cúcuta2 - 1MillonariosAmérica de Cali0 - 1Deportivo CaliMarch 9Pasto1 - 1MedellínAtlético Nacional0 - 1La EquidadPereira2 - 0QuíndioJunior1 - 3TolimaHuila4 - 2BucaramangaBoyacá Chicó1 - 1Envigado+ Fixture 8 - March 15 & March 16, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayMarch 14Deportivo Cali 1 - 1PastoMarch 15Tolima 1 - 2Atlético NacionalMedellín0 - 0Boyacá ChicóMarch 16La Equidad4 - 0América de CaliQuíndio1 - 2Once CaldasEnvigado1 - 1HuilaMillonarios3 - 1JuniorPereira0 - 2CúcutaBucaramanga1 - 2Santa Fe
+ Fixture 9 - March 22 & March 23, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayMarch 22Quindío 4 - 1 Boyacá ChicóDeportivo Cali0 - 4América de CaliSanta Fe1 - 1MillonariosMarch 23Bucaramanga1 - 1CúcutaHuila3 - 2TolimaOnce Caldas1 - 1PereiraEnvigado1 - 0JuniorLa Equidad1 - 1PastoMedellín2 - 0Atlético Nacional+ Fixture 10 - March 29 & March 30, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayMarch 29Huila 1 - 1MedellínAtlético Nacional 1 - 1MillonariosSanta Fe3 - 0EnvigadoMarch 30Once Caldas2 - 0BucaramangaCúcuta 4 - 3QuindíoJunior1 - 0PereiraAmérica3 - 1TolimaPasto1 - 2La EquidadBoyacá Chicó0 - 0Deportivo Cali
+ Fixture 11 - April 2, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayApril 2La Equidad 2 - 1 Boyacá ChicóEnvigado2 - 0Once CaldasMedellín2 - 0Santa FeTolima1 - 2PastoMillonarios3 - 1América de CaliDeportivo Cali2 - 1HuilaQuindío2 - 0BucaramangaCúcuta0 - 0JuniorPereira1 - 0Atlético Nacional+ Fixture 12 - April 5 & April 6, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayApril 5Huila 1 - 0La EquidadSanta Fe 2 - 0Deportivo CaliBoyacá Chicó7 - 2TolimaApril 6Pasto2 - 0MillonariosAtlético Nacional3 - 1CúcutaJunior2 - 2QuindíoAmérica de Cali4 - 1PereiraBucaramanga2 - 1EnvigadoOnce Caldas1 - 1Medellín
+ Fixture 13 - April 12 & April 13, 2008 DateHomeScoreAwayApril 12La Equidad 0 - 0Santa FeDeportivo Cali 3 - 0Once CaldasQuindío2 - 2EnvigadoCúcuta1 - 1América de CaliApril 13Medellín5 - 0BucaramangaTolima2 - 1HuilaMillonarios0 - 4Boyacá ChicóPereira5 - 2PastoJunior3 - 0Atlético Nacional+ Fixture 14 - April 18 until April 20, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayApril 18Envigado 1 - 0MedellínApril 19América de Cali 1 - 2 JuniorAtlético Nacional1 - 0QuindíoApril 20Boyacá Chicó3 - 0PereiraHuila3 - 3MillonariosSanta Fe2 - 0TolimaOnce Caldas1 - 1La EquidadBucaramanga4 - 1Deportivo CaliPasto1 - 0Cúcuta
+ Fixture 15 - April 25 until April 27, 2008 DateHomeScoreAwayApril 25Quindío 1 - 0MedellínApril 26Millonarios 0 - 2Santa FeCúcuta3 - 0Boyacá ChicóApril 27Atlético Nacional3 - 2América de CaliTolima4 - 3Once CaldasLa Equidad1 - 0BucaramangaPereira3 - 3HuilaJunior2 - 0PastoDeportivo Cali2 - 1Envigado+ Fixture 16 - May 3 & May 4, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayMay 3América de Cali 3 - 1QuindíoBoyacá Chicó 2 - 1 JuniorPasto0 - 1Atlético NacionalMay 4Bucaramanga 1 - 0TolimaHuila 1 - 0CúcutaEnvigado 0 - 1La EquidadMedellín 1 - 1Deportivo CaliSanta Fe 1 - 1PereiraOnce Caldas 0 - 2Millonarios
+ Fixture 17 - May 10, 2008 DateHomeScoreAwayMay 10La Equidad 2 - 1MedellínJunior 1 - 0Atlético HuilaAtlético Nacional 0 - 1Boyacá ChicóCúcuta 2 - 0Santa FeTolima 1 - 2EnvigadoQuindío 0 - 0Deportivo CaliPereira 3 - 1Once CaldasAmérica de Cali 2 - 0PastoMillonarios 1 - 0Bucaramanga+ Fixture 18 - May 18, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayMay 18Bucaramanga3 - 0PereiraHuila1 - 0 Atlético NacionalBoyacá Chicó3 - 2América de CaliDeportico Cali1 - 1La EquidadPasto0 - 2QuindíoEnvigado1 - 0MillonariosMedellín4 - 1TolimaSanta Fe1 - 2JuniorOnce Caldas1 - 2Cúcuta
Cuadrangular playoffs
The second phase of the 2008 Apertura Tournament is disputed between the best eight teams in the first phase, which are distributed in two groups of four being divided by odd and even numbers. The winners of each group will advance to the Finals to define a champion.
Group A SeedPosTeamPtsGPWDLGFGAGD(7)1.América136411114+7(5)2.Envigado8622289-1(3)3.Santa Fe7621368-2(1)4.La Equidad5612348-4
Source: Tiebreak rules: 1)points; 2)goal difference; 3)goals scored
+ Fixture 1 - May 21, 2008HomeScoreAwayLa Equidad0 - 2América de CaliEnvigado2 - 0Santa Fe+ Fixture 2 - May 24 and May 25, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayMay 24América de Cali2 - 0EnvigadoMay 25Santa Fe0 - 1La Equidad
+ Fixture 3 - June 8, 2008HomeScoreAwayAmérica de Cali3 - 0 Santa FeLa Equidad2 - 2 Envigado+ Fixture 4 - June 22, 2008HomeScoreAwaySanta Fe 2 - 0 América de CaliEnvigado 1 - 0La Equidad
+ Fixture 5 - June 25, 2008HomeScoreAwayEnvigado1 - 3América de CaliLa Equidad0 - 2Santa Fe+ Fixture 6 - June 29, 2008HomeScoreAwayAmérica de Cali1 - 1 La EquidadSanta Fe2 - 2Envigado
Group B SeedPosTeamPtsGPWDLGFGAGD(2)1.Boyacá Chicó10624097+2(4)2.Independiente Medellín96231104+6(8)3.Deportes Quindío6613256-1(6)4.Deportivo Cali55123613-7 Source: Tiebreak rules: 1)points; 2)goal difference; 3)goals scored
+ Fixture 1 - May 21, 2008HomeScoreAwayQuindío0 - 0MedellínDeportivo Cali2 - 2Boyacá Chicó+ Fixture 2 - May 24 and May 25, 2008HomeScoreAwayMedellín5 - 0Deportivo CaliBoyacá Chicó2 - 1Quindío
+ Fixture 3 - June 8, 2008HomeScoreAwayMedellín1 - 1 Boyacá ChicóQuindío 1 - 1 Deportivo Cali+ Fixture 4 - June 22, 2008HomeScoreAwayBoyacá Chicó1 - 1MedellínDeportivo Cali0 - 2Quindío
+ Fixture 5 - June 25, 2008HomeScoreAwayDeportivo Cali2 - 1MedellínQuindío1 - 1Boyacá Chicó+ Fixture 6 - June 29, 2008HomeScoreAwayMedellín2 - 0 QuindíoBoyacá Chicó2 - 1 Deportivo Cali
Finals
Top goalscorers Pos.PlayerTeamGoals1 Ivan VelásquezQuindío13 Miguel CaneoChicó133 Luis TejadaAmérica124 Carlos RenteríaHuila10 Léider PreciadoSanta Fe10 Giovanni MorenoEnvigado107 Roberto PoloEquidad98 Johan FanoOnce Caldas8 Neider MorantesEnvigado810 Luis Fernando MosqueraSanta Fe7 Matías UrbanoCúcuta7
Source:
Torneo Finalización Torneo Finalizacion began on 19 July and ended on 21 December
Standings
Positions by round
Cuadrangular Playoffs The second phase of the 2008 Finalizacion takes two groups of four teams, divided by even and odd numbers. It is disputed between the best eight teams in the first phase. The winners of each group will advance to the Finals to define a champion. The first tie-breaking criterion is the team's position in the general standings.
Group A SeedPosTeamPtsGPWDLGFGAGD(5)1.Independiente Medellín116321880(1)2.Deportes Tolima106312119+2(7)3.La Equidad76213108+2(3)4.Atlético Nacional4604248-4
+ Fixture 1 - November 22 and 23, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayNovember 22Medellín2 - 1TolimaNovember 23La Equidad0 - 0Atlético Nacional+ Fixture 2 - November 27, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayNovember 27Atlético Nacional1 - 1MedellínTolima2 - 1La Equidad
+ Fixture 3 - November 30, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayNovember 30La Equidad2 - 3MedellínAtlético Nacional1 - 1Tolima+ Fixture 4 - December 7, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayDecember 7Medellín1 - 0La EquidadTolima2 - 1Atlético Nacional
+ Fixture 5 - December 10, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayDecember 10Medellín0 - 0Atlético NacionalLa Equidad3 - 1Tolima+ Fixture 6 - December 14, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayDecember 14Atlético Nacional1 - 4La EquidadTolima4 - 1Medellín
Group B SeedPosTeamPtsGPWDLGFGAGD(4)1.América de Cali116321106+4(6)3.Deportivo Pereira96303913-4(2)2.Junior7621398+1(8)4.Deportivo Cali7621389-1
+ Fixture 1 - November 22 and 23, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayNovember 22Junior2 - 0Deportivo CaliNovember 23América3 - 0Pereira+ Fixture 2 - November 26, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayNovember 26Deportivo Cali2 - 2AméricaPereira3 - 2Junior
+ Fixture 3 - November 29, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayNovember 29Deportivo Cali3 - 0PereiraJunior1 - 1América+ Fixture 4 - December 6, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayDecember 6Pereira3 - 1Deportivo CaliAmérica2 - 0Junior
+ Fixture 5 - December 10, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayDecember 10Junior3 - 0PereiraAmérica1 - 0Deportivo Cali+ Fixture 6 - December 14, 2008DateHomeScoreAwayDecember 14Deportivo Cali2 - 1JuniorPereira3 - 1América
Finals
Top goalscorers Pos.PlayerTeamGoals1 Fredy MonteroDeportivo Cali2 Darwin QuinteroDeportivo Pereira3 Teófilo GutiérrezJunior4 Milton RodríguezMillonarios Adrián RamosAmérica de Cali6 Wilson CarpinteroLa Equidad Jackson MartinezIndependiente Medellin8 Rodrigo MarangoniDeportes Tolima9 Jorge SernaEnvigado Source:
Overall standings Besides the Apertura and Finalizacion champions, the team with the best overall points earned will advance to the 2009 Copa Libertadores Group Stage. The team with the second best overall points will advance to 2009 Copa Libertadores Preliminary Round. The team with the third best overall points average advances to the 2009 Copa Sudamericana, along with the 2008 Copa Colombia champions.