| Season | 1995–96 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 20 August 1995 – 14 July 1996 |
| Champions | Deportivo Cali (6th title) |
| Relegated | Atlético Huila |
| 1997 Copa Libertadores | Deportivo Cali Millonarios |
| 1996 Copa CONMEBOL | Deportes Tolima Santa Fe |
| Matches | 420 |
| Goals | 1,129 (2.69 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Iván Valenciano (36 goals) |
←1995 1996–97 → | |
The1995–96 Categoría Primera A season, known asCopa Mustang 1995–96 for sponsoring purposes, was the 49th season of theCategoría Primera A,Colombia's top-flight football league. The season started on 20 August 1995 and ended on 14 July 1996, being the first one played under the European format (from theNorthern Hemisphere's fall to spring) following the format change approved in 1994.[1]Deportivo Cali were the champions, winning their sixth domestic league title and first in 22 years with a scoreless draw against crosstown rivalsAmérica de Cali on the final day of the season.[2][3]
Junior were the defending champions, but their title defense was ended at the semi-finals after placing last in their group.
The season was split into four stages: the Apertura and Finalización tournaments, the final stage, and the Liguilla Pre-CONMEBOL:
16 teams competed in the season, the top 15 teams of the1995 season and the1995 Primera B championsAtlético Bucaramanga, who replaced the previous season's relegated teamCúcuta Deportivo.
The Torneo Apertura (also known asCopa Mustang I) began on 20 August and ended on 17 December 1995.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deportivo Cali | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 37 | 20 | +17 | 37 | +1.50 points |
| 2 | Deportes Tolima | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 22 | 24 | −2 | 29 | +0.50 points |
| 3 | Unión Magdalena | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 27 | |
| 4 | Millonarios | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 26 | 18 | +8 | 27 | |
| 5 | Once Caldas | 18 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 23 | 20 | +3 | 23 | |
| 6 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 20 | −2 | 23 | |
| 7 | Deportes Quindío | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 26 | 32 | −6 | 21 | |
| 8 | Independiente Medellín | 18 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 32 | −15 | 11 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlético Nacional | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 29 | 23 | +6 | 32 | +1.00 points |
| 2 | América de Cali | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 39 | 24 | +15 | 30 | +0.75 points |
| 3 | Junior | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 23 | 26 | −3 | 25 | |
| 4 | Atlético Huila | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 29 | 35 | −6 | 24 | |
| 5 | Santa Fe | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 28 | 27 | +1 | 23 | |
| 6 | Envigado | 18 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 22 | |
| 7 | Deportivo Pereira | 18 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 24 | −5 | 18 | |
| 8 | Cortuluá | 18 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 29 | −12 | 15 |
The Torneo Finalización (also known asCopa Mustang II) began on 14 January and ended on 13 May 1996.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deportivo Cali | 30 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 67 | 30 | +37 | 63 | +1.50 points |
| 2 | América de Cali | 30 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 50 | 30 | +20 | 55 | +1.00 points |
| 3 | Atlético Nacional | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 54 | 34 | +20 | 50 | +0.75 points |
| 4 | Deportes Tolima | 30 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 38 | 34 | +4 | 44 | +0.50 points |
| 5 | Once Caldas | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 43 | 40 | +3 | 44 | |
| 6 | Millonarios | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 44 | 41 | +3 | 43 | |
| 7 | Envigado | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 40 | |
| 8 | Junior | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 50 | 37 | +13 | 39 | |
| 9 | Cortuluá | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 35 | 43 | −8 | 39 | |
| 10 | Unión Magdalena | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 34 | 43 | −9 | 38 | |
| 11 | Deportivo Pereira | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 34 | 39 | −5 | 37 | |
| 12 | Independiente Medellín | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 26 | 31 | −5 | 36 | |
| 13 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 30 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 26 | 41 | −15 | 31 | |
| 14 | Deportes Quindío | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 37 | 55 | −18 | 31 | |
| 15 | Santa Fe[a] | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 43 | 53 | −10 | 29 | |
| 16 | Atlético Huila | 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 33 | 63 | −30 | 28 |
An aggregate table known asReclasificación including the games of both tournaments (Apertura and Finalización) was used to determine the teams that would advance to the Copa Mustang final stages, as well as the teams that would play the Liguilla Pre-CONMEBOL.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deportivo Cali | 48 | 29 | 13 | 6 | 104 | 50 | +54 | 100 | Advance to theFinal stages |
| 2 | América de Cali | 48 | 23 | 16 | 9 | 89 | 54 | +35 | 85 | |
| 3 | Atlético Nacional | 48 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 83 | 57 | +26 | 82 | |
| 4 | Deportes Tolima | 48 | 18 | 19 | 11 | 60 | 58 | +2 | 73 | Advance to theFinal stages and qualification for theCopa CONMEBOL[a] |
| 5 | Millonarios | 48 | 20 | 10 | 18 | 70 | 59 | +11 | 70 | Advance to theFinal stages |
| 6 | Once Caldas | 48 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 66 | 60 | +6 | 67 | |
| 7 | Unión Magdalena | 48 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 55 | 63 | −8 | 65 | |
| 8 | Junior | 48 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 73 | 63 | +10 | 64 | |
| 9 | Envigado | 48 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 52 | 52 | 0 | 62 | Advance to theLiguilla Pre-CONMEBOL |
| 10 | Deportivo Pereira | 48 | 12 | 19 | 17 | 53 | 63 | −10 | 55 | |
| 11 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 48 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 44 | 61 | −17 | 54 | |
| 12 | Cortuluá | 48 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 52 | 72 | −20 | 54 | |
| 13 | Deportes Quindío | 48 | 14 | 10 | 24 | 63 | 87 | −24 | 52 | |
| 14 | Atlético Huila(R) | 48 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 62 | 98 | −36 | 52 | Advance to theLiguilla Pre-CONMEBOL and relegation by average toCategoría Primera B |
| 15 | Santa Fe[b] | 48 | 14 | 12 | 22 | 71 | 80 | −9 | 52 | Advance to theLiguilla Pre-CONMEBOL |
| 16 | Independiente Medellín | 48 | 12 | 11 | 25 | 43 | 63 | −20 | 47 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AME | CAL | MAG | ONC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | América de Cali | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 12.75[a] | Advance toFinal group | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | |
| 2 | Deportivo Cali | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 11[b] | 0–0 | — | 1–0 | 2–1 | ||
| 3 | Unión Magdalena | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 1–0 | 2–1 | — | 3–2 | ||
| 4 | Once Caldas | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 10 | −1 | 5 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | — |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | MIL | NAC | TOL | JUN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Millonarios | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 12 | Advance toFinal group | — | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | |
| 2 | Atlético Nacional | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 9.75[a] | 1–2 | — | 2–1 | 1–0 | ||
| 3 | Deportes Tolima | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8[b] | 2–1 | 0–0 | — | 1–2 | ||
| 4 | Junior | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 7 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | CAL | MIL | NAC | AME | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deportivo Cali(C) | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 12[a] | Qualification for theCopa Libertadores | — | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | |
| 2 | Millonarios | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 12[a] | 3–1 | — | 2–0 | 3–0 | ||
| 3 | Atlético Nacional | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 5 | Ineligible forCopa CONMEBOL qualification[b] | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | |
| 4 | América de Cali | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | −5 | 5 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | — |
| 1995–96 Categoría Primera A champions |
|---|
| Deportivo Cali 6th title |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ENV | SFE | QUI | PER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Envigado | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 12[a] | Advance toLiguilla final group | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | |
| 2 | Santa Fe | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 3–1 | — | 1–0 | 1–2 | ||
| 3 | Deportes Quindío | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 8 | 1–1 | 1–2 | — | 3–0 | ||
| 4 | Deportivo Pereira | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 6 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | — |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | COR | DIM | HUI | BUC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cortuluá | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 9 | Advance toLiguilla final group | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | |
| 2 | Independiente Medellín | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 9 | 4–4 | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | ||
| 3 | Atlético Huila | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 8 | 3–0 | 0–0 | — | 4–1 | ||
| 4 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | −6 | 5 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | — |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SFE | ENV | COR | DIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 14 | Qualification for theCopa CONMEBOL[a] | — | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | |
| 2 | Envigado | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 11 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | ||
| 3 | Cortuluá | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | ||
| 4 | Independiente Medellín | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 13 | −8 | 1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — |
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Junior | 36 | |
| 2 | Atlético Nacional | 33 | |
| Deportivo Cali | |||
| 4 | Santa Fe | 25 | |
| 5 | Deportivo Pereira | 24 | |
| 6 | Atlético Huila | 22 | |
| Santa Fe | |||
| 8 | América de Cali | 21 | |
| Deportivo Cali | |||
| Deportes Quindío |
Source:Historia del Fútbol Profesional Colombiano 70 Años[6]