On the verge of the final day, a squad already facing a collapse scenario still has several vacancies to fill within the Second Division championship. The pressure is immense, and every decision carries substantial weight as teams scramble to secure their fate in the closing fixtures.
Despite ongoing efforts by AFA leadership to reshape the competitive landscape, the Primera Nacional remains a dynamic competition. In 2023, it adopted an uncommon format featuring two independent zones, and the competition’s momentum continues to push right up to the last whistle. The Second Division of Argentine football enters the final jornada without a resolved set of finalists for the first promotion, nor those who will contend for the Reduction. Equally unsettled are the direct relegations and the teams that will contest the promotion route.
How relegations are defined in Primera Nacional and how many teams descend to Metropolitan B and Federal A
Under the 2023 season regulations, the Primera Nacional is set to produce three relegations based on the general table. Two are determined by the bottom finishers in each zone, while the third is decided through a two-legged series between the last-placed teams of each zone. The relegation process does not consider whether a club is directly or indirectly affiliated with the AFA, which means the destinations can be variable in practice. The appearance of AMBA clubs, departures from the capital region, or teams from other Home Affairs groups can all factor into the final tally depending on how the tables shape up by season’s end.
Which teams will be relegated in the First National 2023
With dates not yet set, only one relegation is already clear: Villa Dálmine finished last in Zone B and will return to Metropolitan B after a nine-year absence. Within that group, the opponent for the promotion playoff remains to be decided. Tristan Suárez sits with 31 points and a goal difference of -19, looking to overturn the deficit and leap forward, while Aldosivi earns 34 points with a -11 goal difference and faces a path that could be decided in the final rounds. Leandro Lechiró visits Estudiantes de Buenos Aires, a club with no chance of moving up or down, while Tiburón travels to Caballito to play Ferro, already set for the Reduction but still needing to determine final standings in the table.
In Zone A, the direct relegation battle is closely contested between Flandria and San Telmo, separated by a single point as they approach decisive dates. They will host two contenders pursuing a Reduction spot: Canario hosts San Martín de San Juan with 33 points and a -23 goal difference, while Candombero visits Idiote to challenge a side at 34 points with a -13 goal difference. On the Promotion front, only Almagro remains in a position to risk relegation for now, three points ahead of Telmo, carrying a -9 goal difference, and traveling to Güemes in Santiago del Estero for the upcoming clash.
Overall, the drama centers on which teams will secure the direct promotions, who will join the Reduced playoff mix, and which clubs will drop to the Metropolitan B or Federal A. The final outcome hinges on the results from the last fixtures, with every match carrying significant implications for the league’s composition in the following season.