Junior entered the season as defending champions having won the 2018 Finalización tournament and successfully defended the title in the Torneo Apertura, beating Deportivo Pasto 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw on aggregate to claim their ninth domestic league title on 12 June.
[1] Junior's winning streak was stopped in the Torneo Finalización by América de Cali, who won their fourteenth Primera A title and first since 2008 on 7 December by defeating the defending champions 2–0 on aggregate in the finals.
Both promoted teams replaced Boyacá Chicó and Leones who were relegated at the end of the previous season.
The First stage began on 25 January and consisted of twenty rounds with teams playing each other once plus an extra match against their regional rival.
Source: Soccerway The First stage began on 13 July and will feature the same format used in the Torneo Apertura, with reversed fixtures.