2023 Categoría Primera A season
The 2023 Categoría Primera A season (officially known as the 2023 Liga BetPlay Dimayor season for sponsorship purposes) is the 76th season of the Categoría Primera A, Colombia's top-flight football league. The season began on 24 January and will end on 10 December 2023.[1][2]
| Season | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 24 January – 10 December 2023 |
| Matches played | 200 |
| Goals scored | 453 (2.27 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Apertura: Marco Pérez (11 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Santa Fe 5–0 Atlético Huila (14 May) |
| Biggest away win | U. Magdalena 0–3 Dep. Pereira (12 April) Alianza Petrolera 0–3 Dep. Cali (22 April) |
| Highest scoring | Millonarios 4–3 América de Cali (27 April) América de Cali 5–2 Dep. Cali (30 April) |
← 2022 2024 →
All statistics correct as of 17 May 2023. | |
Deportivo Pereira were the defending champions, having won the 2022 Finalización tournament.
Format
The competition format for this season was approved by the Extraordinary Assembly of DIMAYOR on 14 December 2022, which decided to keep the same system used in the previous season, with two tournaments (Apertura and Finalización) of three stages each.[1]
Teams

20 teams will take part in the season, the top 18 teams from the relegation table of the previous season as well as the 2022 Primera B champions Boyacá Chicó and the winners of the Primera B promotion play-off Atlético Huila. Boyacá Chicó were the first team to earn promotion, winning the Primera B title on 21 November 2022 after beating Atlético Huila in the season's Grand Final,[3] while Atlético Huila themselves ensured promotion to the top flight on 29 November 2022, after winning the promotion play-off against Deportes Quindío.[4] The promoted teams replaced Patriotas and Cortuluá, the bottom two teams in the relegation table of the 2022 season, who were relegated to Primera B.
Stadia and locations
Personnel and kits
| Team | Manager | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Águilas Doradas | Aerosport | ||
| Alianza Petrolera | Pin-Go | ||
| América de Cali | Le Coq Sportif | Colanta, Águila, BetPlay | |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Lotto | ||
| Atlético Huila | Vicbay | Electrohuila, BetPlay | |
| Atlético Nacional | Nike | Postobón | |
| Boyacá Chicó | Geus | ||
| Deportes Tolima | Sheffy | AK-1, BetPlay, Mercacentro, Pool | |
| Deportivo Cali | Le Coq Sportif | Wplay, Pastas La Muñeca | |
| Deportivo Pasto | Aerosport | Aguardiente Nariño, Banco AV Villas | |
| Deportivo Pereira | Oto | Ukumarí | |
| Envigado | Novo | Pool, Colanta | |
| Independiente Medellín | Adidas | Colanta, Wplay | |
| Jaguares | Kimo | Colanta, Pool | |
| Junior | Adidas | Olímpica, Águila, Tecnoglass | |
| La Equidad | Attle | Cootrafa | |
| Millonarios | Adidas | Cerveza Andina | |
| Once Caldas | Hillside | Colanta, BetPlay, Wakate | |
| Santa Fe | Kappa | Colanta, BetPlay | |
| Unión Magdalena | Attle | Wplay, Pool |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torneo Apertura | ||||||
| Atlético Bucaramanga | End of caretaker spell | 30 October 2022 | Pre-season | 5 December 2022[7] | ||
| Jaguares | Resigned | 1 November 2022[8] | 16 November 2022[9] | |||
| Santa Fe | 30 November 2022[10] | 23 December 2022[11] | ||||
| Águilas Doradas | End of contract | 8 December 2022[12] | 30 December 2022[13] | |||
| Once Caldas | Mutual agreement | 13 February 2023[14] | 18th | 13 February 2023[14] | ||
| End of caretaker spell | 5 March 2023 | 10th | 5 March 2023[15] | |||
| Junior | Mutual agreement | 14 March 2023[16] | 20th | 15 March 2023[17] | ||
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Sacked | 1 April 2023[18] | 13th | 3 April 2023[19] | ||
| Deportes Tolima | Mutual agreement | 24 April 2023[20] | 12th | 24 April 2023[20] | ||
| End of caretaker spell | 29 April 2023 | 28 April 2023[21] | ||||
| Independiente Medellín | Mutual agreement | 8 May 2023[22] | 11th | 9 May 2023[23] | ||
| Santa Fe | Resigned | 11 May 2023[24] | 9th | 12 May 2023[25] | ||
| Jaguares | 18 May 2023[26] | 18th | ||||
- Notes
- Hernán Darío Gómez had been appointed as manager on 16 November 2022,[5] but resigned on 29 November.[6]
- Caretaker manager.
Torneo Apertura
The Torneo Apertura (officially known as Liga BetPlay Dimayor 2023–I) is the first tournament of the 2023 season. It began on 24 January and will end on 25 June 2023.[2]
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Águilas Doradas | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 32 | 21 | +11 | 39 | Advance to the semi-finals |
| 2 | Millonarios | 20 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 30 | 18 | +12 | 38 | |
| 3 | Atlético Nacional | 20 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 26 | 14 | +12 | 35 | |
| 4 | América de Cali | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 23 | +9 | 32 | |
| 5 | Boyacá Chicó | 20 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 30 | |
| 6 | Alianza Petrolera | 20 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 27 | 22 | +5 | 30 | |
| 7 | Independiente Medellín | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 29 | 24 | +5 | 29 | |
| 8 | Deportivo Pasto | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 21 | +1 | 29 | |
| 9 | Junior | 20 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 28 | |
| 10 | Santa Fe | 20 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 29 | 25 | +4 | 26 | |
| 11 | La Equidad | 20 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 20 | 17 | +3 | 26 | |
| 12 | Deportivo Pereira | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 25 | −1 | 25 | |
| 13 | Deportes Tolima | 20 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 26 | −3 | 24 | |
| 14 | Deportivo Cali | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 20 | 26 | −6 | 23 | |
| 15 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 20 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 21 | −6 | 20 | |
| 16 | Envigado | 20 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 20 | −6 | 20 | |
| 17 | Once Caldas | 20 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 24 | −7 | 20 | |
| 18 | Jaguares | 20 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 26 | −10 | 19 | |
| 19 | Unión Magdalena | 20 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 30 | −14 | 19 | |
| 20 | Atlético Huila | 20 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 20 | 35 | −15 | 18 |
Results
- Match awarded 3–0 to Alianza Petrolera due to crowd disturbances by Once Caldas fans. The match had ended with Alianza Petrolera winning 2–1.[27]
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 will advance to the finals.
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AGU | NAC | ALI | PAS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Águilas Doradas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to the Finals | — | ||||
| 2 | Atlético Nacional | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | |||||
| 3 | Alianza Petrolera | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | |||||
| 4 | Deportivo Pasto | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) First stage position (only applies for the seeded team, if it is involved in a tie), 3) Goal difference, 4) Goals for, 5) Away goals for, 6) Away goals against, 7) Yellow cards, 8) Red cards, 9) First stage position.
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | MIL | AME | BOY | DIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Millonarios | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to the Finals | — | ||||
| 2 | América de Cali | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | |||||
| 3 | Boyacá Chicó | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | |||||
| 4 | Independiente Medellín | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) First stage position (only applies for the seeded team, if it is involved in a tie), 3) Goal difference, 4) Goals for, 5) Away goals for, 6) Away goals against, 7) Yellow cards, 8) Red cards, 9) First stage position.
Top scorers
- As of 17 May 2023
| Rank | Name | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Águilas Doradas | 11 | |
| 2 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 9 | |
| Once Caldas | |||
| 4 | Independiente Medellín | 8 | |
| Deportivo Pasto | |||
| 6 | Unión Magdalena | 7 | |
| América de Cali | |||
| 8 | Atlético Huila | 6 | |
| Atlético Nacional | |||
| Atlético Huila | |||
| Santa Fe | |||
| América de Cali | |||
| Deportivo Cali |
Source: Soccerway
Aggregate table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Águilas Doradas | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 32 | 21 | +11 | 39 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores second stage |
| 2 | Millonarios | 20 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 30 | 18 | +12 | 38 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 3 | Atlético Nacional | 20 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 26 | 14 | +12 | 35 | |
| 4 | América de Cali | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 23 | +9 | 32 | |
| 5 | Boyacá Chicó | 20 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 30 | |
| 6 | Alianza Petrolera | 20 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 27 | 22 | +5 | 30 | |
| 7 | Independiente Medellín | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 29 | 24 | +5 | 29 | |
| 8 | Deportivo Pasto | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 21 | +1 | 29 | |
| 9 | Junior | 20 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 28 | |
| 10 | Santa Fe | 20 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 29 | 25 | +4 | 26 | |
| 11 | La Equidad | 20 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 20 | 17 | +3 | 26 | |
| 12 | Deportivo Pereira | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 25 | −1 | 25 | |
| 13 | Deportes Tolima | 20 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 26 | −3 | 24 | |
| 14 | Deportivo Cali | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 20 | 26 | −6 | 23 | |
| 15 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 20 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 21 | −6 | 20 | |
| 16 | Envigado | 20 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 20 | −6 | 20 | |
| 17 | Once Caldas | 20 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 24 | −7 | 20 | |
| 18 | Jaguares | 20 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 26 | −10 | 19 | |
| 19 | Unión Magdalena | 20 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 30 | −14 | 19 | |
| 20 | Atlético Huila | 20 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 20 | 35 | −15 | 18 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Goal difference, 3) Goals for, 4) Away goals for, 5) Away goals against, 6) Yellow cards, 7) Red cards, 8) Drawing of lots.
Relegation
A separate table is kept to determine the teams that are relegated to the Categoría Primera B for the next season. This table is elaborated from a sum of all first stage games played in the three most recent seasons (including the 2021–I, 2021–II, 2022–I, 2022–II, 2023–I, and 2023–II tournaments), with the points earned being averaged per match played. The bottom two teams of the relegation table at the end of the season will be relegated to Categoría Primera B.
| Pos |
Team | 2021 Pts |
2022 Pts |
2023 Pts |
2023 GF |
2023 GA |
2023 GD |
Total Pld |
Total Pts |
Avg. | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Millonarios | 69 | 74 | 38 | 30 | 18 | 12 | 98 | 181 | 1.85 | |
| 2 | Atlético Nacional | 76 | 66 | 35 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 98 | 177 | 1.81 | |
| 3 | Deportes Tolima | 66 | 66 | 24 | 23 | 26 | –3 | 98 | 156 | 1.59 | |
| 4 | Junior | 62 | 63 | 28 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 98 | 153 | 1.56 | |
| 5 | Independiente Medellín | 52 | 67 | 29 | 29 | 24 | 5 | 98 | 148 | 1.51 | |
| 6 | Boyacá Chicó | — | — | 30 | 24 | 18 | 6 | 20 | 30 | 1.5 | |
| 7 | Santa Fe | 58 | 61 | 26 | 29 | 25 | 4 | 98 | 145 | 1.48 | |
| 8 | América de Cali | 58 | 54 | 32 | 32 | 23 | 9 | 98 | 144 | 1.47 | |
| 9 | La Equidad | 55 | 58 | 26 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 98 | 139 | 1.42 | |
| 10 | Águilas Doradas | 39 | 58 | 39 | 32 | 21 | 11 | 98 | 136 | 1.39 | |
| 11 | Deportivo Pereira | 51 | 55 | 25 | 24 | 25 | –1 | 98 | 131 | 1.34 | |
| 12 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 51 | 59 | 20 | 15 | 21 | –6 | 98 | 130 | 1.33 | |
| 13 | Deportivo Pasto | 39 | 54 | 29 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 98 | 122 | 1.24 | |
| 14 | Envigado | 44 | 57 | 20 | 14 | 20 | –6 | 98 | 121 | 1.23 | |
| 15 | Deportivo Cali | 62 | 34 | 23 | 20 | 26 | –6 | 98 | 119 | 1.21 | |
| 16 | Jaguares | 52 | 47 | 19 | 16 | 26 | –10 | 98 | 118 | 1.2 | |
| 17 | Alianza Petrolera | 37 | 46 | 30 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 98 | 113 | 1.15 | |
| 18 | Once Caldas | 37 | 56 | 20 | 17 | 24 | –7 | 98 | 113 | 1.15 | |
| 19 | Unión Magdalena | — | 40 | 19 | 16 | 30 | –14 | 60 | 59 | 0.98 | Relegation to Categoría Primera B |
| 20 | Atlético Huila | — | — | 18 | 20 | 35 | –15 | 20 | 18 | 0.9 |
Source: Dimayor
Rules for classification: 1) average, 2) 2023 points, 3) 2023 goal difference, 4) 2023 goals scored, 5) 2023 away goals scored, 6) 2023 away goals against, 7) 2023 wins, 8) 2023 yellow cards, 9) 2023 red cards, 10) drawing of lots.[28]
References
- "¡Avances! Sigue los detalles que se han tratado en la Asamblea Extraordinaria de Dimayor" [Developments! Follow the details that have been discussed in the Extraordinary Assembly of Dimayor] (in Spanish). Win Sports. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- "La Dimayor anunció el calendario completo de los torneos colombianos para el 2023, menos liga femenina" [Dimayor announced the full schedule of Colombian tournaments for 2023, except for the women's league] (in Spanish). Colombia.com. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- "Boyacá Chicó vuelve a la primera división: superó 3-0 en el global al Huila en la gran final de la B" [Boyacá Chicó return to the first division: they beat Huila 3–0 on aggregate in the B′s grand final] (in Spanish). Gol Caracol. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- "Atlético Huila cae en Armenia pero asciende a primera división" [Atlético Huila go down in Armenia but are promoted to the first division] (in Spanish). Diario As Colombia. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- "Hernán Darío 'Bolillo' Gómez es nuevo técnico del Bucaramanga" [Hernán Darío Bolillo Gómez is Bucaramanga's new manager] (in Spanish). El Deportivo. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- "Oficial: Bolillo Gómez cumplió su palabra y renunció al Bucaramanga" [Official: Bolillo Gómez kept his word and resigned from Bucaramanga] (in Spanish). Caracol Radio. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- "Raúl Armando, nuevo director técnico de Atlético Bucaramanga" [Raúl Armando, new manager of Atlético Bucaramanga] (in Spanish). Diario As. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- "¡No va más! Alexis Márquez renunció a la dirección técnica de Jaguares" [He's no more! Alexis Márquez resigned from Jaguares's technical direction] (in Spanish). Win Sports. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- "Carlos 'Piscis' Restrepo, nuevo técnico de Jaguares de Córdoba" [Carlos Piscis Restrepo, new manager of Jaguares de Córdoba] (in Spanish). El Heraldo. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- "Alfredo Arias confirma su salida de Santa Fe para dirigir a Peñarol en 2023" [Alfredo Arias confirms his departure from Santa Fe to manage Peñarol in 2023] (in Spanish). Marca Claro Colombia. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- "Santa Fe confirma a Harold Rivera como DT y primeros fichajes 2023" [Santa Fe confirm Harold Rivera as manager and first 2023 signings] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- "Leonel Álvarez dejó de ser el técnico de Águilas Doradas" [Leonel Álvarez ceased to be the manager of Águilas Doradas] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- "Águilas Doradas presentó a su nuevo estratega con pasado verdolaga" [Águilas Doradas presented their new strategist with verdolaga past] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- "Once Caldas despide a Diego Corredor y designa a Elkin Soto como su reemplazo" [Once Caldas fire Diego Corredor and appoint Elkin Soto as his replacement] (in Spanish). Marca Claro Colombia. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- "Pedro Sarmiento, nuevo DT de Once Caldas" [Pedro Sarmiento, new manager of Once Caldas] (in Spanish). Diario As Colombia. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- "Es oficial: Atlético Junior confirma salida de Arturo Reyes y busca DT" [It's official: Atlético Junior confirm departure of Arturo Reyes and seek a manager] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- "Oficial: Hernán Darío 'Bolillo' Gómez es el nuevo técnico de Junior" [Official: Hernán Darío Bolillo Gómez is the new manager of Junior] (in Spanish). Diario As Colombia. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- "Bucaramanga despidió al técnico Raúl Armando: ya son tres en la Liga I" [Bucaramanga fired manager Raúl Armando: there are already three in the Liga I] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- "Confirmado: Alexis Márquez es el nuevo entrenador de Atlético Bucaramanga" [Confirmed: Alexis Márquez is the new manager of Atlético Bucaramanga] (in Spanish). Vanguardia. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- "Hernán Torres no es más técnico de Deportes Tolima" [Hernán Torres is no longer manager of Deportes Tolima] (in Spanish). Gol Caracol. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- "Juan Cruz Real, nuevo entrenador del Deportes Tolima" [Juan Cruz Real, new manager of Deportes Tolima] (in Spanish). Diario As. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- "David González no sigue como técnico del DIM, estas son las posibles razones de su salida" [David González does not continue as DIM's manager, these are the possible reasons for his departure] (in Spanish). El Colombiano. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- "¿El que quieren está ocupado? DIM toma decisión temporal sobre DT" [Is the one they want busy? DIM make a temporary decision on manager] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- "Harold Rivera dejó de ser el técnico de Santa Fe, tras la derrota contra Nacional" [Harold Rivera ceased to be the manager of Santa Fe, following the defeat to Nacional] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- "Gerardo Bedoya, técnico encargado de Independiente Santa Fe" [Gerardo Bedoya, caretaker manager of Independiente Santa Fe] (in Spanish). Caracol Radio. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- "Carlos 'Piscis' Restrepo renuncia a Jaguares para unirse a la FCF" [Carlos Piscis Restrepo resigns from Jaguares to join the FCF] (in Spanish). Diario As Colombia. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- "Once Caldas sancionado con derrota, 37 millones y fechas sin público" [Once Caldas sanctioned with defeat, 37 million COP, and rounds without public] (in Spanish). Diario As. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- "REGLAMENTO LIGA BETPLAY DIMAYOR I-2023" [LIGA BETPLAY DIMAYOR I-2023 REGULATIONS] (PDF). División Mayor del Fútbol Colombiano. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
External links
- Dimayor's official website (in Spanish)

