Colombia. Nothing new in terms of formula, but South American complicated championships almost make repetition a must. So, closed league, no relegation and promotion, 14 teams. Two championships – Copa de la Paz and the National. For Copa de la Raz the league was divided into 2 groups and the top two teams of each proceeded to the final group, but teams of the same original group played only against each other, twice. Was there a winner is unclear, for this was not proper final but all finalists got bonus points – from 1 to 0.25, according to final position according to results. Just to make things more confusing, this year America won its both final games, but Atletico Nacional ended with a win and a tie. Yet, both teams appear with 4 points in the ‘final’ table. Bonus table followed actual results and America got 1 point, Atletico Nacional – 0.75. Torneo Nacional was played as a regular league championship. The top 4 teams in the final table got bonus points, just like from Copa de la Paz – from 1 to 0.25, according to position. After that the Octagonal Final was played – the 4 teams at the final of Copa de la Paz, completed to 8 by teams from Torneo Nacional, depending on final standings. Since some teams were on top in both separate championships played so far, the final group included some lower placed teams, this season going down to the 7th placed. The winner of the Octagonal Final was the champion of Colombia. Bonus points eventually played a role here, sometimes decisive role.
Because of the confusing records, the end of Copa de la Paz is partly narrated above. Since it is unclear was there a winner, only the bonus-point table will be given now: 1. America – 1 point, 2. Atletico Junior – 0.75, 3. Atletico Nacional – 0.50, 4. Deportes Tolima – 0.25. Weird… Atletico Junior lost both final games and Atletico Nacional had a win and a tie, yet, Atletico Junior got more bonus points, as if placed 2nd in the final table.
No confusion about Torneo Nacional – America won it and got bonus point. Atletico Nacional was 2nd and got 0.75, Atletico Junior – 3rd and 0.50, and Millonarios – 4th and 0.25. To round the group for Octagonal Final the following teams were included: Deportes Tolima as finalist in Copa de la Paz, Deportivo Independiente Medellin – 5th in Torneo Nacional, Atletico Bucaramanga – 6th, and Union Magdalena – 7th.
The unlucky or those just weak this year: Independiente Santa Fe – 8th in Torneo Nacional. They had positive goal-difference , which was better than what Atletico Bucaramanga and Union Magdalena had, but less points.
Deportivo Pereira – 10th with 23 points. Standing from left: Quintabani, Valverde, Toro, Paredes, Chaparo, Pachon
Crouching: Escobar, Jaramillo, Cabrera, Agudelo, Lobaton
Once Caldas – 11th with 22 points,
Deportivo Cali – 12th with 21 points,
Deportes Quindio – 13th with 16 points, and
Cucuta Deportivo – 14th with 12 points. Standing from left: Juan Eugenio Muriel, Rosemberg Bernal, Alexis Mendoza, José Luís Lapuente, José James “ Mina” Camacho, Francisco Mulethaler. Hincados: Rolando Campbell, “ Chicho” Pérez, Sebastián Araujo de Oliveira, “ Dentinho”, Amador, Juanito Moreno.
The losers were ‘fair’ losers – all played pretty much the same in both initial championships, no sudden drop of form.