Why not, indeed? River Plate, the supreme champions of Metropolitano, must have been the big favourite for winning Nacional as well. However, running simultaneiusly two championshps was a challenge. Campeonato Nacional General Don Jose de San Martin had different formula – a cup format really, but with direct elimination only in the last stages. To a point, it was a dilemma – concentrating for Metropolitano or for Nacional? Metropolitano had higher value, at least for the clubs from Buenos Aires. Nacional went through provincial stages and eventually reached the 1/8 finals stage – 4 groups of 7 teams each, which played twice against each other, and the top 2 teams quilifying for the ¼ finals. Here some teams not playing in the Metropolitano league tried their best. So did some teams underperforming in Metropolitano and trying to compensate. At the end, mostly familiar names qualified, but also two surprise names: Rosario Central and Atletico Racing (Cordoba) from Group A. Estudiantes (La Plata) unfortunately finished 3rd. Atletico Racing not only did not play in First Division, but had no chance of even dreaming of first division football – Campeonato Nacional was their chance to prove their worth. They did – Estudiantes, Velez Sarsfield, and Racing finished behind them. Argentinos Juniors and Union (Santa Fe) qualified from Group B – both teams obviously in good form and repeating their strong performance from Campeonato Metropolitano. Talleres (Cordoba) was unlucky 3rd. Newell’s Old Boys and Independiente topped Group C – both teams determined to compensate for weak Metropolitano season, and taking advantage of relatively weak opponents. Group 4 finished with a surprise – Insituto (Cordoba), not playing in the first division, finished first. River Plate, the strongest team in Argentina, clinched second place only because of better goal-difference – Platense (Florida) was the unlucky loser.
It may have been just a little slip of River Plate, not paying enough attention at first, and wanting only to qualify as easy as possible. But it was not so… in the ¼ finals mighty River Plate was eliminated by Newell’s Old Boys.
Newell’s Old Boys forgetting how mighty River Plate was and eliminating them: standing from left: Gallego, Simón, Demagistris, Daniel Killer, Piazza , Civarelli.
Front row: Víctor R. Ramos, Juan A. Acosta, Yazalde, Santamaría, Talavera.
Independiente certainly tried to save the season and having relatively easy opponent – Instituto (Cordoba) – qualified for the ½ finals. Atletico Racing continued to play well and eliminated non other but Argentinos Juniors. Maradona’s team was unable even to beat the lowly opponent – one tie and one loss. Rosario Central eliminated Union.
There was no Buenos Aires representative at the semi-finals: one pair was Rosario derby in which Rosario Central eliminated Newell’s Old Boys. In the other semi-final the ambitions of Independiente were cut short by Atletico Racing.
Provincial final – Rosario vs Cordoba. First division vs non-leaguer. Rosario Central vs Atletico Racing. Each team won their home leg and goal-difference decided the winner: Rosario Central.
Atletico Racing (Cordoba) – what fantastic run they had! It is not a club heard of often – even at home they are dwarfed by Instituto and Talleres. Too bad they lost at the end – would have been wonderful victory of the underdog – but enthusiasm eventually bowed down to class and experience. Atletico Racing was unable to top Rosario Central in the 1/8 final Group A and the final was no different – second twice. But never mind – it was excellent season and fantastic achievement. Higher than Maradona!
Rosario Central on top again! Well done! If nothing else, the club continued its strong presence in Argentinian football. To the world, it was best known for Mario Kempes – it was his performance at the 1974 World Cup making the club a familiar name outside Argentina.
There was no young exciting player among the champions – there were two fading veterans instead: standing from left: Bauza, Sperandío, Santecchia, Marchetti, Craiyacich, Carnevali,Chazarreta. Crouching: Jorge A. García, Orte, Gaitán, Ghielmetti, Trama, Bacas, Giuliano, Teglia, Palma, Espinoza.
Carnevali and Chazarreta – stars at the beginning of the 1970s, unfortunately, tainted by the weak Argentine performance at the 1974 World Cup. Forgotten names by now… so it was great they won a title. Rosario Central got the second Argentine spot for the 1981 Copa Libertadores. The other spot went to River Plate as Metropolitano champions.
The last note on Campeonato Nacional is about the second promotion to First Division – it was a curious one, escaping logic. Since most teams were first division members anyway, it looked like the best non-league club should have been promoted. That was the losing finalist Atletico Racing (Cordoba). Cordoba got promotion allright – but it was another club.
Instituto (Cordoba) got the second promotion to First Division. Why? Guessing does not help. Certainly Instituto ranked higher than Atletico Racing – historically. It may have been more successful this year provincially. But Instituto was eliminated at the ¼ finals – Atletico Racing reached the final of Campeonato Nacional. If this championship counted for promotion, the only possible reason could be the 1/8 groups: Instituto won theirs and Atletico Racing finished second. Guessing or no guessing, Instituto moved up to play Metropolitano First Division the next season.