2005–06 in Argentine football explained

Country:Argentina
Season:2005–06
Prevseason:2004–05
Nextseason:2006–07

The 2005–06 Argentine First Division Apertura was a nail biter. After a head-to-head finish in the last weeks Boca Juniors took the trophy home. Gimnasia de La Plata will have to wait for their first-ever championship. The 2005–06 Argentine First Division Clausura saw Boca Juniors become the first team since River Plate in 1999–2000 to win the Apertura and the Clausura in the same season. This capped an amazing year for Boca, as they won every tournament they were eligible (they were not eligible for the Copa Libertadores after a dismal Clausura last season). Lanús were the big surprise of the Clausura, as they finished second in the league. Boca also achieved 80 points in a season for the first time since 1998/99 when they scored 89 points.

Argentina drew one of the most difficult groups in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, advanced to the second round but lost against hosts Germany in the quarter-finals.

After an abysmal season, Instituto and Tiro Federal were relegated to the Nacional B Division a few weeks before the end of the tournament. The next two worst teams in the relegation standings, Argentinos Juniors and Olimpo de Bahía Blanca, played a Promoción playoff (home and away) series against Huracán and Belgrano de Córdoba, respectively, for two spots in next year's Argentine First Division. Argentinos Juniors remains in the top category after drawing with Huracán twice. Olimpo, however, were relegated to Nacional B after losing twice to Belgrano.

Torneo Apertura ("Opening" Tournament)

PositionTeamPointsPlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstDifference
140191243361719
2Gimnasia de La Plata3719114428199
3Vélez Sársfield33191036261610
4Independiente3219883342212
5Banfield28195131251510
6River Plate281984731229
7281984723221
8Argentinos Juniors28198471920-1
9San Lorenzo28198473339-6
10261975728271
11Racing Club251974828271
12Olimpo de Bahía Blanca23195861923-4
13Lanús23195862131-10
1422195772324-1
15Rosario Central22195772029-9
1620195592527-2
17Quilmes19194782027-7
18Gimnasia de Jujuy18193972330-7
19Tiro Federal151943122231-9
20Instituto15192981127-16

Top Scorers

PositionPlayerTeamGoals
1Javier CámporaTiro Federal13
2Leonardo PisculichiArgentinos Juniors10
2Rodrigo PalacioBoca Juniors10
2Gonzalo VargasGimnasia de La Plata10
2José Luis CalderónEstudiantes de La Plata10
3Nicolás FrutosIndependiente9
3Sergio AgüeroIndependiente9
3Iván Moreno y FabianesiColón de Santa Fe9
4Ezequiel LavezziSan Lorenzo8

Relegation

There is no relegation after the Apertura. For the relegation results of this tournament see below.

Torneo Clausura ("Closing" Tournament)

PositionTeamPointsPlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstDifference
143191342371423
2Lanús35191054261511
33419973392415
4Gimnasia de Jujuy33191036261610
5Gimnasia de La Plata321995531229
6Newell's Old Boys311987427189
7Banfield3119101828226
8San Lorenzo281977515141
9Olimpo261975722220
10Vélez Sársfield2519510421183
1124196672531-6
12Independiente231965818180
13Rosario Central23195861517-2
1422195772628-2
15Arsenal de Sarandí22195771720-3
1620195591926-7
17Quilmes20195591128-17
18Racing Club191954101424-10
19Instituto131934121637-21
20121933131539-24

Top Scorers

PositionPlayerTeamGoals
1Gonzalo VargasGimnasia de La Plata12
2Ernesto FaríasRiver Plate11
2Martín PalermoBoca Juniors11
3Ignacio ScoccoNewell's Old Boys9
3Sergio AgüeroIndependiente9
4Silvio CarrarioQuilmes7
4Ezequiel MaggioloOlimpo de Bahia Blanca7
4Rodrigo PalacioBoca Juniors7

Relegation

TeamAveragePointsPlayed2003-042004-052005-06
Boca Juniors1.80720611475/3848/3883/37
River Plate1.64918811466/3860/3862/37
1.61418411453/3873/3858/38
Banfield1.59618211464/3859/3859/38
San Lorenzo1.49117011462/3852/3856/38
Newell's Old Boys1.42116211451/3860/3851/38
Gimnasia de La Plata1.41216111438/3854/3869/38
Estudiantes de La Plata1.37715711444/3861/3852/38
Lanús1.35115411442/3854/3858/38
Arsenal de Sarandí1.34215311455/3854/3843/38
Gimnasia de Jujuy1.3425138N/AN/A51/38
Racing Club1.33315211450/3858/3844/38
Rosario Central1.31615011444/3861/3845/38
Independiente1.29814811444/3849/3855/38
Colón de Santa Fe1.29814811449/3853/3846/38
Quilmes1.26514311460/3844/3839/38
Argentinos Juniors1.2249376N/A43/3850/38
Olimpo de Bahía Blanca1.14913111439/3843/3849/38
Instituto0.9217076N/A42/3828/38
Tiro Federal0.7112738N/AN/A27/38

"Promoción" playoff

Argentinos Juniors remains in the Argentine First Division after a 3 - 3 aggregate tie by virtue of a "sports advantage". In case of a tie in goals, the team from the First Division gets to stay in it.

Belgrano de Córdoba wins 4-2 and is promoted to Argentine First Division. Olimpo de Bahia Blanca is relegated to the Argentine Nacional B.

Lower leagues

width=20%Levelwidth=40%Tournamentwidth=40%Champion
2nd Godoy Cruz
Nueva Chicago
3rd Platense
3rd (Interior) Villa Mitre
4th Deportivo Merlo
5th Ituzaingó

Clubs in international competitions

width= 20%Team / Competitionwidth= 20%2005 Recopa Sudamericanawidth= 20%2005 Copa Sudamericanawidth= 20%2006 Copa Libertadores
Boca JuniorsChampions
defeated
Once Caldas
Champions
defeated
UNAM
did not qualify
Vélez Sársfielddid not playSemifinal
eliminated by
UNAM
Quarterfinals
eliminated by
Guadalajara
Estudiantes de La Platadid not playFirst stage
eliminated by
Banfield
Quarterfinals
eliminated by
São Paulo
River Platedid not playRound of 16
eliminated by
Corinthians
Quarterfinals
eliminated by
Libertad
Newell's Old Boysdid not playFirst stage
eliminated by
Rosario Central
Round of 16
eliminated by
Vélez Sársfield
Rosario Centraldid not playRound of 16
eliminated by
Internacional
Group Stage
eliminated
(finished last in the group)

National team

This section covers Argentina's matches from August 1, 2005, to July 31, 2006.

2006 World Cup qualifiers

See main article: 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL).

2006 World Cup

See main article: 2006 FIFA World Cup.

See also: 2006 FIFA World Cup Group C and 2006 FIFA World Cup knockout stage.

External links