2020 Copa de la Liga Profesional

The 2020 Copa de la Liga Profesional (officially Copa Diego Armando Maradona)[1] was the first edition of the Copa de la Liga Profesional, an Argentine domestic cup contested by the 24 teams that took part in the Primera División during the 2019–20 season. The tournament was named after Diego Maradona.[2] The competition started on 30 October 2020 and ended on 31 March 2021.[3]

2020 Copa de la Liga Profesional
Copa Diego Armando Maradona
CountryArgentina
Dates30 October 2020 – 31 March 2021
Teams24
ChampionsBoca Juniors (1st title)
2021 Copa LibertadoresSan Lorenzo
(via 2019–20 Superliga)
2022 Copa SudamericanaBanfield
Matches played135
Goals scored356 (2.64 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Ramón Ábila
Miguel Merentiel
Luis Miguel Rodríguez
(6 goals each)
2021 →

The competition was planned and organised by the "Liga Profesional de Fútbol", a body linked to the Argentine Football Association (AFA) that replaced the defunct Superliga Argentina.[4] This cup was conceived as a contingency competition after the schedule for a regular league season had been repeatedly delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boca Juniors and Banfield advanced to the Fase Campeón Final. Boca Juniors won the Final via a penalty shoot-out after the game had finished 1–1 and were crowned as champions of the cup.[5] As Boca Juniors had already qualified for the 2021 Copa Libertadores, San Lorenzo (best team of the 2019–20 Superliga Argentina and 2020 Copa de la Superliga aggregate table not yet qualified) gained the 2021 Copa Libertadores berth.

Format
Original logo of the cup, changed after the passing of Diego Maradona

For the group stage, the 24 teams were drawn into six groups of four teams each, playing on a double round-robin basis. In each zone, the top two teams advanced to the "Fase Campeón" while the bottom two teams advanced to the "Fase Complementación".[6]

In the Fase Campeón, the 12 qualified teams were split into two groups of six teams each, where they played a single round-robin tournament. The winners of each group played the final match at a neutral venue. The winners of the Fase Campeón final were crowned champions of the cup and qualified for the 2021 Copa Libertadores.[6]

On the other hand, teams in Fase Complementación played under the same format as in the Fase Campeón. The winners of the Fase Complementación final played a match against the Fase Campeón runners-up with the winners qualifying for the 2022 Copa Sudamericana.[6]

Draws

The draw for the group stage was held on 16 October 2020, 14:00, at Complejo Habitacional de Ezeiza in Ezeiza.[7] The 24 teams were drawn into six groups of four containing one team from each of the four pots.

Group stage draw
Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

The draws for the Fase Campeón and the Fase Complementación were held on 7 December 2020, 21:30, at Complejo Habitacional de Ezeiza in Ezeiza.[8] For the Fase Campeón, the winners and runners-up of each zone were allocated to Pot 3 and Pot 4, respectively. Likewise, for the Fase Complementación, the third-placed teams and fourth-placed teams of each zone were allocated to Pot 1 and Pot 2, respectively.

For each stage, the 12 qualified teams were drawn into two groups of six containing three teams from each of the two pots. Teams from the same zone could not be drawn into the same group.

Group stage

In the group stage ("Fase Clasificación"), each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. Teams were ranked according to the following criteria: 1. Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss); 2. Goal difference; 3. Goals scored; 4. Head-to-head points; 5. Head-to-head goal difference; 6. Head-to-head goals scored (Regulations Article 2.1).[6][9]

The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the "Fase Campeón" while the bottom two teams advanced to the "Fase Complementación".

Zone 1

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ATU ARS UNI RAC
1 Atlético Tucumán 6 6 0 0 19 8 +11 18 Advance to Fase Campeón 3–2 3–1 2–0
2 Arsenal 6 2 1 3 8 8 0 7 1–2 2–3 1–0
3 Unión 6 2 1 3 9 11 −2 7 Advance to Fase Complementación 3–5 0–0 2–0
4 Racing 6 1 0 5 2 11 −9 3 1–4 0–2 1–0
Source: AFA

Zone 2

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification COL IND CCO DYJ
1 Colón 6 4 1 1 11 3 +8 13 Advance to Fase Campeón 1–2 2–0 2–0
2 Independiente 6 3 3 0 5 2 +3 12 1–1 0–0 1–0
3 Central Córdoba (SdE) 6 1 2 3 5 9 −4 5 Advance to Fase Complementación 0–2 0–1 2–2
4 Defensa y Justicia 6 0 2 4 4 11 −7 2 0–3 0–0 2–3
Source: AFA

Zone 3

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification RIV BAN ROS GOD
1 River Plate 6 5 0 1 11 5 +6 15 Advance to Fase Campeón 1–3 2–1 3–1
2 Banfield 6 3 2 1 9 6 +3 11 0–2 1–1 1–0
3 Rosario Central 6 2 1 3 7 10 −3 7 Advance to Fase Complementación 0–2 2–4 2–1
4 Godoy Cruz 6 0 1 5 2 8 −6 1 0–1 0–0 0–1
Source: AFA

Zone 4

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BOC TAL NOB LAN
1 Boca Juniors 6 3 1 2 7 4 +3 10 Advance to Fase Campeón 0–1 2–0 1–2
2 Talleres (C) 6 2 3 1 6 4 +2 9 0–0 3–1 1–1
3 Newell's Old Boys 6 2 1 3 9 11 −2 7 Advance to Fase Complementación 0–2 1–1 3–1
4 Lanús 6 2 1 3 8 11 −3 7 1–2 1–0 2–4
Source: AFA

Zone 5

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SLO ARG ALD EST
1 San Lorenzo 6 3 3 0 8 1 +7 12 Advance to Fase Campeón 2–0 0–0 2–0
2 Argentinos Juniors 6 3 1 2 6 4 +2 10 0–0 0–1 1–0
3 Aldosivi 6 2 2 2 4 8 −4 8 Advance to Fase Complementación 1–4 1–4 0–0
4 Estudiantes (LP) 6 0 2 4 0 5 −5 2 0–0 0–1 0–1
Source: AFA

Zone 6

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HUR GLP VEL PAT
1 Huracán 6 3 2 1 8 6 +2 11 Advance to Fase Campeón 3–2 1–2 1–0
2 Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) 6 2 3 1 8 5 +3 9 0–0 2–2 3–0
3 Vélez Sarsfield 6 2 3 1 6 5 +1 9 Advance to Fase Complementación 1–1 0–1 1–0
4 Patronato 6 0 2 4 1 7 −6 2 1–2 0–0 0–0
Source: AFA

Fase Campeón

In the Fase Campeón, each group comprised three winners and three runners-up from the group stage. The groups were played on a single round-robin basis, with the group stage winners playing three home matches. Teams were ranked according to the following criteria: 1. Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss); 2. Goal difference; 3. Goals scored; 4. Head-to-head points; 5. Head-to-head goal difference; 6. Head-to-head goals scored (Regulations Article 2.2).[6][9]

The Fase Campeón final match was played between the winners of each group at a neutral venue. If tied, a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the champions (Regulations Article 2.2).[6][9] The champions qualified for the 2021 Copa Libertadores.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BOC RIV ARG ARS IND HUR
1 Boca Juniors 5 2 3 0 10 6 +4 9 Advance to Fase Campeón Final 2–2 1–1 3–0
2 River Plate 5 2 2 1 8 7 +1 8 1–1 2–1 0–2
3 Argentinos Juniors 5 2 2 1 5 5 0 8 2–2 0–2
4 Arsenal 5 2 1 2 7 7 0 7 0–1 1–0
5 Independiente 5 2 0 3 10 9 +1 6 1–2 3–4
6 Huracán 5 1 0 4 4 10 −6 3 1–3 0–1 3–2
Source: AFA

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BAN TAL GLP COL SLO ATU
1 Banfield 5 4 0 1 12 6 +6 12 Advance to Fase Campeón Final 2–1 4–1
2 Talleres (C) 5 3 2 0 10 6 +4 11 3–2 1–1
3 Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) 5 2 1 2 7 6 +1 7 2–2 0–1
4 Colón 5 1 1 3 6 8 −2 4 1–2 1–2 0–2
5 San Lorenzo 5 1 1 3 7 11 −4 4 0–2 1–2 2–2
6 Atlético Tucumán 5 1 1 3 3 8 −5 4 0–2 0–2 1–3
Source: AFA

Final
Main article: 2020 Copa de la Liga Profesional Final
Boca Juniors1–1Banfield
Cardona 63' Report Lollo 90+5'
Penalties
Tevez soccer ball with check mark
Villa soccer ball with check mark
Salvio soccer ball with check mark
Izquierdoz soccer ball with check mark
Buffarini soccer ball with check mark		 5–3 soccer ball with check mark Lollo
soccer ball with check mark Fontana
soccer ball with red X Rodríguez
soccer ball with check mark Álvarez
Attendance: 0[10]
Referee: Facundo Tello

Fase Complementación

In the Fase Complementación, each group comprised three third-placed teams and three fourth-placed teams from the group stage. The groups were played on a single round-robin basis, with the third-placed teams playing three home matches. Teams were ranked according to the following criteria: 1. Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss); 2. Goal difference; 3. Goals scored; 4. Head-to-head points; 5. Head-to-head goal difference; 6. Head-to-head goals scored (Regulations Article 2.3).[6][9]

The Fase Complementación final match was played between the winners of each group at a neutral venue. If tied, a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winners (Regulations Articles 2.3).[6][9]

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ROS LAN DYJ UNI ALD PAT
1 Rosario Central 5 3 1 1 10 4 +6 10 Advance to Fase Complementación Final 3–0 2–2 4–0
2 Lanús 5 2 2 1 6 5 +1 8 2–0 1–1
3 Defensa y Justicia 5 2 2 1 10 10 0 8 4–4 2–1
4 Unión 5 2 1 2 9 8 +1 7 2–0 1–3 1–2
5 Aldosivi 5 1 1 3 7 10 −3 4 0–1 1–2 1–3
6 Patronato 5 1 1 3 4 9 −5 4 1–1 0–1
Source: AFA

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification VEL NOB RAC CCO EST GOD
1 Vélez Sarsfield 5 4 0 1 10 6 +4 12 Advance to Fase Complementación Final 2–1 2–3 3–2
2 Newell's Old Boys 5 3 0 2 8 5 +3 9 0–1 3–1 1–0
3 Racing 5 2 2 1 13 7 +6 8 3–1 6–1
4 Central Córdoba (SdE) 5 1 2 2 6 9 −3 5 0–2 2–2 1–1
5 Estudiantes (LP) 5 1 1 3 5 7 −2 4 1–1 1–2
6 Godoy Cruz 5 1 1 3 5 13 −8 4 0–3 1–0
Source: AFA

Final
Vélez Sarsfield3–1Rosario Central
Centurión 8' (pen.)
Almada 79' (pen.)
Monzón 90+1'		 Report Marinelli 25'
Attendance: 0[10]

2022 Copa Sudamericana qualifying play-off

The Fase Complementación winners, Vélez Sarsfield, played a match against the Fase Campeón runners-up, Banfield, at a neutral venue, with the winners qualifying for the 2022 Copa Sudamericana. If tied, a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winners (Regulations Article 4.7).[6][9]

Vélez Sarsfield2–3Banfield
Janson 26'
Orellano 51'		 Report Pons 13', 21'
Cabrera 72'
Attendance: 0

Statistics

Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Argentina Ramón Ábila Boca Juniors 6
Argentina Luis Miguel Rodríguez Colón
Uruguay Miguel Merentiel Defensa y Justicia
4 Argentina Agustín Fontana Banfield 5
Argentina Giuliano Galoppo Banfield
Argentina Alan Velasco Independiente
Argentina Sebastián Palacios Newell's Old Boys
Argentina Alan Marinelli Rosario Central
Argentina Emiliano Vecchio Rosario Central
10 Uruguay Jhonatan Candia Arsenal 4
Colombia Edwin Cardona Boca Juniors
Argentina Andrés Chávez Huracán
Paraguay Lorenzo Melgarejo Racing
Paraguay Ángel Romero San Lorenzo
Colombia Diego Valoyes Talleres (C)
Argentina Juan Manuel García Unión
Argentina Cristian Tarragona Vélez Sarsfield

Source: AFA

References
  1. "Copa Diego Maradona" (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. 25 November 2020. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  2. "Hasta siempre, Diego" (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. 25 November 2020. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  3. "¡Vuelve el fútbol!" (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. 14 October 2020. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  4. "Quién es quién en una AFA nueva que recupera los viejos poderes" (in Spanish). Clarín. 19 May 2020.
  5. "Boca es el campeón" (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. 17 January 2021. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  6. "REGLAMENTO DE LA COPA DE LA LIGA PROFESIONAL DE FUTBOL DE AFA 2020" (PDF) (in Spanish). AFA. 26 October 2020.
  7. "Fixture definido" (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. 16 October 2020. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020.
  8. "Se sorteó la Copa: se define en San Juan" (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. 7 December 2020. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  9. "ASOCIACION DEL FUTBOL ARGENTINO REGLAMENTO GENERAL" (PDF) (in Spanish). AFA. January 2011.
  10. "Conferencia de Seguridad por las finales" (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. 14 January 2021. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
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