The 2012–13 Primera División season was the 122nd season of top-flight professional football in Argentina. It started on August 3, 2012 and ended on June 29, 2013. Twenty teams competed in the league, eighteen returning from the 2011–12 season and two promoted from the Primera B Nacional Championship (Championship winners River Plate and runners-up Quilmes). The two promoted clubs avoided relegation.
In the first half of the season Vélez Sarsfield became champion of the 2012 Torneo Inicial "Eva Perón", winning the “Evita Capitana” League Cup. In the second one Newell's Old Boys clinched the 2013 Torneo Final "Eva Perón", winning the “Juana Azurduy” League Cup.
In the Superfinal Vélez Sarsfield were crowned Argentina's Super champions after a 1–0 victory over Newell's Old Boys in Mendoza. This was the first overall league championship play-off in Argentina since 1991 when Newell's defeated Boca Juniors on penalties.
Independiente was relegated, for first time, to the Primera B Nacional Championship. The other relegated teams were San Martín (SJ) and Unión.
Format changes The champion of the Torneo Inicial and Torneo Final met in a season ending championship final to determine the super champion. The format for each tournament remained the same as in previous seasons.
Relegation was also changed for the season. Instead of two teams facing direct relegation to the Primera B Nacional, three teams were directly relegated. The promotion/relegation playoffs were eliminated.
Teams The teams ending the 2011–12 season in the bottom two places of the relegation table were Banfield and Olimpo. They played in the 2012–13 Primera B Nacional Championship. At the same time the 2011–12 Primera B Nacional Championship winners River Plate and runners-up Quilmes were directly promoted at the end of the season. San Lorenzo and San Martín (SJ) remained in the Primera División winning their Relegation/promotion playoffs to Instituto and Rosario Central.
Stadia and locations
ClubCityStadiumCapacityAll Boys Buenos Aires Islas Malvinas 21,000Argentinos Juniors Buenos Aires Diego Armando Maradona 24,800Arsenal Sarandí Julio H. Grondona 16,300Atlético de Rafaela Rafaela Nuevo Monumental 16,000Belgrano Córdoba Mario Alberto Kempes 57,000Boca Juniors Buenos Aires Alberto J. Armando 49,000Colón Santa Fe Brigadier General Estanislao López 32,500Estudiantes (LP) La Plata Estadio Ciudad de La Plata 53,000Godoy Cruz Godoy Cruz Malvinas Argentinas 40,268Independiente Avellaneda Libertadores de América 30,000Lanús Lanús Ciudad de Lanús - Néstor Díaz Pérez 46,619Newell's Old Boys Rosario Marcelo Bielsa 38,095Quilmes Quilmes Centenario 30,200Racing Avellaneda Presidente Juan Domingo Perón 55,389River Plate Buenos Aires Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti 64,624San Lorenzo Buenos Aires Pedro Bidegain 39,494San Martín (SJ) San Juan Ingeniero Hilario Sánchez 25,286Tigre Victoria José Dellagiovanna 26,282Unión Santa Fe 15 de Abril 22,852Vélez Sarsfield Buenos Aires José Amalfitani 45,540
Personnel and kits ClubManagerKit manufacturerMain sponsorAll Boys José RomeroBalonpieLácteos BarrazaArgentinos Juniors Ricardo Caruso LombardiOlympikusLiderar SegurosArsenal Gustavo AlfaroLottoLa Nueva SegurosAtlético de Rafaela Jorge BurruchagaReuschSanCorBelgrano Ricardo ZielinskiLottoTersuaveBoca Juniors Carlos BianchiNikeBBVAColón Pablo MorantUmbroFlecha BusEstudiantes (LP) Mauricio PellegrinoAdidasDirecTVGodoy Cruz Martín PalermoLottoMendozaIndependiente Miguel Ángel BrindisiPumaMotomelLanús Guillermo Barros SchelottoOlympikusHerbalife/ESCONewell's Old Boys Gerardo MartinoTopperMotomelQuilmes Omar De FelippeLottoQuilmesRacing Luis ZubeldíaOlympikusBanco HipotecarioRiver Plate Ramón DíazAdidasBBVASan Lorenzo Juan Antonio PizziLottoLa Nueva Seguros/Banco CiudadSan Martín (SJ) Rubén ForestelloMitreSan JuanTigre Néstor GorositoKappaBanco MacroUnión Facundo SavaTBSFlecha BusVélez Sarsfield Ricardo GarecaTopperSamsung
Statistics Club Most goalsscored Goals Most minutesplayed Minutes(Matches) All Boys Iván Borghello 9 Nicolás Cambiasso 3420(38) Argentinos Juniors Juan Luis Anangonó 5 Ariel Garcé 2764(31) Arsenal Darío Benedetto 7 Cristian Campestrini 3330(37) Lisandro López Atlético de Rafaela César Carignano 5 Guillermo Sara 3240(36) Federico González Jonathan López Belgrano Lucas Melano 5 Guillermo Farré 3310(37) Jorge Velázquez Boca Juniors Santiago Silva 11 Santiago Silva 2441(28) Colón Emanuel Gigliotti 21 Diego Pozo 3016(34) Estudiantes (LP) Duván Zapata 13 Leandro Desábato 3003(34) Godoy Cruz Mauro Obolo 10 Mauro Obolo 3319(38) Independiente Ernesto Farías 5 Claudio Morel Rodríguez 2483(29) Lanús Silvio Romero 13 Agustín Marchesín 3330(37) Newell's Old Boys Ignacio Scocco 24 Nahuel Guzmán 2970(33) Santiago Vergini Quilmes Martín Cauteruccio 14 Emanuel Trípodi 3330(37) Racing Luciano Vietto 13 Matías Cahais 3314(37) River Plate Manuel Lanzini 8 Marcelo Barovero 3033(34) San Lorenzo Denis Stracqualursi 8 Pablo Alvarado 3143(35) San Martín (SJ) Humberto Osorio Botello 11 Emmanuel Más 3330(37) Tigre Rubén Botta 5 Mariano Echeverría 3060(34) Matías Pérez García Unión Andrés Franzoia 8 Nicolás Correa 3330(37) Vélez Sarsfield Facundo Ferreyra 16 Sebastián Domínguez 2880(32)
1. Superfinal is not included
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table Pre-season changes Lanús Gabriel Schürrer Sacked June 18, 2012 Guillermo Barros Schelotto June 20, 2012 N/A Estudiantes (LP) Martín Zuccarelli Replaced June 24, 2012 Diego Cagna June 29, 2012 N/A Torneo Inicial changes Independiente Cristian Díaz Resigned August 25, 2012 Américo Gallego August 27, 2012 17th Unión Frank Kudelka Resigned August 31, 2012 Nery Pumpido September 4, 2012 19th San Martín (SJ) Facundo Sava Sacked September 3, 2012 Gabriel Perrone September 7, 2012 20th San Lorenzo Mutual agreement October 9, 2012 Juan Antonio Pizzi October 13, 2012 18th Tigre Rodolfo Arruabarrena Resigned October 21, 2012 Néstor Gorosito October 22, 2012 19th Argentinos Juniors Leonardo Astrada Resigned November 4, 2012 Gabriel Schürrer November 15, 2012 17th Rubén Forestello Sacked November 18, 2012 Jorge Burruchaga December 5, 2012 15th Godoy Cruz Omar Asad Resigned November 19, 2012 Martín Palermo November 26, 2012 14th River Plate Matías Almeyda Sacked Ramón Díaz November 29, 2012 9th Inter-tournament changes Unión Nery Pumpido Resigned December 8, 2012 Facundo Sava N/A Boca Juniors Julio César Falcioni End of contract December 10, 2012 Carlos Bianchi December 17, 2012 N/A Torneo Final changes Argentinos Juniors Gabriel Schürrer Resigned February 22, 2013 March 14, 2013 20th San Martín (SJ) Gabriel Perrone Resigned March 10, 2013 Rubén Forestello March 17, 2013 17th Colón Roberto Sensini Resigned March 16, 2013 Pablo Morant March 17, 2013 20th Estudiantes (LP) Diego Cagna Resigned March 30, 2013 Mauricio Pellegrino April 5, 2013 19th Independiente Américo Gallego Mutual agreement April 14, 2013 Miguel Ángel Brindisi April 16, 2013 16th
Pre-season changes 1. Interim manager. Torneo Inicial 2. Marcelo Vivas was interim manager in the 6th match. 3. Carlos Mayor was interim manager in the 14th and 15th matches. 4. Víctor Bottaniz was interim manager in the 17th and 18th matches. 5. Daniel Oldrá was interim manager in the 17th match. 6. Gustavo Zapata was interim manager in the 18th match. Torneo Final 7. Fabián De Sarasqueta was interim manager in the 4th and 5th matches. 8. Marcelo Vivas was interim manager in the 6th match. 9. Interim manager. 10. Martín Zuccarelli was interim manager in the 8th and 9th matches.
Torneo Inicial The Torneo Inicial was the first tournament of the season. It began on August 3, 2012 and ended on February 13, 2013.
Standings
Results
Top goalscorers Rank Name Nationality Club Goals 1Facundo FerreyraVélez Sársfield 13Ignacio ScoccoNewell's Old Boys 13 3Emanuel GigliottiColón 10 4Martín CauteruccioQuilmes 7Lucas PrattoVélez Sársfield 7Denis StracqualursiSan Lorenzo 7 7Iván BorghelloAll Boys 6Rodrigo MoraRiver Plate 6Humberto Osorio BotelloSan Martín (SJ) 6Santiago SilvaBoca Juniors 6Duván ZapataEstudiantes (LP) 6
Torneo Final The Torneo Final was the second and final tournament of the season. It began on February 8 and ended on June 23, 2013.
Standings
Results
Top goalscorers Rank Name Nationality Club Goals 1Emanuel GigliottiColón 11Ignacio ScoccoNewell's Old Boys 11 3Silvio RomeroLanús 9 4Luciano ViettoRacing 8 5Martín CauteruccioQuilmes 7Ezequiel RescaldaniVélez Sarsfield 7Duván ZapataEstudiantes (LP) 7 8Andrés FranzoiaUnión 6Mauro OboloGodoy Cruz 6Claudio RiañoSan Martín (SJ) 6
Superfinal The 2012-13 Superfinal was played on 29 June 2013 between Vélez Sarsfield, winners of the 2012 Torneo Inicial, and Newell's Old Boys, winners of the 2013 Torneo Final. The match was played at the neutral venue of the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza.
Vélez Sarsfield were crowned Super champions after a 1–0 victory over Newell's Old Boys. The Association recognised that title as a Primera División (league) championship."Súper campeón: Vélez venció a Newell's y sumó un nuevo título oficial" on CanchaLlena.com , 29 Jun 2013
As super champions of the 2012–13 season Vélez Sarsfield was qualified for the 2013 Supercopa Argentina, 2013 Copa Sudamericana and 2014 Copa Libertadores.
Details
GK 13 Sebastián Sosa DF 5 Fabián Cubero (c) DF 2 Fernando TobioDF 6 Sebastián Domínguez (c)DF 3 Emiliano Papa MF 24 Iván Bella MF 17 Franco Razzotti MF 8 Fernando Gago MF 10 Federico Insúa FW 12 Lucas Pratto FW 14 Facundo FerreyraSubstitutes:GK 1 Germán MontoyaDF 30 Juan SabiaDF 4 Gino Peruzzi MF 18 Francisco Cerro MF 21 Agustín AllioneMF 29 Lucas Romero FW 9 Ezequiel RescaldaniManager: Ricardo Gareca
GK 1 Nahuel GuzmánDF 4 Marcos CáceresDF 27 Santiago Vergini DF 20 Gabriel HeinzeDF 15 Milton CascoMF 8 Pablo Pérez MF 7 Lucas Bernardi (c)MF 14 Rinaldo Cruzado FW 11 Maxi RodríguezFW 32 Ignacio ScoccoFW 16 Víctor FigueroaSubstitutes:GK 22 Sebastián PerattaDF 6 Víctor LópezMF 5 Diego MateoMF 28 Martín Tonso MF 18 Horacio OrzánFW 37 Maximiliano Urruti FW 39 Fabián MuñozManager: Gerardo Martino
Assistant referees: Diego Bonfá Iván Núñez Fourth official: Mauro ViglianoMatch rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Seven named substitutes. Maximum of three substitutions. Sebastián Sosa (Vélez Sarsfield) saved a penalty kick from Scocco in the 30th.
Relegation Team Relegation 1Vélez Sarsfield 82 64 61 207 114 2River Plate — — 64 64 38 3Lanús 63 55 67 185 114 4Boca Juniors 53 76 51 180 114 5Arsenal 57 62 60 179 114 6Belgrano — 55 59 114 76 7Estudiantes (LP) 69 50 48 167 114 8Newell's Old Boys 42 48 74 164 114 9Racing 52 50 62 164 114 10 Colón 47 60 46 153 114 11Godoy Cruz 63 38 49 150 114 12Quilmes — — 50 50 38 13San Lorenzo 47 44 58 149 114 14Tigre 50 63 34 147 114 15All Boys 51 54 41 146 114 16Argentinos Juniors 54 49 37 140 114 17Atlético de Rafaela — 50 43 93 76 18San Martín (SJ) (R) — 48 43 91 76 Primera B Nacional 19Independiente (R) 43 47 39 129 114 20Unión (R) — 50 24 74 76 Source:
International qualification
2013 Copa Libertadores Qualification for the 2013 Copa Libertadores tournament was awarded to the winners of the 2011/12 Clausura and 2012/13 Torneo Inicial tournaments. A third place was awarded to the Argentine side that proceeded furthest in the 2012 Copa Sudamericana tournament. Two more places were available to the teams who gain most points in the 2012 Argentine tournaments, and a league table showing those combined points is given below.
2013 Copa Sudamericana Qualification for the 2013 Copa Sudamericana tournament was awarded to the winners of the 2012–13 Argentine Primera División and the 5 best non-finalists (if not qualified for 2013 Copa Libertadores second stage or relegated) according to the aggregate table of the 2012–13 Torneo Inicial and Torneo Final.