2018 Categoría Primera A season
# 2018 Categoría Primera A season

The 2018 Categoría Primera A season (officially known as the 2018 Liga Águila season for sponsorship reasons) was the 71st season of Colombia's top-flight football league. The season began on 2 February and concluded on 16 December. Millonarios were the defending champions.

In the Torneo Apertura, Deportes Tolima won their second league title on 9 June, after tying with Atlético Nacional 2–2 on aggregate score in the finals and then beating them 4–2 on penalties and in the Torneo Finalización, Junior won their eighth title on 16 December, following a 5–4 win against Independiente Medellín on aggregate score in the finals.

## Format

The league was played under the same format used since the 2015 season, with the exclusion of the regional derby matchday in the first stage of both the Apertura and Finalización tournaments being the only change to be applied for this season. Both tournaments were divided into three stages: a first stage which was contested on a single round-robin basis, with each team playing the other teams once for a total of 19 matches. The top eight teams after the nineteen rounds advanced to a knockout round, where they were drawn into four ties to be played on a home-and-away basis, with the four winners advancing to the semifinals and the winners of each semifinal advancing to the final of the tournament. The winners of the final in each tournament were declared as champions. Relegation to Categoría Primera B by average continued being used.

## Teams

20 teams took part, eighteen of them returning from last season plus Boyacá Chicó and Leones, who were promoted from the 2017 Primera B. Leones became the first team to secure promotion, after winning the Torneo Finalización on 26 November 2017, and competed in the Primera A for the first time ever. On the other hand, Boyacá Chicó sealed their promotion on 6 December 2017, by winning the Primera B championship on penalty kicks against Leones. They returned to the top tier after just one year. Both promoted teams replaced Cortuluá and Tigres who were relegated at the end of the last season.

### Stadia and locations

| Team | Manager | Home city | Stadium | Capacity |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Alianza Petrolera | César Torres | Barrancabermeja | Daniel Villa Zapata | 10,400 |
| América de Cali | Fernando Castro | Cali | Pascual Guerrero | 33,130 |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Óscar Serrano (caretaker) | Bucaramanga | Alfonso López | 28,000 |
| Atlético Huila | Dayron Pérez (caretaker) | Neiva | Guillermo Plazas $Alcid^a$ | 22,000 |
| Atlético Nacional | Paulo Autuori | Medellín | Atanasio Girardot | 40,043 |
| Boyacá Chicó | Jhon Jaime Gómez | Tunja | La Independencia | 20,630 |
| Deportes Tolima | Alberto Gamero | Ibagué | Manuel Murillo Toro | 28,100 |
| Deportivo Cali | Gerardo Pelusso | Cali | Deportivo Cali | 52,000 |
| Deportivo Pasto | Jairo Enríquez (caretaker) | Pasto | Departamental Libertad | 20,665 |
| Envigado | Eduardo Lara | Envigado | Polideportivo Sur | 11,000 |
| Independiente Medellín | Octavio Zambrano | Medellín | Atanasio Girardot | 40,043 |
| Jaguares | Julio Méndez (caretaker) | Montería | $Jaraguay^b$ | 12,000 |
| Junior | Julio Comesaña | Barranquilla | Metropolitano Roberto $Meléndez^c$ | 49,692 |
| La Equidad | Luis Fernando Suárez | Bogotá | Metropolitano de Techo | 8,000 |
| Leones | Luis Amaranto Perea | Itagüí | Metropolitano Ciudad de Itagüí | 12,000 |
| Millonarios | Miguel Ángel Russo | Bogotá | Nemesio Camacho El Campín | 36,343 |
| Once Caldas | Hubert Bodhert | Manizales | Palogrande | 28,678 |
| Patriotas | Diego Corredor | Tunja | La Independencia | 20,630 |
| Rionegro Águilas | Jorge Luis Bernal | Rionegro | Alberto Grisales | 14,000 |
| Santa Fe | Guillermo Sanguinetti | Bogotá | Nemesio Camacho El Campín | 36,343 |

a: Atlético Huila played their first three home games in the Torneo Apertura (against Deportivo Cali, Junior, and La Equidad) at Estadio Manuel Murillo Toro in Ibagué due to their regular stadium Estadio Guillermo Plazas Alcid not meeting DIMAYOR's stadium requirements. b: Jaguares played their first three home games in the Torneo Apertura (against La Equidad, Deportes Tolima, and Patriotas) at Estadio Armando Tuirán Paternina in Sahagún due to works on the artificial lighting system at Estadio Jaraguay which enabled it to meet DIMAYOR's stadium requirements.

c: Junior played their home matches against Deportivo Pasto, Atlético Huila, and Rionegro Águilas at Estadio Romelio Martínez in Barranquilla instead of their regular stadium Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez.

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Torneo Apertura |||||||
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Jaime de la Pava | Mutual consent | 27 November 2017 | Pre-season | Diego Cagna | 15 December 2017 |
| Atlético Nacional | Juan Manuel Lillo | Resigned | 5 December 2017 | Pre-season | Jorge Almirón | 19 December 2017 |
| Junior | Julio Comesaña | Resigned | 5 December 2017 | Pre-season | Alexis Mendoza | 14 December 2017 |
| Jaguares | Hubert Bodhert | Resigned | 5 December 2017 | Pre-season | José Manuel Rodríguez | 5 December 2017 |
| Once Caldas | Herney Duque | End of caretaker spell | 7 December 2017 | Pre-season | Hubert Bodhert | 7 December 2017 |
| Deportivo Cali | Sergio Angulo | End of caretaker spell | 9 December 2017 | Pre-season | Gerardo Pelusso | 9 December 2017 |
| Rionegro Águilas | Diego Edison Umaña | Sacked | 10 December 2017 | Pre-season | Hernán Torres | 13 December 2017 |
| América de Cali | Jorge da Silva | Resigned | 24 March 2018 | 16th | Carlos Asprilla (caretaker) | 26 March 2018 |
| América de Cali | Carlos Asprilla | End of caretaker spell | 1 April 2018 | 18th | Pedro Felício Santos | 4 April 2018 |
| Junior | Alexis Mendoza | Sacked | 9 April 2018 | 3rd | Fernel Díaz (caretaker) | 9 April 2018 |
| Junior | Fernel Díaz | End of caretaker spell | 11 April 2018 | 3rd | Julio Comesaña | 12 April 2018 |
| Santa Fe | Gregorio Pérez | Sacked | 14 April 2018 | 13th | Agustín Julio (caretaker) | 14 April 2018 |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Diego Cagna | Mutual consent | 21 April 2018 | 12th | Adolfo León Holguín (caretaker) | 22 April 2018 |
| Rionegro Águilas | Hernán Torres | Resigned | 17 May 2018 | 13th | Jorge Luis Bernal | 31 May 2018 |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Adolfo León Holguín | End of caretaker spell | 21 May 2018 | 16th | Carlos Mario Hoyos | 21 May 2018 |
| Santa Fe | Agustín Julio | End of caretaker spell | 23 May 2018 | 12th | Guillermo Sanguinetti | 12 June 2018 |
| Independiente Medellín | Ismael Rescalvo | Mutual consent | 6 June 2018 | 2nd, SFs | Octavio Zambrano | 15 June 2018 |
| Torneo Finalización |||||||
| Deportivo Pasto | Flabio Torres | Resigned | 6 August 2018 | 18th | Hernán Lisi | 6 August 2018 |
| América de Cali | Pedro Felício Santos | Sacked | 19 August 2018 | 13th | Jersson González (caretaker) | 20 August 2018 |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Carlos Mario Hoyos | Mutual consent | 19 August 2018 | 15th | Óscar Serrano (caretaker) | 20 August 2018 |
| Envigado | Rubén Darío Bedoya | Resigned | 21 August 2018 | 17th | Juan Carlos Ramírez (caretaker) | 23 August 2018 |
| Leones | Juan Carlos Álvarez | Mutual consent | 24 August 2018 | 20th | Mauricio Martínez (caretaker) | 24 August 2018 |
| América de Cali | Jersson González | End of caretaker spell | 25 August 2018 | 15th | Fernando Castro | 26 August 2018 |
| Leones | Mauricio Martínez | End of caretaker spell | 27 August 2018 | 20th | Luis Amaranto Perea | 27 August 2018 |
| Jaguares | José Manuel Rodríguez | Resigned | 27 August 2018 | 16th | Flavio Robatto | 29 August 2018 |
| Atlético Nacional | Jorge Almirón | Resigned | 30 August 2018 | 5th | Hernán Darío Herrera (caretaker) | 30 August 2018 |
| Atlético Huila | Néstor Craviotto | Mutual consent | 9 September 2018 | 20th | Dayron Pérez (caretaker) | 10 September 2018 |
| Alianza Petrolera | Juan Cruz Real | Sacked | 23 September 2018 | 13th | Diego Estrada (caretaker) | 24 September 2018 |
| Envigado | Juan Carlos Ramírez | End of caretaker spell | 24 September 2018 | 18th | Eduardo Lara | 25 September 2018 |
| Alianza Petrolera | Diego Estrada | End of caretaker spell | 6 October 2018 | 15th | César Torres | 7 October 2018 |
| Deportivo Pasto | Hernán Lisi | Sacked | 19 October 2018 | 17th | Jairo Enríquez (caretaker) | 19 October 2018 |
| Jaguares | Flavio Robatto | Resigned | 28 October 2018 | 19th | Julio Méndez (caretaker) | 28 October 2018 |
| Atlético Nacional | Hernán Darío Herrera | End of caretaker spell | 2 November 2018 | 7th | Paulo Autuori | 2 November 2018 |

## Torneo Apertura

### First stage

The First stage began on 2 February and consisted of nineteen rounds with teams playing each other once. It ended on 6 May with the top eight teams at the end of this stage advancing to the knockout phase.

**Standings**

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Atlético Nacional | 19 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 10 | +13 | 41 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 2 | Independiente Medellín | 19 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 32 | 23 | +9 | 35 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 3 | Deportes Tolima | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 22 | 14 | +8 | 33 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 4 | Atlético Huila | 19 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 20 | 12 | +8 | 30 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 5 | Junior | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 16 | +3 | 30 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 6 | Deportivo Cali | 19 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 26 | 17 | +9 | 29 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 7 | Patriotas | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 18 | −1 | 29 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 8 | Once Caldas | 19 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 27 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 9 | Millonarios | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 18 | +1 | 26 | |
| 10 | Envigado | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 26 | |
| 11 | La Equidad | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 18 | 15 | +3 | 25 | |
| 12 | Santa Fe | 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 19 | +1 | 25 | |
| 13 | Rionegro Águilas | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 18 | 22 | −4 | 25 | |
| 14 | Jaguares | 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 23 | −7 | 25 | |
| 15 | Alianza Petrolera | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 26 | −2 | 23 | |
| 16 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 22 | 24 | −2 | 23 | |
| 17 | América de Cali | 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 22 | 31 | −9 | 22 | |
| 18 | Deportivo Pasto | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 19 | −4 | 20 | |
| 19 | Boyacá Chicó | 19 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 32 | −16 | 16 | |
| 20 | Leones | 19 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 23 | −10 | 13 | |

**Results**

| Home \ Away | APE | AME | BUC | HUI | NAC | BOY | TOL | CAL | PAS | ENV | DIM | JAG | JUN | EQU | LEO | MIL | ONC | PAT | RIO | SFE |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Alianza Petrolera | — | — | — | 2–1 | 1–2 | — | — | — | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | — | 1–0 | — | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| América de Cali | 2–1 | — | 2–1 | — | — | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | — | 0–1 | — | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | — | — | 2–0 | — | — |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | 4–1 | — | — | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | — | — | 3–1 | — | 2–4 | — | — | — | 2–2 | — | 1–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–0 |
| Atlético Huila | — | 4–0 | — | — | — | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | — | — | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | — | — | — | 2–0 | — | — |
| Atlético Nacional | — | 2–0 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–0 | — | — | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Boyacá Chicó | 3–0 | — | 2–1 | — | 1–1 | — | — | — | — | 0–1 | 1–2 | — | — | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–2 | 3–1 |
| Deportes Tolima | 3–1 | — | 0–1 | — | 0–1 | 1–0 | — | 0–1 | — | 2–1 | — | — | 2–1 | 4–1 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | 0–0 |
| Deportivo Cali | 2–1 | — | 0–1 | — | 0–2 | 4–0 | — | — | — | 0–0 | — | — | — | — | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | — | 4–0 | 3–0 |
| Deportivo Pasto | — | 2–0 | — | — | — | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | — | 2–0 | — | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | — | — | — | 1–1 | — | — |
| Envigado | 0–0 | — | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2–0 | — | — | — | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | 0–3 |
| Independiente Medellín | — | 3–1 | — | 3–0 | — | — | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | — | — | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | — | 4–1 | — | — |
| Jaguares | — | 1–0 | 0–1 | — | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | — | 2–4 | — | — | 1–2 | 1–0 | — | — | — | 0–0 | — | — |
| Junior | 0–0 | — | 1–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–0 | — | 2–1 | — | 0–3 | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | — | — | 1–1 |
| La Equidad | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | — | 1–0 | 4–0 | — | 2–0 | — | 1–0 | — | — | 0–0 | — | 2–0 | 0–0 | — | — | — | 2–0 |
| Leones | — | 1–2 | — | 0–0 | — | — | 0–1 | — | 2–1 | — | 0–2 | 0–0 | — | — | — | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |
| Millonarios | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | — | — | — | 2–0 | 1–0 | — | 1–1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | — |
| Once Caldas | — | 2–2 | — | 1–0 | — | — | 0–1 | — | 3–0 | — | 3–2 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | — | 0–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–2 | — |
| Patriotas | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | — | 1–0 | — | — | 1–0 | 0–0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rionegro Águilas | — | 2–1 | — | 0–0 | — | — | 1–3 | — | 0–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | — | 3–1 | — | 0–1 | — | — |
| Santa Fe | — | 3–0 | — | 0–1 | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | 4–0 | — | — | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | — |

### Knockout phase bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Atlético Nacional | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Deportivo Cali | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Deportivo Cali | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Atlético Nacional (p) | 0 | 0 | 0 (4) | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Atlético Huila | 0 | 0 | 0 (2) | | | | | |
| 4 | Atlético Huila (p) | 1 | 0 | 1 (3) | 4 | Atlético Huila | 0 | 0 | 0 (2) | | | | | |
| 7 | Patriotas | 1 | 0 | 1 (1) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Patriotas | 1 | 0 | 1 (1) | | | | | | 1 | Atlético Nacional | 1 | 1 | 2 (2) |
| | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Deportes Tolima (p) | 0 | 2 | 2 (4) |
| 2 | Indep. Medellín | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Deportes Tolima (p) | 0 | 2 | 2 (4) |
| 5 | Junior | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Junior | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Indep. Medellín | 0 | 1 | 1 (3) | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Deportes Tolima (p) | 1 | 0 | 1 (5) | | | | | |
| 3 | Deportes Tolima | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Deportes Tolima (p) | 1 | 0 | 1 (5) | | | | | |
| 8 | Once Caldas | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Quarterfinals

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Deportivo Cali | 1–2 | Atlético Nacional | 1–0 | 0–2 |
| Junior | 2–3 | Independiente Medellín | 0–1 | 2–2 |
| Once Caldas | 1–3 | Deportes Tolima | 1–0 | 0–3 |
| Patriotas | 1–1 (1–3 p) | Atlético Huila | 1–1 | 0–0 |

### Semifinals

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Atlético Huila | 0–0 (2–4 p) | Atlético Nacional | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Deportes Tolima | 1–1 (5–3 p) | Independiente Medellín | 1–0 | 0–1 |

### Finals

Tied 2–2 on aggregate, Deportes Tolima won on penalties.

* Liga Águila 2018 Apertura Champions
* Deportes Tolima 2nd Title

### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Name | Club | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Germán Cano | Independiente Medellín | 12 |
| 2 | Dayro Moreno | Atlético Nacional | 9 |
| 2 | Iván Rivas | Patriotas | 9 |
| 4 | Omar Duarte | Atlético Huila | 8 |
| 4 | Edder Farías | Once Caldas | 8 |
| 4 | Cristian Martínez Borja | América de Cali | 8 |
| 4 | Humberto Osorio | Rionegro Águilas | 8 |
| 8 | Edwar López | Atlético Huila | 7 |
| 8 | Yairo Moreno | Independiente Medellín | 7 |
| 8 | Carlos Peralta | La Equidad | 7 |
| 8 | José Sand | Deportivo Cali | 7 |

Source: Dimayor

## Torneo Finalización

### First stage

The First stage began on 20 July and featured the same format used in the Torneo Apertura, with reversed fixtures. It concluded on 11 November with the top eight teams at the end of this stage advancing to the knockout stage.

**Standings**

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Deportes Tolima | 19 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 34 | 22 | +12 | 39 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 2 | Once Caldas | 19 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 25 | 16 | +9 | 36 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 3 | La Equidad | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 14 | +8 | 36 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 4 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 19 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 35 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 5 | Independiente Medellín | 19 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 29 | 19 | +10 | 34 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 6 | Junior | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 32 | 17 | +15 | 32 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 7 | Rionegro Águilas | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 19 | +2 | 32 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 8 | Santa Fe | 19 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 27 | 13 | +14 | 31 | Advance to the knockout phase |
| 9 | Atlético Nacional | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 27 | 20 | +7 | 30 | |
| 10 | Deportivo Cali | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 15 | +4 | 29 | |
| 11 | Millonarios | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 25 | |
| 12 | América de Cali | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 19 | 20 | −1 | 25 | |
| 13 | Envigado | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 28 | −8 | 20 | |
| 14 | Boyacá Chicó | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 19 | 28 | −9 | 20 | |
| 15 | Patriotas | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 26 | −9 | 20 | |
| 16 | Alianza Petrolera | 19 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 22 | 33 | −11 | 19 | |
| 17 | Atlético Huila | 19 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 22 | −9 | 18 | |
| 18 | Deportivo Pasto | 19 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 21 | −10 | 15 | |
| 19 | Jaguares | 19 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 29 | −16 | 14 | |
| 20 | Leones | 19 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 15 | 28 | −13 | 9 | |

**Results**

| Home \ Away | APE | AME | BUC | HUI | NAC | BOY | TOL | CAL | PAS | ENV | DIM | JAG | JUN | EQU | LEO | MIL | ONC | PAT | RIO | SFE |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Alianza Petrolera | — | 2–2 | 1–2 | — | — | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–2 | — | — | 0–3 | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | — | 3–2 | — | — |
| América de Cali | — | — | — | 0–0 | 0–2 | — | — | — | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | 2–1 | — | — | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | 0–0 |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | — | 2–3 | — | — | — | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | — | 2–1 | — | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | — | 2–1 | — | 2–1 | — | — |
| Atlético Huila | 2–1 | — | 0–2 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | 2–1 | 0–0 | — | — | — | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–1 |
| Atlético Nacional | 3–2 | — | 2–3 | — | — | 3–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | — | 3–1 | — | — | 1–0 | 0–0 | — | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | — | — |
| Boyacá Chicó | — | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | — | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | — | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | — | — | — | 1–1 | — | — |
| Deportes Tolima | — | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | 3–0 | 2–2 | — | — | 3–2 | — | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | — |
| Deportivo Cali | — | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | — | — | 0–1 | — | 1–0 | — | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | — | — | — | 0–2 | — | — |
| Deportivo Pasto | 2–1 | — | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1–1 | — | — | — | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | 0–1 | 1–1 |
| Envigado | — | 1–1 | — | — | — | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–0 | — | — | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | — | 1–2 | — | 2–1 | — | — |
| Independiente Medellín | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | — | 2–1 | 2–0 | — | — | — | 2–2 | — | — | — | — | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | — | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| Jaguares | 1–0 | — | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | — | — | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | — | — | — | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | — | 2–2 | 0–0 |
| Junior | — | 0–0 | — | 3–0 | — | — | 4–3 | — | 3–0 | — | 2–1 | 1–2 | — | 3–1 | — | — | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | — |
| La Equidad | — | 1–2 | — | 1–0 | — | — | 0–1 | — | 1–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | — | — | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | — |
| Leones | 0–1 | — | 0–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–2 | — | 0–0 | — | 1–1 | — | — | 2–2 | 0–1 | — | — | — | — | — | 0–2 |
| Millonarios | — | — | — | — | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | — | — | 0–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–0 | — | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–3 |
| Once Caldas | 1–0 | — | 2–1 | — | 2–0 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | — | — | 1–0 | — | 0–0 | — | — | — | — | 1–0 |
| Patriotas | — | 0–0 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | 1–1 | — | 0–3 | 4–0 | — | — | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | — | 0–1 | 0–0 |
| Rionegro Águilas | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | — | 1–3 | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | — | — | — | — | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | — | — | 0–3 |
| Santa Fe | 4–0 | — | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 | — | 3–1 | — | — | 2–2 | 0–1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Knockout phase bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Deportes Tolima (p) | 2 | 0 | 2 (4) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Santa Fe | 1 | 1 | 2 (3) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Santa Fe | 1 | 1 | 2 (3) | 1 | Deportes Tolima | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Indep. Medellín | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | |
| 4 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Indep. Medellín | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | |
| 5 | Indep. Medellín | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Indep. Medellín | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | 5 | Indep. Medellín | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Junior | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | La Equidad | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Junior | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | Junior | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Junior | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | Junior | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 7 | Rionegro Águilas | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | |
| 2 | Once Caldas | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | Rionegro Águilas | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | |
| 7 | Rionegro Águilas | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Quarterfinals

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Santa Fe | 2–2 (3–4 p) | Deportes Tolima | 1–2 | 1–0 |
| Rionegro Águilas | 2–1 | Once Caldas | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Junior | 1–0 | La Equidad | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Independiente Medellín | 3–2 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 3–0 | 0–2 |

### Semifinals

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Independiente Medellín | 4–2 | Deportes Tolima | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Rionegro Águilas | 3–4 | Junior | 2–3 | 1–1 |

### Finals

Junior won 5–4 on aggregate.

* Liga Águila 2018 Finalización Champions
* Junior 8th title

### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Name | Club | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Germán Cano | Independiente Medellín | 20 |
| 2 | Marco Pérez | Deportes Tolima | 17 |
| 3 | Michael Rangel | Atlético Bucaramanga | 11 |
| 4 | Luis Díaz | Junior | 10 |
| 4 | Dayro Moreno | Atlético Nacional | 10 |
| 4 | Carlos Peralta | La Equidad | 10 |
| 4 | Diego Valdés | Boyacá Chicó | 10 |
| 8 | César Arias | Alianza Petrolera | 8 |
| 8 | David Lemos | Once Caldas | 8 |
| 10 | Jarlan Barrera | Junior | 7 |
| 10 | Juan Fernando Caicedo | Independiente Medellín | 7 |
| 10 | Wilson Morelo | Santa Fe | 7 |

Source: Dimayor, Soccerway

## Aggregate table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Independiente Medellín | 48 | 25 | 11 | 12 | 76 | 54 | +22 | 86 | Qualification to Copa Libertadores second stage |
| 2 | Deportes Tolima (C) | 48 | 25 | 10 | 13 | 66 | 46 | +20 | 85 | Qualification to Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 3 | Atlético Nacional | 44 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 54 | 33 | +21 | 79 | Qualification to Copa Libertadores second stage |
| 4 | Junior (C) | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 63 | 43 | +20 | 74 | Qualification to Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 5 | Once Caldas | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 53 | 47 | +6 | 67 | Qualification to Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 6 | La Equidad | 40 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 41 | 31 | +10 | 62 | Qualification to Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 7 | Rionegro Águilas | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 44 | 46 | −2 | 62 | Qualification to Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 8 | Deportivo Cali | 40 | 18 | 7 | 15 | 46 | 34 | +12 | 61 | Qualification to Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 9 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 40 | 18 | 7 | 15 | 49 | 47 | +2 | 61 | |
| 10 | Santa Fe | 40 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 49 | 34 | +15 | 59 | |
| 11 | Atlético Huila | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 34 | 35 | −1 | 52 | |
| 12 | Millonarios | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 42 | 41 | +1 | 51 | |
| 13 | Patriotas | 40 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 35 | 45 | −10 | 51 | |
| 14 | América de Cali | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 41 | 51 | −10 | 47 | |
| 15 | Envigado | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 39 | 47 | −8 | 46 | |
| 16 | Alianza Petrolera | 38 | 12 | 6 | 20 | 46 | 59 | −13 | 42 | |
| 17 | Jaguares | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 29 | 52 | −23 | 39 | |
| 18 | Boyacá Chicó | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 35 | 60 | −25 | 36 | |
| 19 | Deportivo Pasto | 38 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 26 | 40 | −14 | 35 | |
| 20 | Leones | 38 | 3 | 13 | 22 | 28 | 51 | −23 | 22 | |

* ↑ Atlético Nacional qualified for the Copa Libertadores second stage by winning the 2018 Copa Colombia.

## Relegation

A separate table was kept to determine the teams that get relegated to the Categoría Primera B for the next season. The table included an average of all first stage games played for the current season and the previous two seasons. For purposes of elaborating the table, promoted teams were given the same point and goal tallies as the team in the 18th position at the start of the season.

| Pos | Team | 2016 Pts | 2017 Pts | 2018 Pts | Total Pts | Total Pld | Avg | Relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Atlético Nacional | 76 | 87 | 71 | 234 | 118 | 1.983 |
| 2 | Independiente Medellín | 73 | 69 | 69 | 211 | 118 | 1.788 |
| 3 | Santa Fe | 70 | 67 | 56 | 193 | 118 | 1.636 |
| 4 | Millonarios | 70 | 69 | 51 | 190 | 118 | 1.61 |
| 5 | Junior | 65 | 62 | 62 | 189 | 118 | 1.602 |
| 6 | Deportes Tolima | 57 | 53 | 72 | 182 | 118 | 1.542 |
| 7 | Deportivo Cali | 66 | 53 | 58 | 177 | 118 | 1.5 |
| 8 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 55 | 47 | 58 | 160 | 118 | 1.356 |
| 9 | La Equidad | 42 | 53 | 61 | 156 | 118 | 1.322 |
| 10 | Once Caldas | 51 | 42 | 63 | 156 | 118 | 1.322 |
| 11 | Rionegro Águilas | 60 | 39 | 57 | 156 | 118 | 1.322 |
| 12 | Patriotas | 61 | 45 | 49 | 155 | 118 | 1.314 |
| 13 | América de Cali | 46 | 60 | 47 | 153 | 118 | 1.297 |
| 14 | Jaguares | 46 | 59 | 39 | 144 | 118 | 1.22 |
| 15 | Envigado | 51 | 44 | 46 | 141 | 118 | 1.195 |
| 16 | Atlético Huila | 42 | 48 | 48 | 138 | 118 | 1.169 |
| 17 | Deportivo Pasto | 44 | 56 | 35 | 135 | 118 | 1.144 |
| 18 | Alianza Petrolera | 47 | 46 | 42 | 135 | 118 | 1.144 |
| 19 | Boyacá Chicó (R) | 42 | 48 | 36 | 126 | 118 | 1.068 | Relegation to Categoría Primera B |
| 20 | Leones (R) | 42 | 48 | 22 | 112 | 118 | 0.949 | Relegation to Categoría Primera B |

Source: Dimayor Rules for classification: 1st average; 2nd goal difference; 3rd number of goals scored; 4th away goals scored.

