2018 Chilean Primera División


The 2018 Campeonato Nacional, known as Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank 2018 for sponsorship purposes, was the 88th season of top-flight football in Chile. The season started on 2 February and ended on 2 December. Colo-Colo were the defending champions, having won the 2017 Transición tournament. Universidad Católica won their thirteenth title on the last day of the season following a 2–1 win at Deportes Temuco, who were relegated to the second tier with this defeat.

Format changes

For the 2018 season, the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional approved a change of format from the Apertura-Clausura system that had been used in previous seasons, to a single tournament during the calendar year. The 16 teams played each other twice for a total of 30 matches. Qualification for the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana was awarded to the top seven teams at the end of the season, as well as the Copa Chile champions, while the bottom two teams were automatically relegated.

Teams

Stadia and locations

TeamCityStadium
Audax ItalianoSantiago Bicentenario de La Floridaa
Colo-ColoSantiago Monumental David Arellano
Curicó UnidoCuricóLa Granja
Deportes AntofagastaAntofagastaCalvo y Bascuñán
Deportes IquiqueIquiqueCavanchab
Deportes TemucoTemucoGermán Becker
EvertonViña del MarSausalito
HuachipatoTalcahuanoHuachipato-CAP Acero
O'HigginsRancaguaEl Teniente
PalestinoSantiago Municipal de La Cisterna
San LuisQuillotaLucio Fariña Fernándezc
Unión EspañolaSantiago Santa Laura-Universidad SEK
Unión La CaleraLa CaleraLucio Fariña Fernándezd
Universidad CatólicaSantiago San Carlos de Apoquindo
Universidad de ChileSantiago Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos
Universidad de ConcepciónConcepciónAlcaldesa Ester Roa Rebolledo

a: Audax Italiano played their home matches against Deportes Temuco and Everton at Estadio Municipal de La Pintana and Estadio El Teniente in Rancagua due to pitch renovation works at Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida.

b: Deportes Iquique played their home matches against Universidad de Chile, Universidad Católica, and Colo-Colo at Estadio Zorros del Desierto in Calama.

c: San Luis played their home matches against Deportes Temuco, O'Higgins, and Unión Española at Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander in Valparaíso due to pitch renovation works at Estadio Municipal Lucio Fariña Fernández.

d: Unión La Calera temporarily play their home matches at Estadio Municipal Lucio Fariña Fernández in Quillota due to remodeling works at Estadio Municipal Nicolás Chahuán Nazar. They played their home matches against Colo-Colo, Palestino, and Universidad Católica at Estadio Sausalito in Viña del Mar due to pitch renovation works at Estadio Municipal Lucio Fariña Fernández.

Personnel and kits

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Universidad Católica Mario SalasMutual consent10 December 2017Pre-season Beñat San José20 December 2017
Huachipato César VigevaniMutual consent13 December 2017Pre-season Nicolás Larcamón4 January 2018
Deportes Antofagasta Nicolás LarcamónResigned25 December 2017Pre-season Gerardo Ameli4 January 2018
Deportes Iquique Erick GuerreroSacked26 February 201812th Miguel Riffo26 February 2018
Audax Italiano Hugo VilchesMutual consent13 April 201816th Juan José Ribera14 April 2018
Colo-Colo Pablo GuedeResigned19 April 20184th Agustín Salvatierra 19 April 2018
Colo-Colo Agustín SalvatierraEnd of caretaker spell24 April 20184th Héctor Tapia24 April 2018
Universidad de Chile Ángel Guillermo HoyosSacked27 April 20182nd Esteban Valencia 27 April 2018
Palestino Germán CavalieriResigned18 May 201810th Sebastián Méndez19 May 2018
Universidad de Chile Esteban ValenciaEnd of caretaker spell26 May 20184th Frank Kudelka27 May 2018
San Luis Miguel RamírezResigned26 May 201814th Diego Osella5 June 2018
Everton Pablo SánchezSacked27 May 201816th Javier Torrente2 June 2018
Curicó Unido Luis MarcoletaResigned11 June 201812th Jaime Vera14 June 2018
Deportes Temuco Dalcio GiovagnoliSacked16 June 201813th Miguel Ponce22 June 2018
O'Higgins Gabriel MilitoMutual consent20 June 20188th Mauricio Larriera30 June 2018
O'Higgins Mauricio LarrieraSacked24 September 20189th Marco Antonio Figueroa26 September 2018
San Luis Diego OsellaResigned1 October 201816th Mauricio Riffo3 October 2018
Palestino Sebastián MéndezResigned8 October 201814th Ivo Basay9 October 2018
Deportes Iquique Miguel RiffoMutual consent10 October 201811th Luis Musrri12 October 2018
Unión Española Martín PalermoSacked4 November 20188th Fernando Díaz 4 November 2018
Unión La Calera Víctor RiveroSacked6 November 20185th Francisco Meneghini8 November 2018

Standings

Results

Top goalscorers

RankNameClubGoals
1 Esteban ParedesColo-Colo19
2 Gabriel TorresHuachipato15
3 Matías Campos LópezPalestino14
3 Tobías FigueroaUnión Española14
5 Eduard BelloDeportes Antofagasta13
6 Patricio RubioEverton12
7 Mauro CaballeroSan Luis11
7 Brian FernándezUnión La Calera11
7 Javier ParraguezHuachipato11
10 Ricardo BlancoCuricó Unido9
10 Sergio SantosAudax Italiano9

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