2023 Copa de la Liga Profesional

Football tournament season
2023 Copa de la Liga Profesional
Tournament details
CountryArgentina
Dates17 August – 16 December 2023
Teams28
Final positions
ChampionsRosario Central (1st title)
2024 Copa LibertadoresRosario Central
Tournament statistics
Matches played204
Goals scored402 (1.97 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Lucas Passerini (10 goals)
← 2022
2024 →

The 2023 Copa de la Liga Profesional (officially the Copa Sur Finanzas 2023, starting from the 8th round, for sponsorship reasons)[1] was the fourth edition of the Copa de la Liga Profesional, an Argentine domestic cup. It began on 17 August and ended on 16 December 2023.[2]

The competition was contested by 28 teams, 26 returning from the 2022 season as well as 2 promoted teams from the 2022 Primera Nacional (Belgrano and Instituto).[3] Boca Juniors were the defending champions but they were eliminated in the group stage.

Rosario Central won their first title after they defeated Platense 1–0 in the final.[4] As champions, Rosario Central qualified for the 2024 Copa Libertadores and the 2023 Trofeo de Campeones.

Format

For the group stage, the 28 teams were drawn into two groups of fourteen teams each, playing on a single round-robin basis. Additionally, each team played one interzonal match against its rival team in the other zone. In each group, the top four teams advanced to the quarter-finals. The final stages (quarter-finals, semi-finals and final) were played on a single-legged basis.[5]

Draw

The draw for the group stage was held on 3 November 2022, 13:00, at AFA Futsal Stadium in Ezeiza.[6] The 28 teams were drawn into two groups of fourteen containing one team from each of the interzonal matches. As the draw was held before the identity of the second promoted team was known, the interzonal rivals of Godoy Cruz and Barracas Central were called Alternativa 1 and Alternativa 2, respectively. They were:

Interzonal matches
Team 1 Team 2

Group stage

In the group stage, each group was played on a single round-robin basis. Additionally, in the seventh round, each team played one interzonal match against its rival team in the other zone. 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. Fair play ranking; 5. Draw.[5]

The top four teams of each group advanced to the quarter-finals.

Zone A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Huracán 14 8 2 4 19 11 +8 26 Advance to Quarter-finals
2 River Plate 14 7 3 4 24 16 +8 24
3 Banfield 14 6 5 3 11 6 +5 23
4 Rosario Central 14 6 5 3 17 13 +4 23
5 Independiente 14 6 5 3 15 11 +4 23
6 Vélez Sarsfield 14 6 4 4 17 14 +3 22
7 Instituto 14 4 8 2 11 7 +4 20
8 Colón 14 6 2 6 19 17 +2 20
9 Talleres (C) 14 4 5 5 15 15 0 17
10 Atlético Tucumán 14 4 5 5 9 12 −3 17
11 Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) 14 4 3 7 13 21 −8 15
12 Argentinos Juniors 14 3 5 6 19 23 −4 14
13 Barracas Central 14 3 5 6 10 21 −11 14
14 Arsenal 14 3 4 7 10 15 −5 13
Source: AFA

Zone B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Racing 14 6 6 2 22 16 +6 24 Advance to Quarter-finals
2 Godoy Cruz 14 5 7 2 14 9 +5 22
3 Belgrano 14 5 6 3 20 18 +2 21
4 Platense 14 5 5 4 13 16 −3 20
5 Central Córdoba (SdE) 14 5 4 5 11 14 −3 19
6 Newell's Old Boys 14 5 3 6 14 10 +4 18
7 Boca Juniors 14 5 3 6 17 16 +1 18
8 San Lorenzo 14 3 9 2 11 11 0 18
9 Estudiantes (LP) 14 4 5 5 11 13 −2 17
10 Sarmiento (J) 14 3 7 4 8 8 0 16
11 Unión 14 3 7 4 10 13 −3 16
12 Defensa y Justicia 14 3 5 6 12 16 −4 14
13 Tigre 14 3 4 7 8 13 −5 13
14 Lanús 14 2 6 6 9 14 −5 12
Source: AFA

Results

Zone A

Home \ Away ARG ARS ATU BAN BAR COL GLP HUR IND INS RIV ROS TAL VEL
Argentinos Juniors 2–2 1–2 0–0 1–2 3–2 3–1 1–1
Arsenal 3–2 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 1–2
Atlético Tucumán 1–0 1–0 0–2 1–2 0–0 1–0
Banfield 0–1 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 3–0
Barracas Central 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–2 1–1
Colón 3–1 1–0 2–0 2–2 2–1 3–0
Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) 3–2 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–1 0–3 2–1
Huracán 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–3 3–0
Independiente 0–0 0–0 3–0 0–1 1–0 0–0 2–1
Instituto 0–1 0–0 3–1 1–1 0–0 0–1
River Plate 3–1 1–0 5–1 1–2 3–0 0–0 1–0
Rosario Central 3–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1
Talleres (C) 1–1 0–0 4–0 2–1 3–2 0–0
Vélez Sarsfield 2–1 3–1 0–1 1–0 3–1 2–0 1–1
Source: AFA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Zone B

Home \ Away BEL BOC CCO DYJ EST GOD LAN NOB PLA RAC SLO SAR TIG UNI
Belgrano 4–3 1–1 2–1 1–1 3–0 0–3 4–1
Boca Juniors 0–0 1–1 1–0 3–1 0–1 2–1
Central Córdoba (SdE) 0–3 2–1 0–1 0–0 3–2 1–0 2–0
Defensa y Justicia 0–2 1–0 2–2 2–2 0–1 1–1 2–0
Estudiantes (LP) 2–1 0–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 1–3
Godoy Cruz 0–0 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–1 1–0
Lanús 2–0 0–2 2–2 0–2 0–1 0–0 2–1
Newell's Old Boys 2–0 3–0 0–1 0–2 1–0 0–1 1–1
Platense 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–0
Racing 4–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–2
San Lorenzo 2–2 1–1 2–0 0–3 1–1 1–1
Sarmiento (J) 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–0 1–1 0–0 2–0
Tigre 0–0 1–0 0–2 1–1 1–2 0–0
Unión 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–0
Source: AFA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Interzonal matches

Home Score Away
Barracas Central 1–1 Sarmiento (J)
Colón 0–0 Unión
San Lorenzo 1–1 Huracán
Estudiantes (LP) 0–0 Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP)
Rosario Central 1–0 Newell's Old Boys
Racing 0–2 Independiente
Boca Juniors 0–2 River Plate
Talleres (C) 0–0 Belgrano
Platense 0–0 Argentinos Juniors
Tigre 0–0 Vélez Sarsfield
Arsenal 1–0 Defensa y Justicia
Banfield 1–0 Lanús
Atlético Tucumán 0–0 Central Córdoba (SdE)
Godoy Cruz 1–1 Instituto

Source:AFA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Final stages

Starting from the quarter-finals, the teams played a single-elimination tournament on a single-leg basis with the following rules:[5]

  • The quarter-finals and the semi-finals were played at a neutral venue, with the higher-seeded serving as the home team.
    • If tied, a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winners.
  • The Final was played at a neutral venue.
    • If tied, extra time would be played. If the score was still tied after extra time, a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the champions.

Bracket

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
      
River Plate 2
Belgrano 1
River Plate 0 (0)
Rosario Central (p) 0 (2)
Racing 2 (6)
Rosario Central (p) 2 (7)
Rosario Central 1
Platense 0
Godoy Cruz (p) 0 (5)
Banfield 0 (3)
Godoy Cruz 1 (5)
Platense (p) 1 (6)
Huracán 1 (2)
Platense (p) 1 (4)

Quarter-finals

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Huracán 1–1 (2–4 p) Platense
Racing 2–2 (6–7 p) Rosario Central
River Plate 2–1 Belgrano
Godoy Cruz 0–0 (5–3 p) Banfield

Matches

Huracán1–1Platense
Mazzantti 41' Report Ferreyra 87'
Penalties
Cóccaro soccer ball with check mark
Tobio soccer ball with red X
Alfonso soccer ball with check mark
Torrent soccer ball with red X		 2–4 soccer ball with check mark Pellegrino
soccer ball with check mark Suso
soccer ball with check mark Servetto
soccer ball with check mark Díaz
Referee: Pablo Echavarría
Racing2–2Rosario Central
Martínez 80'
Quintero 90+7' (pen.)		 Report Campaz 45+6' (pen.)
Sández 60'
Penalties
Quintero soccer ball with check mark
Martínez soccer ball with check mark
Moreno soccer ball with red X
Hauche soccer ball with check mark
Vecchio soccer ball with check mark
Almendra soccer ball with check mark
Mura soccer ball with check mark
Sigali soccer ball with red X		 6–7 soccer ball with check mark Lovera
soccer ball with check mark Campaz
soccer ball with red X Mallo
soccer ball with check mark Sández
soccer ball with check mark Quintana
soccer ball with check mark Ortiz
soccer ball with check mark Bianchi
soccer ball with check mark Komar
River Plate2–1Belgrano
Rondón 61'
Colidio 90+3'		 Report Passerini 80'
Godoy Cruz0–0Banfield
Report
Penalties
D. Rodríguez soccer ball with check mark
Conechny soccer ball with check mark
S. Rodríguez soccer ball with check mark
Allende soccer ball with check mark
López soccer ball with check mark		 5–3 soccer ball with check mark Bisanz
soccer ball with red X Insúa
soccer ball with check mark Remedi
soccer ball with check mark Quirós
Referee: Hernán Mastrángelo

Semi-finals

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Godoy Cruz 1–1 (5–6 p) Platense
River Plate 0–0 (0–2 p) Rosario Central

Matches

Godoy Cruz1–1Platense
S. Rodríguez 28' Report Martínez 17'
Penalties
D. Rodríguez soccer ball with check mark
Conechny soccer ball with check mark
Allende soccer ball with red X
Larrosa soccer ball with red X
López soccer ball with check mark
Fernández soccer ball with red X
Arce soccer ball with check mark
Galdames soccer ball with red X
Barrios soccer ball with check mark
Rasmussen soccer ball with red X		 5–6 soccer ball with check mark Pellegrino
soccer ball with check mark Suso
soccer ball with red X Picco
soccer ball with check mark Díaz
soccer ball with red X Ferreyra
soccer ball with red X Cacciabue
soccer ball with check mark Morgantini
soccer ball with red X Rius
soccer ball with check mark Vázquez
soccer ball with check mark Lozano
River Plate0–0Rosario Central
Report
Penalties
E. Díaz soccer ball with red X
Palavecino soccer ball with red X
G. Martínez soccer ball with red X
Lanzini soccer ball with red X		 0–2 soccer ball with check mark Lovera
soccer ball with red X Campaz
soccer ball with check mark Malcorra
Referee: Yael Falcón Pérez

Final

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Rosario Central 1–0 Platense

Match

Rosario Central1–0Platense
Lovera 39' Report

Relegation playoff

Colón and Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) played a playoff match at a neutral venue to determine which team would be relegated in the 2023 season. Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) won the match 1–0 and stayed in the Primera División, while Colón were relegated to the Primera Nacional.[7]

Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP)1–0Colón
Colazo 41' Report
Referee: Andrés Merlos

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Argentina Lucas Passerini Belgrano 10
2 Argentina Luciano Gondou Argentinos Juniors 9
3 Uruguay Miguel Merentiel Boca Juniors 7
Paraguay Adam Bareiro San Lorenzo
5 Uruguay Matías Cóccaro Huracán 6
Colombia Miguel Borja River Plate
Venezuela Salomón Rondón River Plate
Colombia Jaminton Campaz Rosario Central
Argentina Santiago Castro Vélez Sarsfield
10 Paraguay Gabriel Ávalos Argentinos Juniors 5
Argentina Tomás Galván Colón
Argentina Matías Giménez Rojas Independiente
Argentina Adrián Martínez Instituto
Paraguay Ronaldo Martínez Platense
Colombia Juan Fernando Quintero Racing
Argentina Baltasar Rodríguez Racing
Argentina Claudio Aquino Vélez Sarsfield

Source: AFA

Top assists

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Argentina Ulises Sánchez Belgrano 7
2 Uruguay Agustín Ocampo Platense 5
3 Argentina Iván Tapia Barracas Central 3
Argentina Exequiel Zeballos Boca Juniors
Argentina Adrián Martínez Instituto
Argentina Pedro de la Vega Lanús
Argentina Agustín Almendra Racing
Argentina Emiliano Vecchio Racing
Argentina Esequiel Barco River Plate
Argentina Facundo Colidio River Plate
Argentina Ignacio Fernández River Plate
Colombia Jaminton Campaz Rosario Central
Argentina Tomás O'Connor Rosario Central
Argentina Alan Marinelli Sarmiento (J)
Argentina Rodrigo Garro Talleres (C)
Argentina Kevin Zenón Unión
Argentina Claudio Aquino Vélez Sarsfield

Source: AFA

Awards

Best Team

The best team was a squad consisting of the most impressive players at the tournament.[8]

Pos. Player Team
GK Argentina Jorge Broun Rosario Central
DF Argentina Emanuel Coronel Banfield
DF Chile Paulo Díaz River Plate
DF Argentina Gastón Suso Platense
DF Chile Thomas Galdames Godoy Cruz
MF Uruguay Nicolás de la Cruz River Plate
MF Argentina Ulises Sánchez Belgrano
MF Argentina Ignacio Malcorra Rosario Central
FW Argentina Ignacio Pussetto Huracán
FW Argentina Lucas Passerini Belgrano
FW Colombia Jaminton Campaz Rosario Central
Head coach Argentina Miguel Ángel Russo Rosario Central
Head coach
Argentina Russo

Substitutes

Pos. Player Team
GK Argentina Diego Rodríguez Godoy Cruz
DF Uruguay Facundo Mallo Rosario Central
DF Argentina Fernando Tobio Huracán
DF Argentina Fernando Alarcón Instituto
MF Peru Luis Advíncula Boca Juniors
MF Argentina Aníbal Moreno Racing
MF Argentina Hernán López Godoy Cruz
MF Argentina Claudio Aquino Vélez Sarsfield
MF Colombia Juan Fernando Quintero Racing
FW Argentina Tadeo Allende Godoy Cruz
FW Argentina Santiago Castro Vélez Sarsfield
FW Argentina Luciano Gondou Argentinos Juniors

See also

References

  1. ^ "LA LIGA TIENE NUEVO "NAMING SPONSOR": EL ACTUAL TORNEO PASARÁ A LLAMARSE COPA SUR FINANZAS" (in Spanish). OneFootball. 29 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Se definió la temporada 2023" (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. 31 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Se sorteó el fixture completo de la Liga Profesional y la Copa LPF 2023" (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 3 November 2022.
  4. ^ "¡Rosario Central campeón de la Copa Sur Finanzas!" (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. 16 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Reglamento de torneos de la temporada 2023 Primera División Liga Profesional de Fútbol de AFA" (PDF) (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. August 2023.
  6. ^ "Fixtures de la temporada 2023" (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. 3 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Gimnasia le ganó a Colón y se queda en la LPF" (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. 1 December 2023.
  8. ^ "El equipo ideal de la Copa LPF, con dos de River, varios de Central y uno de Boca" (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 21 December 2023.

External links

  • LPF official site