Season | 2018–19 |
---|---|
Champions | Apertura: Managua Clausura: Real Estelí |
Relegated | UNAN Managua |
CONCACAF League | Managua Real Estelí |
Matches played | 65 |
Goals scored | 181 (2.78 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Apertura: Lucas Dos Santos (15 goals) – Clausura: TBD – |
Biggest home win | Apertura: Real Estelí 5-0 Ocotal Clausura: TBD TBD |
Biggest away win | Apertura: Real Madriz 1-6 Managua Clausura: TBD TBD |
Highest scoring | Apertura: Ocotal 4-3 Real Estelí Real Madriz 1-6 Managua Clausura: TBD TBD |
Longest unbeaten run | Apertura: TBD Clausura: TBD |
Longest losing run | Apertura: TBD Clausura: TBD |
← 2017–18 2019–20 → |
The 2018–19 Liga Primera de Nicaragua season was divided into two tournaments (Apertura and Clausura) and determined the 71st and 72nd 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 2018, while the Clausura was played in the first half of 2019.
Format
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
A total of ten teams contested the league, including eight sides from the 2017–18 Primera División, and two sides from the 2017–18 Segunda División.
FC San Francisco Masachapa finished last in the aggregate table and were relegated to the Segunda División. The champions from the Segunda División, ART Municipal Jalapa were promoted in their place.
The 9th place team in the aggregate table, Chinandega FC, faced the second place team from the Segunda División, Deportivo Sebaco, in a playoff for a spot in the Primera División. However, due to Sebaco's financial problems, they were not allowed in the playoff, meaning Chinandega remained in Primera División.
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from Segunda División as of July, 2018.
- Champions: ART Municipal Jalapa
Relegated to Segunda División as of July, 2018.
- Last Place: FC San Francisco Masachapa
Managerial changes
Before the start of the season
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Walter Ferretti | ![]() |
Resigned | June 2018 | ![]() |
June 29, 2018 | 3rd & Semifinalist (Clausura 2018) |
Real Esteli | ![]() |
Contract finished | June 2018 | ![]() |
July 22, 2018 | 4th & Quarterfinalist (Clausura 2018) |
Juventus Managua | ![]() |
Resigned | June 2018 | ![]() |
July 2018 | 3rd & Semifinalist (Clausura 2018) |
Ocotal | ![]() |
Resigned | June 2018 | ![]() |
July 2018 | TBD (Clausura 2018) |
Real Madriz | ![]() |
Resigned | June 2018 | ![]() |
July 2018 | TBD (Clausura 2018) |
During the Apertura season
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Real Madriz | ![]() |
TBD | 2018 | ![]() |
2018 | TBD (Apertura 2018) |
Between Apertura and Clausura seasons
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ocotal | ![]() |
Sacked | December 2018 | ![]() |
December 2018 | 9th (Apertura 2018) |
Real Esteli | ![]() |
Resigned | December 2018 | ![]() |
December 2018 | 2nd & finalist (Apertura 2018) |
Real Madriz | ![]() |
Resigned | December 2018 | ![]() |
January 2019 | 7th (Apertura 2018) |
UNAN Managua | ![]() |
resigned | December 2018 | ![]() |
January 2019 |
Clausura 2019 seasons
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Real Madriz | ![]() |
Sacked | February 2019 | ![]() |
February 2019 | 9th (Clausura 2019) |
Apertura
Personnel and sponsoring
Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Kit sponsors |
---|---|---|---|---|
ART Municipal Jalapa | ![]() |
![]() |
Joma | Agrotris |
Chinandega | ![]() |
![]() |
Nil | Nil |
Diriangén FC | ![]() |
![]() |
Joma | Claro, Ocal, Victoria frost |
Juventus Managua | ![]() |
![]() |
TBD | TBD |
Managua | ![]() |
![]() |
Nil | Nil |
Ocotal | ![]() |
![]() |
Nil | Alcadia Ocotal |
Real Estelí | ![]() |
![]() |
Kappa | Beco, Movistar, La Curaçao, Banpro, Vitalsis |
Real Madriz | ![]() |
![]() |
TBD | Alcadia Somoto |
UNAN Managua | ![]() |
![]() |
Joma | Nil |
Walter Ferretti | ![]() |
![]() |
Umbro | Claro, Iniser, Disnorte Dissur |
Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Managua | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 40 | 17 | +23 | 44 | Advance to Playoffs (Semifinals) |
2 | Real Estelí | 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 33 | 12 | +21 | 36 | |
3 | Walter Ferretti | 18 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 21 | 18 | +3 | 28 | Advance to Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
4 | Real Madriz | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 29 | −4 | 27 | |
5 | Diriangén | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 19 | +4 | 26 | |
6 | Juventus Managua | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 24 | |
7 | ART Jalapa | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 30 | −15 | 19 | |
8 | Chinandega | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 33 | −9 | 18 | |
9 | Ocotal | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 17 | 32 | −15 | 15 | |
10 | UNAN Managua | 18 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 19 | 32 | −13 | 9 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Results
Records
Top goalscorers
No. | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Managua | 15 |
2 | ![]() |
Diriangén | 11 |
3 | ![]() |
Chinandega | 10 |
4 | ![]() |
Real Esteli | 8 |
5 | ![]() |
Walter Ferretti | 7 |
6 | ![]() |
TBD | 5 |
7 | ![]() |
TBD | 5 |
8 | ![]() |
Managua | 5 |
9 | ![]() |
TBD | 5 |
10 | ![]() |
Real Madriz | 5 |
Playoffs
Quarterfinals
Walter Ferretti | 1 – 2 | Juventus Managua |
---|---|---|
Bruno de Morais ![]() |
Junior Arteaga ![]() David Castrillón ![]() |
Juventus Managua progressed.
Real Madriz | 4 – 5 | Diriangén |
---|---|---|
Aldryn Ramírez ![]() |
Erick Tellez ![]() |
Diriangén progressed.
Semifinals
Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Real Esteli | 7 – 3 | Juventus Managua | 2 – 1 | 5 – 2 |
Managua F.C. | 4 – 1 | Diriangén | 2 – 1 | 2 – 0 |
^ TBD wins on away goals
First leg
Juventus Managua | 1 – 2 | Real Esteli |
---|---|---|
Nasser Valverde ![]() |
Jorge Betancur ![]() Luis Galeano ![]() |
Diriangén | 1 – 2 | Managua F.C. |
---|---|---|
Jorge Garcia ![]() |
Lucas dos Santos![]() Agenor Báez ![]() |
Second leg
Real Esteli | 5 – 2 | Juventus Managua |
---|---|---|
Luis Galeano ![]() ![]() Nasser Valverde own ![]() Vinicius de Souza ![]() Alexis Somarriba ![]() |
Nasser Valverde ![]() Brandon Ayerdis ![]() |
Real Esteli won 7-3 on aggregate.
Managua F.C. | 2 – 0 | Diriangén |
---|---|---|
Edward Murillo ![]() Jeffery Araica ![]() |
Nil |
Managua won 4-1 on aggregate.
Final
First leg
Real Esteli | 0 – 0 | Managua F.C. |
---|---|---|
Nil | Nil |
Second leg
Managua F.C. | 1 – 0 | Real Esteli |
---|---|---|
Lucas dos Santos![]() |
Nil |
Managua won 1-0 on aggregate.
Apertura 2018 champions |
---|
Managua F.C. 1st title |
Clausura
Personnel and sponsoring
Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Kit Sponsors |
---|---|---|---|---|
ART Jalapa | ![]() |
![]() |
TBD | Agrotris |
Chinandega | ![]() |
![]() |
Nil | Nil |
Diriangén FC | ![]() |
![]() |
Joma | Claro, Victoria Frost, Babysec, Sinsa, OCAL, Kelloggs, Flor de Cana |
Juventus Managua | ![]() |
![]() |
Nil | Nil |
Managua | ![]() |
![]() |
Nil | Managua FC |
Ocotal | ![]() |
![]() |
Nil | Alcadia de Ocotal |
Real Estelí | ![]() |
![]() |
Kappa | Movistar, La Curaco, Beco, Vitalsis Health, Banco de la Producción |
Real Madriz | ![]() |
![]() |
Nil | Alcadia de Madriz |
UNAN Managua | ![]() |
![]() |
Joma | Nil |
Walter Ferretti | ![]() |
![]() |
Umbro | Claro, Iniser, Disnorte Dissur, Flor de Cana |
Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Real Estelí | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 44 | 13 | +31 | 45 | Advance to Playoffs (Semifinals) |
2 | Managua | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 51 | 24 | +27 | 40 | |
3 | Walter Ferretti | 18 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 31 | 15 | +16 | 36 | Advance to Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
4 | Juventus Managua | 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 26 | |
5 | Diriangén | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 36 | 29 | +7 | 25 | |
6 | Ocotal | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 27 | 25 | +2 | 23 | |
7 | UNAN Managua | 18 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 25 | 38 | −13 | 18 | |
8 | Real Madriz | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 31 | −15 | 15 | |
9 | ART Jalapa | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 22 | 54 | −32 | 15 | |
10 | Chinandega | 18 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 38 | −23 | 11 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Results
Records
Top goalscorers
No. | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Managua F.C. | 17 |
2 | ![]() |
Managua F.C. | 16 |
3 | ![]() |
Real Esteli | 12 |
4 | ![]() |
Juventus Managua | 10 |
5 | ![]() |
Diriangén FC | 8 |
6 | ![]() |
Deportivo Ocotal | 7 |
7 | ![]() |
Diriangén FC | 7 |
8 | ![]() |
ART Municipal Jalapa | 7 |
9 | ![]() |
UNAN Managua | 6 |
10 | ![]() |
Juventus Managua | 5 |
Playoffs
Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Real Estelí | 0 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
4 | Juventus Managua | 1 | 5 | Diriangén | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
5 | Diriangén | 2 | 1 | Real Estelí (a) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||
2 | Managua | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
2 | Managua (a) | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
3 | Walter Ferretti | 1 | 3 | Walter Ferretti | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
6 | Ocotal | 0 |
Quarterfinals
Walter Ferretti | 1 – 0 | Ocotal |
---|---|---|
Rafael De Almeida ![]() |
Nil |
Walter Ferretti progressed.
Juventus Managua | 1 – 2 | Diriangén |
---|---|---|
Allan Mercado ![]() |
Luis Coronel ![]() Yeison Esquivel ![]() |
Diriangén progressed.
Semifinals
First leg
Diriangén | 1 – 0 | Real Esteli |
---|---|---|
Luis Coronel ![]() |
Nil |
Walter Ferretti | 1 – 1 | Managua F.C. |
---|---|---|
Rodrigo Hernandez ![]() |
Christiano Fernandez ![]() |
Second leg
Real Esteli | 3 – 0 | Diriangén |
---|---|---|
Oscar López ![]() Henry García ![]() Luis Lopez ![]() |
Nil |
Real Esteli progressed 3-1 on aggregate.
Managua F.C. | 0 – 0 | Walter Ferretti |
---|---|---|
Nil | Nil |
Managua F.C. advances 1-0 on away goals.
Final
First leg
Managua F.C. | 3 – 3 | Real Esteli |
---|---|---|
Kevin Serpio ![]() Lucas Dos Santos ![]() ![]() |
Cristian Gutierrez ![]() Ricardo Rivas ![]() Vinicius da Souza ![]() |
Second leg
Real Esteli | 0 – 0 | Managua F.C. |
---|---|---|
3-3, Real Esteli won on away goal.
Clausura 2019 champions |
---|
Real Esteli 15th title |
Aggregate table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Managua (Q) | 36 | 27 | 3 | 6 | 91 | 41 | +50 | 84 | CONCACAF League round of 16[a] |
2 | Real Estelí (Q) | 36 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 77 | 25 | +52 | 81 | CONCACAF League preliminary round[b] |
3 | Walter Ferretti | 36 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 52 | 33 | +19 | 64 | |
4 | Diriangén | 36 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 59 | 48 | +11 | 51 | |
5 | Juventus Managua | 36 | 15 | 5 | 16 | 65 | 60 | +5 | 50 | |
6 | Real Madriz | 36 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 41 | 60 | −19 | 42 | |
7 | Ocotal | 36 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 44 | 57 | −13 | 38 | |
8 | ART Jalapa | 36 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 37 | 84 | −47 | 34 | |
9 | Chinandega (Q) | 36 | 7 | 8 | 21 | 39 | 71 | −32 | 29 | Relegation playoffs |
10 | UNAN Managua (R) | 36 | 7 | 6 | 23 | 44 | 70 | −26 | 27 | Relegated to Segunda División |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
List of foreign players in the league
This is a list of foreign players in the 2018–19 season. The following players:
- Have played at least one game for the respective club.
- 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.
ART Jalapa |
Chinandega |
Diriangén |
Juventus Managua |
Managua |
Ocotal |
Real Estelí
|
Real Madriz |
UNAN |
Walter Ferretti |
(player released during the Apertura season)
(player released between the Apertura and Clausura seasons)
(player released during the Clausura season)