2019–20 Liga Primera de Nicaragua

The 2019–20 Liga Primera de Nicaragua season was divided into two tournaments (Apertura and Clausura) and will determine the 73rd and 74th champions in the history of the Liga Primera de Nicaragua, the top division of football in Nicaragua. The Apertura tournament was played in the second half of 2019, while the Clausura was played in the first half of 2020.

Liga Primera de Nicaragua
Season2019–20
ChampionsApertura:
Real Estelí
Clausura:
Real Estelí
RelegatedDeportivo Las Sabanas
CONCACAF LeagueReal Estelí
Managua
Matches played196
Goals scored459 (2.34 per match)
Top goalscorerApertura:
Mexico Carlos Félix
(10 goals)
Clausura:
Mexico Fernando Villalpando
(10 goals)
Biggest home winApertura:
Managua 5–0 Real Madriz
(26 October 2019)
Clausura:
Walter Ferretti 7–0 Chinandega
(29 March 2020)
Biggest away winApertura:
Chinandega 1–4 Real Estelí
(15 September 2019)
Chinandega 0–3 Deportivo Las Sabanas
(6 October 2019)
Clausura:
Real Madriz 0–2 Real Estelí
(25 January 2020)
Real Estelí 0–2 Managua
(8 February 2020)
Deportivo Las Sabanas 0–2 Walter Ferretti
(15 March 2020)
Chinandega 1–3 Real Estelí
(12 April 2020)
Highest scoringApertura:
Managua 3–3 Chinandega
(16 October 2019)
Walter Ferretti 5–1 Deportivo Ocotal
(9 November 2019)
Clausura:
Walter Ferretti 7–0 Chinandega
(29 March 2020)
All statistics correct as of 9 May 2020.

The league was one of the only football leagues in the world, along with the Belarus,[1][2][3] that did not suspend their season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][5][6]

Format

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The Apertura play-off format was changed from previous years, while the Clausura will use the same 4-team play-off format. For the Apertura, the top four teams from the regular stage advanced to a "quadrangular" double-round robin instead of a play-off stage. The regular stage and quadrangular winners would have played to decide the tournament's champion, but ultimately the same team won both and the final was not necessary. The same format was recently adopted by the Costa Rican Primera División, but for both half seasons.

Team information

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A total of ten teams contested the league, including nine sides from the 2018–19 Primera División, and one side from the 2018–19 Segunda División.

UNAN Managua finished last in the aggregate table and were relegated to the Segunda División. The champions from the Segunda División, Deportivo Las Sabanas were promoted in their place.

The 9th place team in the aggregate table, Chinandega FC, faced the second place team from the Segunda División, FC Gutiérrez, in a playoff for a spot in the Primera División. Chinandega won 4–3 over two legs, meaning Chinandega remained in Primera División.

Promotion and relegation

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Promoted from Segunda División as of July, 2019.


Relegated to Segunda División as of July, 2019.

Stadia and locations

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Team Location Stadium Capacity
Chinandega Chinandega Estadio Efraín Tijerino 3,000
Deportivo Las Sabanas Las Sabanas Municipal de Las Sabanas 1,000
Deportivo Ocotal Ocotal Estadio Roy Fernando Bermúdez 3,000
Diriangén Diriamba Estadio Cacique Diriangén 8,500
Juventus Managua Managua Estadio Olímpico del IND Managua 15,000
Managua Managua Estadio Olímpico del IND Managua 15,000
Municipal Jalapa Jalapa Estadio Alejandro Ramos 1,000
Real Estelí Estelí Estadio Independencia 5,000
Real Madriz Somoto Estadio Solidaridad 3,000
Walter Ferretti Managua Estadio Olímpico del IND Managua 15,000

Managerial changes

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During the Apertura season

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Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Diriangen FC   Mauricio Cruz Sacked September 2019   Flavio da Silva September 2019 9th (Apertura 2019)
CD Ocotal   Mario Alfaro Sacked October 2019   Marcos Rivera (Interim) October 2019 10th (Apertura 2019)
CD Ocotal   Marcos Rivera Interimship finished October 2019   Reynaldo Clavasquín October 2019 10th (Apertura 2019)
ART Jalapa   Leonidas Rodríguez Sacked October 2019   Angel Orellana October 2019 9th (Apertura 2019)
Real Esteli   Sergio Ivan Rodriguez Resigned November 2019   Holver Flores ‘’’Interim’’’ November 2019 3rd (Apertura 2019)
Real Madriz   Miguel Angel Sanchez Resigned November 2019   Carlos Matamoros ‘’’Interim’’’ November 2019 9th (Apertura 2019)

Between the Aperutra and Clasura season

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Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Juventus Managua   Roberto Armando Chanampe Sacked December 2019   Héctor Medina December 2019 TBD (Apertura 2019)
Real Madriz   Carlos Matamoros Interimship finished December 2019   Juan Ramirez January 2020 TBD (Apertura 2019)

Apertura

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Personnel and sponsoring

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Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Kit sponsors
ART Municipal Jalapa   Leonidas Rodríguez   Luis Manuel Galeano Joma Agrotris
Chinandega   Reyna Espinoza   Lester Espinoza Nil Nil
Diriangén FC   Mauricio Cruz   Jason Coronel Joma Claro, Ocal, Victoria frost
Juventus Managua   Roberto Chanampe   Darwin Guity TBD TBD
Managua   Emilio Aburto   Cristiano Fernández da Lima Joma Brini
Ocotal   Mario Alfaro   Guillermo Espino Nil Alcadia Ocotal
Real Estelí   Sergio Ivan Rodriguez   Jason Casco Kappa Beco, Movi star, La Curaçao, Banpro, Vitalsis
Real Madriz   Miguel Angel Sanchez   Alvaro Bermúdez TBD Alcadia Somoto
Deportivo Las Sabanas   Luis Vega   Marvin Fletes Joma Nil
Walter Ferretti   Henry Urbina   René Huete Umbro Claro, Iniser, Disnorte Dissur

Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Walter Ferretti 18 9 6 3 23 14 +9 33 Advance to Playoffs
(Semifinals)
2 Diriangén 18 9 5 4 25 15 +10 32
3 Real Estelí 18 8 4 6 26 14 +12 28 Advance to Playoffs
(Quarterfinals)
4 Managua 18 7 6 5 35 25 +10 27
5 Juventus Managua 18 6 6 6 21 18 +3 24
6 Deportivo Las Sabanas 18 6 5 7 17 21 −4 23
7 Chinandega 18 6 4 8 17 30 −13 22
8 Deportivo Ocotal 18 5 6 7 18 26 −8 21
9 Real Madriz 18 3 10 5 17 25 −8 19
10 Municipal Jalapa 18 2 6 10 12 23 −11 12
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) head-to-head points; 5) head-to-head goal difference; 6) head-to-head goals scored; 7) draw.

Results

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Home \ Away CHI DLS DPO DIR JVM MAN MCJ REE RMA WAF
Chinandega 0–3 2–1 0–2 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–4 2–1 1–1
Deportivo Las Sabanas 1–0 0–1 1–1 0–0 4–1 3–0 1–0 0–2 1–2
Deportivo Ocotal 3–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–2
Diriangén 0–1 4–0 0–0 2–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–0
Juventus Managua 1–1 0–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 3–0 0–2
Managua 3–3 4–0 3–0 2–0 2–2 4–1 0–3 5–0 0–1
Municipal Jalapa 2–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–2 1–2 0–0 1–1 0–1
Real Estelí 4–0 3–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–1
Real Madriz 1–1 0–0 2–2 0–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–1 2–1
Walter Ferretti 1–2 1–0 5–1 1–3 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 0–0
Source: Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Finals

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Bracket

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Quarterfinals Semi-finals Finals
4 Managua (p) 2 2 4 (5)
4 Managua (p) 0 (7) 1 Walter Ferretti 2 2 4 (3)
5 Juventus Managua 0 (6) 4 Managua 1 0 1
3 Real Esteli (a.e.t.) 0 2 2
3 Real Esteli (a.e.t.) 0 1 1
3 Real Esteli 1 2 Diriangén 0 1 1
6 Las Sabanas 0

Key: (a) = Wins because of away goals rule, (a.e.t.) = Wins after extra time in second leg, (p) = Wins after penalty shoot-out.

Quarterfinals

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Managua0 – 0Juventus Managua
Penalties
7 – 6
Estadio Nacional, Managua

Managua progressed.


Real Esteli1 – 0Las Sabanas
Vinicius Da Souza   40'
Estadio Independencia, Estelí

Real Estelí progressed.

Semi-finals

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Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Real Esteli 1–1 (a) Diriangén 0–0 1–1
Managua F.C. 4–4 (5–3 p) Walter Ferretti 2–2 2–2 (a.e.t.)
Real Esteli0 – 0Diriangén
Estadio Independencia, Esteli

Diriangén1 – 1Real Esteli
Luis Coronel   26' Ayerdis   36'
Estadio Cacique, Diriangén
Referee: Rodolfo Paiz

1–1, Real Estelí won on away goals.


Managua F.C.2 – 2Walter Ferretti
Christiano Fernandez   17'
Carlos Felix   67'
Rene Huete   14'
Leandro Figueroa   59'

Walter Ferretti2 – 2Managua F.C.
Pedro Dos Santos   55'
Dshon Forbes   92'
Christiano Fernandez   70'
Erick Mendoza   85'
Estadio Nacional, Managua

4–4, Managua won 5–3 on penalties.

Final

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Managua F.C.1 – 0Real Esteli
Pablo Gallego   32'
Estadio Nacional, Managua
Referee: Bayardo Ulises Juárez

Real Esteli2 – 0 (a.e.t.)Managua F.C.
Jaime Ayala   37'
Ricardo Rivas   98'
Estadio Independencia, Esteli
Referee: Nitzar Sandoval

Real Estelí won 2–1 on aggregate.


 Apertura 2019 champions 
Real Esteli F.C.
15th title

Statistics

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals[7]
1.   Carlos Félix Managua 10
2.   Robinson Luiz Juventus Managua 7
  Ulises Rayo Real Madriz
4.   Christiano Managua 6
  Luis Galeano Municipal Jalapa
  Pablo Gállego Managua
  Eulises Pavón Juventus Managua

Records

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  • Top goalscorer: Mexican Carlos Felix (10 goals)
  • Most goals scored: Managua FC (35 goals)
  • Fewest goals scored: ART Jalapa (12 goals)
  • Fewest goals conceded : Walter Ferretti and Real Esteli (14 goals)
  • Most goals conceded : Chinandega (30 goals)

Clausura

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Personnel and sponsoring

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Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Kit sponsors
ART Municipal Jalapa   Angel Orellana   Luis Manuel Galeano Joma Agrotris
Chinandega   Reyna Espinoza   Lester Espinoza Nil Nil
Diriangén FC   Flavio da Silva   Jason Coronel Joma Claro, Ocal, Victoria frost
Juventus Managua   Hector Medina   Darwin Guity TBD TBD
Managua   Emilio Aburto   Cristiano Fernández da Lima Joma Brini
Ocotal   Reynaldo Clavasquín   Guillermo Espino Nil Alcadia Ocotal
Real Estelí   Holver Flores   Jason Casco Kappa Beco, Movi star, La Curaçao, Banpro, Vitalsis
Real Madriz   Juan Ramirez   Alvaro Bermúdez TBD Alcadia Somoto
Deportivo Las Sabanas   Luis Vega   Marvin Fletes Joma Nil
Walter Ferretti   Henry Urbina   René Huete Umbro Claro, Iniser, Disnorte Dissur

Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Managua 18 13 3 2 34 15 +19 42 Advance to Playoffs
(Semifinals)
2 Real Estelí 18 10 5 3 29 11 +18 35
3 Diriangén 18 10 5 3 22 11 +11 35 Advance to Playoffs
(Quarterfinals)
4 Walter Ferretti 18 9 3 6 31 18 +13 30
5 Municipal Jalapa 18 6 5 7 17 21 −4 23
6 Juventus Managua 18 5 6 7 23 23 0 21
7 Chinandega 18 5 3 10 18 31 −13 18
8 Real Madriz 18 5 2 11 15 27 −12 17
9 Deportivo Ocotal 18 4 4 10 14 26 −12 16
10 Deportivo Las Sabanas 18 2 6 10 11 31 −20 12
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) head-to-head points; 5) head-to-head goal difference; 6) head-to-head goals scored; 7) draw.

Results

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Home \ Away CHI DLS DPO DIR JVM MAN MCJ REE RMA WAF
Chinandega 3–0 2–3 0–1 4–0 0–1 1–0 1–3 2–1 1–1
Deportivo Las Sabanas 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–2 2–1 0–2
Deportivo Ocotal 1–0 1–1 0–0 0–0 3–1 1–2 1–2 0–1 0–1
Diriangén 3–0 1–2 2–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–0 3–1 2–1
Juventus Managua 1–1 5–0 0–1 3–0 1–2 3–2 0–0 2–0 4–1
Managua 1–0 4–1 2–1 2–1 4–2 6–1 1–1 3–1 1–0
Municipal Jalapa 0–1 1–0 2–1 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 2–0
Real Estelí 5–1 1–0 5–0 0–0 0–0 0–2 2–0 4–0 0–0
Real Madriz 2–0 4–1 2–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–2 1–2
Walter Ferretti 7–0 2–0 2–1 1–2 4–1 0–1 2–2 1–0 4–0
Source: Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Finals

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Bracket

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Quarterfinals Semi-finals Finals
3 Diriangén 0 0 0
3 Diriangén 1 2 Real Estelí 1 0 1
6 Juventus Managua 0 2 Real Estelí 1 3 4
1 Managua 1 1 2
4 Walter Ferretti 0 2 2
4 Walter Ferretti 5 1 Managua 0 4 4
5 Municipal Jalapa 1

Key: (a) = Wins because of away goals rule, (a.e.t.) = Wins after extra time in second leg, (p) = Wins after penalty shoot-out.

Quarterfinals

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Diriangén1 – 0Juventus Managua

Diriangén progressed.


Walter Ferretti5 – 1Municipal Jalapa

Walter Ferretti progressed.

Semi-finals

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Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Diriangén 0–1 Real Estelí 0–1 0–0
Walter Ferretti 2–4 Managua 0–0 2–4
Diriangén0 – 1Real Estelí
Acevedo   74'

Real Estelí0 – 0Diriangén

Real Estelí won 1–0 on aggregate.

Walter Ferretti0 – 0Managua

Managua4 – 2Walter Ferretti

Managua won 4–2 on aggregate.

Final

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Real Estelí1 – 1Managua
López   64' Gállego   69'

Managua1 – 3Real Estelí
Félix   84'

Real Estelí won 4–2 on aggregate.


Statistics

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals[8]
1.   Fernando Villalpando Walter Ferretti 10
2.   Pablo Gállego Managua 8
3.   Christiano Managua 6
  Leandro Figueroa Walter Ferretti
  Dshon Forbes Walter Ferretti
  Ulises Rayo Real Madriz

Discipline

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Aggregate table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Managua (Q) 36 20 9 7 69 40 +29 69 CONCACAF League preliminary round[a]
2 Diriangén 36 19 10 7 47 26 +21 67
3 Real Estelí (Q) 36 18 9 9 55 25 +30 63 CONCACAF League round of 16[b]
4 Walter Ferretti 36 18 9 9 54 32 +22 63
5 Juventus Managua 36 11 12 13 44 41 +3 45
6 Chinandega 36 11 7 18 35 61 −26 40
7 Deportivo Ocotal 36 9 10 17 32 52 −20 37
8 Real Madriz 36 8 12 16 32 52 −20 36
9 Municipal Jalapa (O) 36 8 11 17 29 44 −15 35 Relegation play-offs
10 Deportivo Las Sabanas (R) 36 8 11 17 28 52 −24 35 Relegated to Segunda División
Source: Soccerway Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(O) Play-off winners; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ As Apertura and Clausura runners-up (NCA2)
  2. ^ As Apertura and Clausura champions (NCA1)

Relegation play-offs

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Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Deportivo Masaya 3–4 Municipal Jalapa 2–1 1–3
Deportivo Masaya2 – 1Municipal Jalapa

Municipal Jalapa3 – 1Deportivo Masaya
Report

List of foreign players in the league

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This is a list of foreign players in the 2019–20 season. The following players:

  1. Have played at least one game for the respective club.
  2. Have not been capped for the Nicaragua national football team on any level, independently from the birthplace

A new rule was introduced this season, that clubs can have four foreign players per club and can only add a new player if there is an injury or a player/s is released and it is before the close of the season transfer window.

  (player released during the Apertura season)   (player released between the Apertura and Clausura seasons)   (player released during the Clausura season)

References

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  1. ^ "The country which does not fear COVID-19: "These things happen"". Be Soccer. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Belarus league plays on amid coronavirus". BBC Sport.
  3. ^ "Last league standing: Belarusian football basks in new-found popularity". TheGuardian.com. 29 March 2020.
  4. ^ Flores, Omar (26 March 2020). "Mexicans players in Nicaragua play through coronavirus outbreak as fear, uncertainty linger". ESPN FC. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  5. ^ Wagner, James (14 April 2020). "Looking for a Full Sports Calendar? Try Nicaragua". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  6. ^ "ФФТ ПРИОСТАНОВИЛА ВСЕ ФУТБОЛЬНЫЕ СОРЕВНОВАНИЯ ДО 10 МАЯ". fft.tj/ (in Russian). Tajikistan Football Federation. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Clausura Top Scorers". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Clausura Top Scorers". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 April 2020.