The 2024 Categoría Primera A season (officially known as the 2024 Liga BetPlay Dimayor season for sponsorship purposes) was the 77th season of the Categoría Primera A, Colombia's top-flight football league. The season began on 19 January and ended on 22 December 2024.
Two tournaments (Apertura and Finalización) were played in the season, each one of them being an independent championship. In the Torneo Apertura, Atlético Bucaramanga were the champions, defeating Santa Fe on kicks from the penalty mark after a 3–3 draw on aggregate in the finals to claim their first league title, while in the Torneo Finalización Atlético Nacional were the champions, claiming their eighteenth league title after beating Deportes Tolima 3–1 on aggregate in the finals. Junior were the defending champions, having won the 2023 Finalización tournament.
Format changes The competition format for this season was approved by the Extraordinary Assembly of DIMAYOR on 12 December 2023, which decided to keep the same system used in the previous seasons, with two tournaments (Apertura and Finalización) of three stages each: a first stage in which the 20 teams play each other once (with the fixtures being reversed for the Finalización tournament), a semi-final stage (cuadrangulares) played by the top eight teams from the previous stage and a double-legged final series. The Assembly also decided to remove the regional derbies round that is usually played halfway into the first stage of each tournament as well as a change to the distribution of international berths, with all four Copa Libertadores berths being awarded through league performance (two to the champions of both tournaments and the remaining two to the best-placed teams in the aggregate table), instead of one of those being awarded to the Copa Colombia champion, which would qualify for the Copa Sudamericana instead.
Teams
20 teams take part in the season, the top 18 teams in the relegation table of the previous season as well as the 2023 Primera B champions Patriotas and runners-up Fortaleza. Fortaleza were the first team to earn promotion, after defeating Cúcuta Deportivo in the 2023 Primera B's Torneo II final on 17 November 2023 and securing the top spot in the season's aggregate table, thus returning to the top flight after eight years, whilst Patriotas clinched promotion back to the top flight after one season on 28 November 2023 by beating Fortaleza in the Primera B's Grand Final. The promoted teams replaced Unión Magdalena and Atlético Huila, the bottom two teams in the relegation table of the 2023 season, who were relegated to Primera B after two and one year in the top flight, respectively.
On 16 January 2024, Alianza Petrolera announced a relocation starting from this season, moving from Barrancabermeja to Valledupar, Cesar Department. With the move to Valledupar, the club also announced that it was dropping the word Petrolera from their name and changing colors, being rebranded to Alianza F.C. The new club was presented that same day at a press conference in Valledupar.
Prior to the start of the season, and due to disagreements and clashes with the local administration of Rionegro that derived into the eviction from their training venue, Águilas Doradas were granted approval by the General Assembly of DIMAYOR to seek a new venue for their home matches. Although the club stayed in Rionegro to play their home matches during the Apertura tournament, on 23 July 2024 it announced the relocation of its home matches to Sincelejo, Sucre Department, given the lack of support from Rionegro's new local government and the difficulty in obtaining sponsorship by private enterprises based in the zone, as well as an invitation from the local government of Sincelejo to play there.
Stadia and locations Team City Stadium Capacity Águilas Doradas Rionegro Alberto Grisales 14,000 Sincelejo Arturo Cumplido Sierra 10,000 Alianza Valledupar Armando Maestre Pavajeau 11,000 América de Cali Cali Pascual Guerrero 38,588 Atlético Bucaramanga Bucaramanga Américo Montanini 28,000 Atlético Nacional Medellín Atanasio Girardot 44,863 Boyacá Chicó Tunja La Independencia 20,630 Deportes Tolima Ibagué Manuel Murillo Toro 28,100 Deportivo Cali Palmira Deportivo Cali 42,000 Deportivo Pasto Pasto Departamental Libertad 18,000 Deportivo Pereira Pereira Hernán Ramírez Villegas 30,297 Envigado Envigado Polideportivo Sur 14,000 Fortaleza Bogotá Metropolitano de Techo 10,000 Independiente Medellín Medellín Atanasio Girardot 44,863 Jaguares Montería Jaraguay 12,000 Junior Barranquilla Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez 46,692 La Equidad Bogotá Metropolitano de Techo 10,000 Millonarios Bogotá Nemesio Camacho El Campín 39,512 Once Caldas Manizales Palogrande 31,611 Patriotas Tunja La Independencia 20,630 Santa Fe Bogotá Nemesio Camacho El Campín 39,512 Notes
Personnel and kits Team Manager Kit manufacturer Main shirt sponsors Águilas Doradas Juan Pablo Buch Aerosport Alcaldía de Sincelejo Alianza Hubert Bodhert Pin-Go Gobernación del Cesar, Pool, Fundación Universitaria San Mateo América de Cali Jorge da Silva Le Coq Sportif Colanta, Águila, BetPlay Atlético Bucaramanga Rafael Dudamel Lotto Rivalo, Súper Bodega Bogotá, Clinisports Atlético Nacional Efraín Juárez Nike Betsson Boyacá Chicó Juan Carlos Álvarez Geus Deportes Tolima David González Sheffy BetPlay, Mercacentro, Pool Deportivo Cali Sergio Herrera Kappa Wplay, Pastas La Muñeca, Constructora Cosenza Deportivo Pasto Gustavo Florentín Aerosport (Apertura)Boman (Finalización) Aguardiente Nariño, Banco AV Villas Deportivo Pereira Luis Fernando Suárez Oto Rivalo, Ukumarí Envigado Andrés Orozco (caretaker) Kappa Pool, Colanta Fortaleza Sebastián Oliveros Kimo BetPlay, Colanta, Pool, Gencell Pharma Independiente Medellín Alejandro Restrepo Adidas Colanta, Wplay Jaguares Édgar Carvajal Kimo Colanta, Pool Junior César Farías Adidas Olímpica, Águila, Tecnoglass La Equidad Alexis García Attle Cootrafa, BetPlay Millonarios Alberto Gamero Adidas Cerveza Andina Once Caldas Hernán Darío Herrera Boman Colanta, BetPlay, Wakate Patriotas Dayron Pérez Kimo Aguardiente Líder, SmartFit Santa Fe Pablo Peirano Fila Colanta, BetPlay
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentTorneo AperturaAtlético Bucaramanga Jorge RamoaEnd of caretaker spell8 November 2023Pre-season Rafael Dudamel1 December 2023Jaguares Carlos Mario HoyosSacked10 November 2023 Hubert Bodhert15 November 2023Deportivo Pasto Flabio TorresMutual agreement11 November 2023 Jersson González16 November 2023Deportivo Pereira Alejandro RestrepoEnd of contract11 November 2023 Leonel Álvarez30 November 2023Patriotas Jonathan RisueñoSacked11 December 2023 Harold Rivera11 December 2023Boyacá Chicó Belmer Aguilar14 December 2023 Miguel Caneo19 December 2023Águilas Doradas César FaríasResigned2 January 2024 Hernán Darío Gómez15 January 2024América de Cali Lucas GonzálezSacked15 January 2024 Álex Escobar15 January 2024 Álex EscobarEnd of caretaker spell23 January 202415th César Farías23 January 2024Boyacá Chicó Miguel CaneoMutual agreement10 February 202420th Jhon Jaime Gómez12 February 2024Atlético Nacional Jhon Jairo BodmerResigned23 February 202414th Juan Camilo Pérez23 February 2024Deportivo Pasto Jersson GonzálezSacked25 February 202420th René Rosero25 February 2024Atlético Nacional Juan Camilo PérezEnd of caretaker spell2 March 202416th Pablo Repetto28 February 2024Deportivo Cali Jaime de la PavaResigned17 March 202410th Hernando Patiño18 March 2024Águilas Doradas Hernán Darío GómezMutual agreement28 March 202415th José Luis García28 March 2024Alianza César Torres29 March 202418th Hubert Bodhert6 April 2024Envigado Dayron Pérez1 April 202417th Alexis Márquez1 April 2024Jaguares Hubert BodhertResigned3 April 202414th Carlos Echeverry3 April 2024Deportivo Pasto René RoseroEnd of caretaker spell8 April 202417th Gustavo Florentín8 April 2024América de Cali César FaríasMutual agreement30 April 202410th Jorge da Silva7 May 2024Jaguares Carlos EcheverryEnd of caretaker spell24 May 202414th Néstor Craviotto24 May 2024Deportivo Cali Hernando Patiño8 June 202415th Hernán Torres8 June 2024Deportivo Pereira Leonel ÁlvarezMutual agreement13 June 20243rd, Group A Luis Fernando Suárez18 June 2024Torneo FinalizaciónIndependiente Medellín Alfredo AriasSacked4 August 20249th Alejandro Restrepo7 August 2024Jaguares Néstor CraviottoResigned19 August 202420th Édgar Carvajal21 August 2024Atlético Nacional Pablo RepettoSacked27 August 20243rd Efraín Juárez28 August 2024Junior Arturo Reyes3 September 20246th César Farías3 September 2024Envigado Alexis MárquezMutual agreement8 September 202419th Andrés Orozco8 September 2024Patriotas Harold RiveraResigned15 September 202415th Dayron Pérez16 September 2024Deportivo Cali Hernán TorresMutual agreement19 September 202417th Sergio Herrera19 September 2024Boyacá Chicó Jhon Jaime GómezEnd of caretaker spell7 October 202419th Sergio Migliaccio7 October 2024Águilas Doradas José Luis GarcíaSacked7 October 20249th Juan Pablo Buch8 October 2024Boyacá Chicó Sergio Migliaccio26 October 202420th Juan Carlos Álvarez27 October 2024 Notes
Torneo Apertura The Torneo Apertura (officially known as Liga BetPlay Dimayor 2024–I) was the first tournament of the 2024 season. It began on 19 January and ended on 15 June 2024.
First stage Standings
Results
Semi-finals The eight teams that advanced to the semi-finals were drawn into two groups of four teams, with the top two teams from the first stage being seeded in each group. The two group winners advanced to the finals.
Group A
Group B
Finals
Tied 3–3 on aggregate, Atlético Bucaramanga won on penalties.
Top scorers Rank Player Club Goals 1 Carlos BaccaJunior 12 Hugo RodallegaSanta Fe 3 Dayro MorenoOnce Caldas 11 4 Leonardo CastroMillonarios 10 Yeison GuzmánDeportes Tolima Darwin QuinteroDeportivo Pereira 7 Kevin ViverosLa Equidad 8 8 Daniel MosqueraAtlético Bucaramanga 7 9 Juan José CórdobaDeportivo Cali 6 Faber GilDeportivo Pereira Rodrigo HolgadoAmérica de Cali Wilson MoreloJaguares Henry PlazasBoyacá Chicó Élan RicardoLa Equidad
Source: Soccerway
Torneo Finalización The Torneo Finalización (officially known as Liga BetPlay Dimayor 2024–II) was the second and last tournament of the 2024 season. It began on 15 July and ended on 22 December 2024.
First stage Standings
Results
Semi-finals The eight teams that advanced to the semi-finals were drawn into two groups of four teams, with the top two teams from the first stage being seeded in each group. The two group winners advanced to the finals.
Group A
Group B
Finals
Atlético Nacional won 3–1 on aggregate.
Top scorers {| class="wikitable" border="1" |- ! Rank ! Player ! Club ! Goals |- | align=center | 1 | Daniel Moreno |Deportivo Pasto | align=center | 17 |- | align=center | 2 | Dayro Moreno |Once Caldas | align=center | 10 |- | rowspan=5 align=center | 3 | Carlos Bacca |Junior | rowspan=5 align=center | 8 |- | Leonardo Castro |Millonarios |- | Brayan Gil |Deportes Tolima |- | Yeison Guzmán |Deportes Tolima |- | Duván Vergara |América de Cali |- | rowspan=2 align=center | 8 | Alfredo Morelos |Atlético Nacional | rowspan=2 align=center | 7 |- | Andrés Román |Atlético Nacional |- | rowspan=6 align=center | 10 | Michael Barrios |Once Caldas | rowspan=6 align=center | 6 |- | Santiago Mosquera |Santa Fe |- | Jeison Quiñónes |Águilas Doradas |- | Adrián Ramos |América de Cali |- | Hugo Rodallega |Santa Fe |- | Stiven Rodríguez |Junior
Source: Soccerway
Aggregate table
Relegation