2021 Peruvian First Division

2021 Peruvian First Division (Liga 1)

 

Season	2021
Dates	12 March 2021 – 28 November 2021
Champions	Alianza Lima
Copa Libertadores	Alianza Lima Sporting Cristal Universitario de Deportes Universidad César Vallejo
Copa Sudamericana	FBC Melgar Cienciano Sport Boys Ayacucho
Relegated	Alianza Universidad Cusco FC[1]
Matches played	237
Goals scored	635 (2.68 goals/match on average)
Top goalscorers	Luis Iberico (FBC Melgar) and Felipe Rodríguez (Carlos A. Mannucci) – 12 goals each
Biggest home win	Melgar – Universidad de San Martín 6-0 (Stage 2, round 15, 17 October 2021)
Biggest away win	UTC – Sporting Cristal 1-6 (Stage 2, round 11, 17 September 2021)
Highest scoring	Cusco – Deportivo Municipal 3-5 (Stage 2, round 15, 18 October 2021)
Longest winning run	Sporting Cristal (8 matches, Stage 1, rounds 1-8)
Longest unbeaten run	Alianza Lima (18 matches, Stage 1, round 7 – Stage 2, round 15)
Longest winless run	Universidad S. Martín (16 matches, Stage 1 final – Stage 2, round 15)
Longest losing run	Deportivo Municipal (4 matches, Stage 1, rounds 1-4) Academia Cantolao (4 matches, Stage 1, rounds 3-6) Universidad de San Martín (4 matches, Stage 2, rounds 4-7) Universidad de San Martín (4 matches, Stage 2, rounds 10-13) Academia Cantolao (4 matches, Stage 2, rounds 12-15)
Total attendance	No spectators are allowed
Highest attendance	No spectators are allowed
Lowest attendance	No spectators are allowed
Average attendance	No spectators are allowed

 

Competition details and format

 

The Peruvian First Division (Primera División in Spanish) is the main football competition in Peru and the top tier of the football system in Peru. Since 2019, it has been officially called Liga 1 and in 2021 it became Liga 1 Betsson for sponsorship reasons. Primera División is however the generic name and it was the 105^th edition under this name in 2021. Sporting Cristal were the defending champions but lost the title in the play-off finals, 1-0 on aggregate, to Alianza Lima. Alianza Lima won their 24^th title overall and their first since 2017.

The number of participants has been reduced from 20 in 2020 to 18 in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the 2020 Second Division and led to the cancellation of the 2020 Copa Perú.

The COVID-19 pandemic had effects on the format and the start of the competition. The season should have started on 26 February 2021, but the start was postponed for 12 March 2021 due to the problems caused by the second wave of the pandemic in Peru. The structure of the competition was also changed. The classic Apertura and Clausura tournaments have been renamed Stage 1 (Fase 1) and Stage 2 (Fase 2) respectively. Stage 1 (former Apertura) was a shorter tournament as teams were divided in two groups (liguillas) of nine, and there were only nine rounds to be played, followed by the Stage 1 final, played between the winners of the two groups. Stage 2 (former Clausura) has been played in the second half of the year (after Copa América) and involved a single round robin, where every team faced every other team once, in a total of 17 rounds. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all matches were played on selected stadiums (neutral grounds) in Lima and Callao, without spectators and under strict health-related rules.

The competition was organized mainly by the FPF (Federación Peruana de Fútbol – Peruvian Football Federation) with the help of the ADFP (Asociación Deportiva de Fútbol Profesional – Professional Football Sports Association). Matches were broadcasted by Gol Perú (Gol TV) with very few exceptions.

The Peruvian First Division is normally divided into 2 tournaments (Apertura and Clausura, this year renamed Stage 1 and Stage 2), usually followed by a decisive play-off between the winners of the tournaments and the teams classified first and second in the aggregate table (if different from the winners of the tournaments) to establish the champions. In the event that the same team wins both tournaments, they are crowned champions and no play-off is played.

Therefore, the first tournament to be played was Stage 1 (Apertura). On 26 February 2021, the two groups of nine teams were established according to a drawing of lots. Teams were first aggregated in pairs of two, according to location and rivalry, and it was decided that these teams should be each in a different group, and they played a ”classic” match between them, when they are both not scheduled to play in their group. Given that groups were made of an odd number of teams (nine), in every round there was one team from each group which played against one team from the other group; these teams were those paired from the very beginning to play the “classic” match between them. The 2020 play-off finalists, Universitario de Deportes and Sporting Cristal, formed the first pair and they were also the favorites of their group. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all matches in Stage 1 were played on selected stadiums (neutral grounds) in Lima and Callao, without spectators and under strict health-related rules. The winners of the two groups played the Stage 1 final, to establish the winners of the tournament. The winners of Stage 1 qualify for the play-off semifinals if they are among the top nine in the final aggregate table, and they might qualify directly for the finals if they are classified first or second in the final aggregate table. The winners of Stage 1 also qualify for the next year Copa Libertadores. Sporting Cristal were already mathematically winners of Group B with two rounds to go, having a perfect record of 7 wins in the first 7 matches. In Group A, Universidad de San Martín surprisingly finished first, maintaining their position as they won their last match, 1-0 over Deportivo Municipal in the “classic of the day”. In the Stage 1 final, big favourites Sporting Cristal won 2-0 over Universidad de San Martín, but only after extra time. The score after 90 minutes was 0-0. As winners of Stage 1, defending champions Sporting Cristal were qualified to the play-off and to the next year Copa Libertadores.

The second tournament was Stage 2 (Clausura). Points earned during Stage 1 were not carried over in Stage 2. All teams played against each other once (single round-robin), for a total of 17 matches. Though initially it was hoped that teams would be able to play matches on their own grounds, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all matches in Stage 2 were also played on selected stadiums (neutral grounds) in Lima and Callao, without spectators and under strict health-related rules. The winners of Stage 2 have the same status as the winners of the Stage 1, so they also qualify for the play-off semifinals if they are among the top nine in the final aggregate table and might qualify directly for the finals if they finish first or second in the aggregate table. The winners of Stage 2 also qualify for the next year Copa Libertadores under the same condition. Alianza Lima became winners of Stage 2 on 16 October 2021, as they won 1-0 over Carlos A. Mannucci, maintaining a 9-point gap over second classified, Sporting Cristal, with two rounds to go.

The final aggregate table (Stage 1 + Stage 2) is very important. The teams classified first and second in the aggregate table would qualify for the play-off semifinals even if they did not win either tournament and therefore have a chance to become national champions. If the teams finishing first or second in the aggregate table are also the winners of any tournament, they will qualify directly to the play-off finals. This was the case in 2021, as the two winners of Stage 1 and Stage 2, Sporting Cristal and Alianza Lima respectively, were also the top two classified in the aggregate table.

The aggregate table also decides the relegation. The two teams with the worst overall record (classified 17^th and 18^th) were relegated to the Second Division, while the team classified 16^th played a relegation/promotion play-off. This year, relegation was decided in the last round, with no less than seven teams mathematically involved in the fight to avoid relegation. Alianza Universidad de Huánuco, second from bottom before the last round, lost 2-1 to Ayacucho and were relegated, after three years in the top tier. Universidad de San Martín de Porres lost 4-0 to UTC and were relegated due to goal difference, because Deportivo Binacional drew 0-0 with Universidad César Vallejo and Cusco FC won 2-1 over Sport Huancayo, therefore reaching the same number of points as Universidad de San Martín and Alianza Atlético de Sullana (which also lost 2-0 to Deportivo Municipal). Among these teams, Cusco FC (at the bottom of the table before the last round) and Alianza Atlético had the best goal difference and were saved from relegation. Deportivo Binacional (the 2019 champions) had the second worst goal difference among these teams and had to play a promotion / relagation play-off against the second classified in the Second Division, Carlos Stein, which they lost and were relegated. Universidad de San Martín (2007, 2008 and 2010 champions) had the worst goal difference among these four teams and were relegated to the Second Division for the first time since they were founded, in 2004. Academia Cantolao and Deportivo Municipal, while theoretically involved in the fight to avoid relegation, had a higher number of points and their results eventually did not matter.

However, the whole relegation issue changed after the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne decided in favour of Cienciano and Deportivo Binacional and against Cusco FC and the Peruvian Football Federation on 20 January 2022. This meant that the result of the match Cusco FC – Cienciano (Stage 2, round 9), played on 27 August 2021, was reversed to 2-2, as it was in the field, and not awarded 3-0 to Cusco FC, as initially decided by the Peruvian Football Federation because of the alleged use of an ineligible player by Cienciano. As a result, Cusco FC lost 2 points in the final aggregate table, while Cienciano won 1 point. The point won by Cienciano did not affect their position in the table. However, the 2 points lost by Cusco FC meant that they dropped from the 14^th place to the 17^th place in the updated final aggregate table, while Alianza Atlético, Deportivo Binacional and Universidad de San Martín de Porres moved up one place. On 21 January 2022, the Peruvian Football Federation confirmed the updated final aggregate table, and decided that Cusco FC, now in 17^th place, are relegated to the Second Division, after 10 years since promoted as Real Garcilaso, while Deportivo Binacional (15^th, above the relegation line in the new updated table) and Universidad de San Martín de Porres (16^th in the new updated table) are saved from relegation and would play in the First Division for the 2022 season. The promotion/relegation play-off between the 16^th classified in the First Division (Universidad de San Martín) and the second classified of the Second Division (Carlos Stein) would not be played, as both teams were allowed to play in the First Division in 2022. The replay of the promotion/relegation play-off would have possibly raised other legal issues, because Carlos Stein had already won the initial promotion/relegation play-off against Deportivo Binacional in November 2021. As a result, the 2022 season of the Peruvian First Division would involve 19 teams.

The possible remaining berth(s) for the Copa Libertadores and all teams to participate in the Copa Sudamericana (except for the winners of Copa Bicentenario – but in 2021 it was not the case, as Sporting Cristal, winners of Copa Bicentenario, were already qualified for Copa Libertadores) were to be established according to the final ranking of the aggregate table. Sporting Cristal, as winners of the Stage 1, and Alianza Lima, as winners of Stage 2 and eventual champions, qualified for the group stage of the 2022 Copa Libertadores. The two stage winners were also the top two classified in the aggregate table, meaning that the third and fourth classified in the aggregate table qualified for the preliminary rounds of the 2022 Copa Libertadores, while the fifth through eighth classified in the aggregate table qualified for the 2022 Copa Sudamericana. Universitario de Deportes qualified for Copa Libertadores due to results of the last round, when Universidad César Vallejo were unable to win over Binacional, and drew 0-0, thus finishing below Universitario de Deportes, before the last match between Universitario de Deportes and FBC Melgar. However, Universitario de Deportes won 2-1 over FBC Melgar, preserving their third place, while Universidad César Vallejo remained fourth. FBC Melgar needed a win against Universitario to climb in positions allowing them to play the next year Copa Libertadores, but they were defeated and therefore remained in fifth place, qualifying instead for Copa Sudamericana. Cienciano qualified for Copa Sudamericana with one round to go, as they won 3-1 over Ayacucho, while Sport Boys and Carlos A. Mannucci drew 3-3, therefore the gap between Cienciano (6^th classified) and Carlos A. Mannucci (9^th classified) increased to four points. Sport Boys needed at least a draw in the last round to secure their spot in the next year Copa Sudamericana and they drew 1-1 with Sporting Cristal. Finally, Ayacucho FC needed to win to maintain their one-point gap over Carlos A. Mannucci, and their 2-1 win over Alianza Universidad secured the last place (8^th) for the 2022 Copa Sudamericana. Despite winning in the last round, Carlos A. Mannucci were therefore denied the chance to qualify for the next year Copa Sudamericana.

The play-offs decide the national champions, unless the same team wins both tournaments. The play-offs possibly involve one or two semifinals and the final. There are four possible situations:

1.     Two different teams win the tournaments and are not classified first or second in the aggregate table, but in the first nine. In this case, the two winners of the tournaments and the two teams classified first and second in the aggregate table would qualify for the semifinals, to be played in two legs. The winners of the semifinals would qualify for the final, also to be played in two legs.

2.     Two different teams win the tournaments and one of them is classified first or second in the aggregate table, while the other is not. In this case, the team which won a tournament and is classified first or second in the aggregate table is directly qualified for the final and only one semifinal is to be played, between the winner of the other tournament and the team classified first or second in the aggregate table which is not the winner of any tournament. The semifinal and the final will be played in two legs.

3.     Two different teams win the tournaments and are classified first and second in the aggregate table. In this case, both teams will qualify for the final, and no semifinals are played. The final will be played in two legs. This was the case in 2021, as Sporting Cristal and Alianza Lima each won one of the tournaments and were classified first and second in the aggregate table. Therefore both qualified for the final and no semifinals were played.

4.     The same team wins both tournaments. In this case, they are crowned champions and no play-off is played.

 

The relegation / promotion play-offs, introduced for the first time in 2021, were played between the 16^th classified in the aggregate table of the First Division[2] (Deportivo Binacional) and the second classified in the Second Division (Carlos Stein). The winners would compete in the 2022 season of the First Division, while the losers would play in the 2022 season of the Second Division. Carlos Stein won (at penalties) and promoted, while Deportivo Binacional were initially relegated to the Second Division. However, Deportivo Binacional were saved from relegation due to the decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne on 20 January 2022, which ruled in their favour and against Cusco FC. The Peruvian Football Federation confirmed the updated aggregate table on 21 January 2022, in which Deportivo Binacional were classified in 15^th place, above the relegation line, and were therefore received back for the 2022 season of the First Division. It was also decided that Universidad de San Martín (classified 16^th in the updated aggregate table) would be saved from relegation too, and that the relegation / promotion play-off would not be played again, as Carlos Stein had already won, and both teams were allowed to play in the 2022 Peruvian First Division to avoid further legal issues. This means that the 2022 Peruvian First Division would involve 19 teams.

 

Team changes from 2020

 

To the First Division

 

Promoted from the Second Division

 

Alianza Atlético (Second Division winners)

 

From the First Division - Relegated to the Second Division

 

Atlético Grau (18^th in 2020)

Carlos Stein (19^th in 2020)[3]

Deportivo Llacuabamba (20^th in 2020)

 

Teams

 

Team	Home town	Stadium	Capacity	2020
Sporting Cristal	Lima	Alberto Gallardo[4]	20030	Champions
Universitario de Deportes	Lima	Monumental	80093	Runners-up
Ayacucho FC	Ayacucho	Ciudad de Cumaná	15000	3rd overall
Universidad César Vallejo	Trujillo	Mansiche	23214	4th overall
Carlos A. Mannucci	Trujillo	Mansiche	23214	5th overall
Sport Huancayo	Huancayo	Huancayo	20000	6th overall
Universidad Técnica de C.	Cajamarca	Héroes de San Ramón	18000	7th overall
FBC Melgar	Arequipa	Monumental UNSA	60370	8th overall
Cienciano	Cusco	Garcilaso de la Vega	42056	9th overall
Alianza Universidad	Huánuco	Heraclio Tapia León	25000	10th overall
Universidad de San Martín	Lima	Alberto Gallardo2	11600	11th overall
Cusco FC	Cusco	Garcilaso de la Vega	42056	12th overall
Deportivo Binacional	Juliaca	Guillermo Briceño	11600	13th overall
Sport Boys	Callao	Miguel Grau2	17000	14th overall
Deportivo Municipal	Lima	Iván Elías Moreno	13773	15th overall
Academia Cantolao	Callao	Miguel Grau	17000	16th overall
Alianza Lima	Lima	Alejandro Villanueva	35000	17th overall
Alianza Atlético	Sullana	Campeones del 36	12000	Promoted

 

Geographical distribution of teams

 

More than one third of the teams, 7 out of 18 are from the Capital Region – 5 from the Province of Lima and 2 from the Province of Callao. The department of La Libertad has 2 teams – Universidad César Vallejo and Carlos A. Mannucci, same as the department of Cusco – Cusco FC and Cienciano. The other 7 teams come from 7 different departments.

 

Location of the 2021 Peruvian First Division teams. Source: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liga_1_2021_(Perú)

 

Province or department	Number	Name of the teams
Lima	5	Alianza Lima, Sporting Cristal, Universitario de Deportes, Deportivo Municipal, Universidad de San Martín
Callao	2	Academia Cantolao, Sport Boys
Cusco	2	Cusco FC, Cienciano
La Libertad	2	Universidad César Vallejo, Carlos A. Mannucci
Arequipa	1	FBC Melgar
Ayacucho	1	Ayacucho FC
Cajamarca	1	Universidad Técnica de Cajamarca
Huánuco	1	Alianza Universidad
Junín	1	Sport Huancayo
Piura	1	Alianza Atlético
Puno	1	Deportivo Binacional

 

Foreign players

 

Each team was allowed a maximum of 5 foreign players in the squad, who could all play simultaneously in the field. A foreign player could be replaced in the roster by another foreign player only during the larger mid-year transfer window. If a foreign player receives Peruvian citizenship during the course of the year, he would still be counted as a foreign player throughout that year.

Most foreign players were from South American countries, especially Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and Paraguay. Many of the foreign players are strikers and are usually among the top goalscorers of the competition.

 

Compulsory use of young players (“bolsa de minutos”)

 

For Stage 1 and Stage 2 tournaments, each team had to use one or more players born in 2001 or after for a total of at least 810 minutes in Stage 1 and 1020 minutes in Stage 2, for a total of at least 1830 minutes. In Stage 1, it meant that a young player had to play 90 minutes (the entire game) in each round, on average. If these requirements are not met by a team, points would be deducted for that team.

 

Stage 1 (Apertura)

 

Stage 1 (former Apertura) was the first tournament of the 2021 Peruvian First Division (Liga 1 Betsson). It was shorter, as teams were divided in two groups of nine, and there were only 9 rounds, followed by the Stage 1 final, to be played between the winners of the two groups. The two groups meant for Stage 1 were established according to a drawing of lots on 26 February 2021. Teams were first aggregated in pairs of two, according to location and rivalry, and it was decided that these teams should be each in a different group, and they will play a ”classic” match between them, when they are both not scheduled to play in their group. Given that groups are made of an odd number of teams (nine), in every round there is one team from each group which plays against one team from the other group; these teams are those paired from the very beginning to play the “classic” match between them. The 2020 play-off finalists, Universitario de Deportes and Sporting Cristal, formed the first pair and they are also the favorites of their group. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all matches in Stage 1 were played on selected stadiums (neutral grounds) in Lima and Callao, without spectators and under strict health-related rules. Stage 1 started on 12 March 2021 and ended on 30 May 2021, with the final, in which Sporting Cristal won over Universidad de San Martín de Porres. The two groups for Stage 1 were the following:

 

Group (Liguilla) A

 

Universitario de Deportes

Academia Cantolao

Universidad de San Martín

Cienciano

FBC Melgar

Alianza Atlético

Carlos A. Mannucci

Ayacucho FC

UT Cajamarca

 

Group (Liguilla) B

 

Sporting Cristal

Sport Boys

Deportivo Municipal

Cusco FC

Deportivo Binacional

Alianza Lima[5]

Sport Huancayo

Universidad César Vallejo

Alianza Universidad

 

Matches were played Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, on selected stadiums in Lima and Callao (neutral grounds). There were few matches on Sundays, due to traffic restrictions and other limitations.

 

Group (Liguilla) A (classic matches in italics)

 

Round 1 (12-13 March 2021)

 

Cienciano – UTC 1-0

Carlos A. Mannucci – Academia Cantolao 2-0

Universitario – FBC Melgar 1-1

Ayacucho FC – Universidad de San Martín 2-2 – played on 7 April 2021

Alianza Atlético – Alianza Lima 0-0[6] - played on 12 May 2021

 

Round 2 (19-22 March 2021)

 

Academia Cantolao – Universitario 3-1

Universidad San Martín – Alianza Atlético 2-1

UTC – Carlos A. Mannucci 2-2

FBC Melgar – Ayacucho FC 0-0 – played on 12 April 2021

Cusco FC – Cienciano 2-2

 

Round 3 (27 March 2021)

 

Cienciano – Alianza Atlético 1-0

FBC Melgar – Academia Cantolao 3-0

Carlos A. Mannucci – Universidad San Martín 2-0

Universitario – UTC postponed

Ayacucho – Sport Huancayo 3-0 – played on 31 March 2021

 

Round 4 (13-14 April 2021)

 

Academia Cantolao – Cienciano 0-2

Alianza Atlético – Ayacucho 0-1

Universidad de San Martín – Universitario 0-1

UTC – FBC Melgar 3-1

Universidad César Vallejo – Carlos A. Mannucci 2-1

 

Round 5 (23-26 April 2021)

 

Academia Cantolao – UTC 0-1

Ayacucho – Cienciano 1-1

FBC Melgar – Universidad de San Martín 0-2

Carlos A. Mannucci – Alianza Atlético 1-3

Universitario – Sporting Cristal 0-1

 

Round 6 (30 April – 3 May 2021)

 

UTC – Ayacucho 1-3

Universidad de San Martín – Academia Cantolao 1-0

Alianza Atlético – Universitario 1-2

Cienciano – Carlos A. Mannucci 5-2

Binacional – FBC Melgar 1-1

 

Round 7 (7-8 May 2021)

 

UTC – Universidad de San Martín 0-1

FBC Melgar – Alianza Atlético 1-3

Universitario – Cienciano 3-2

Carlos A. Mannucci – Ayacucho 1-1

Academia Cantolao – Sport Boys 2-1

 

Round 8 (15-17 May 2021)

 

Ayacucho – Universitario 3-3

Cienciano – Universidad de San Martín 0-1

Carlos A. Mannucci – FBC Melgar 2-1

Alianza Atlético – Academia Cantolao 0-1

Alianza Universidad – UTC 1-2

 

Round 9 (22-23 May 2021)

 

UTC – Alianza Atlético 0-2

Universitario – Carlos A. Mannucci 0-0

FBC Melgar – Cienciano 3-0

Academia Cantolao – Ayacucho 2-2

Universidad de San Martín – Deportivo Municipal 1-0

 

                                                Group A final table

 

1	Universidad de San Martín	9	6	1	2	10-6	19	Qualified for Stage 1 final
2	Ayacucho FC	9	3	6	0	16-10	15
3	Universitario de Deportes	9	4	3	2	12-11	15
4	Cienciano	9	4	2	3	14-12	14
5	Carlos A. Mannucci	9	3	3	3	13-14	12
6	Alianza Atlético	9	3	1	5	10-9	10
7	UTC	9	3	1	5	9-12	10
8	Academia Cantolao	9	3	1	5	8-13	10
9	FBC Melgar	9	2	3	4	11-12	9

 

Rules for classification (except for first place): 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots.

A play-off is needed to decide the group winner if two or more teams are tied on points on top of the table at the end of the tournament.

 

 

Group (Liguilla) B (classic matches in italics)

 

Round 1 (12-15 March 2021)

 

Deportivo Municipal – Sport Huancayo 0-1

Binacional – Sporting Cristal 0-4

Sport Boys – Universidad César Vallejo 2-3

Alianza Universidad – Cusco FC 1-0

Alianza Atlético – Alianza Lima 0-0[7] - played on 12 May 2021

 

Round 2 (19-22 March 2021)

 

Sporting Cristal – Sport Boys 1-0

Sport Huancayo – Binacional 3-0

Universidad César Vallejo – Alianza Universidad 0-1

Alianza Lima – Deportivo Municipal 1-0 – played on 6 April 2021

Cusco FC – Cienciano 2-2

 

Round 3 (29-31 March 2021)

 

Sport Boys – Binacional 3-2

Alianza Universidad – Sporting Cristal 0-3

Deportivo Municipal – Universidad César Vallejo 0-4

Alianza Lima – Cusco FC 2-2

Ayacucho – Sport Huancayo 3-0

 

Round 4 (13-14 April 2021)

 

Cusco FC – Sport Boys 2-2

Binacional – Alianza Universidad 2-1

Sporting Cristal – Deportivo Municipal 3-1

Sport Huancayo – Alianza Lima 0-0

Universidad César Vallejo – Carlos A. Mannucci 2-1

 

Round 5 (23-26 April 2021)

 

Deportivo Municipal – Binacional 2-1

Alianza Universidad – Sport Boys 1-0

Alianza Lima – Universidad César Vallejo 2-2

Cusco FC – Sport Huancayo 0-1

Universitario – Sporting Cristal 0-1

 

Round 6 (30 April – 3 May 2021)

 

Sport Boys – Deportivo Municipal 3-1

Sporting Cristal – Alianza Lima 2-1

Sport Huancayo – Alianza Universidad 3-3

Universidad César Vallejo – Cusco FC 1-1

Binacional – FBC Melgar 1-1

 

Round 7 (7-10 May 2021)

 

Alianza Lima – Binacional 2-0

Cusco FC – Sporting Cristal 1-2

Sport Huancayo – Universidad César Vallejo 0-0

Deportivo Municipal – Alianza Universidad 1-0

Academia Cantolao – Sport Boys 2-1

 

Round 8 (15-17 May 2021)

 

Binacional – Universidad César Vallejo 1-2

Deportivo Municipal – Cusco FC 1-1

Sporting Cristal – Sport Huancayo 2-0

Sport Boys – Alianza Lima 0-2

Alianza Universidad – UTC 1-2

 

Round 9 (21-23 May 2021)

 

Cusco FC – Binacional 3-1

Alianza Lima – Alianza Universidad 2-0

Universidad César Vallejo – Sporting Cristal 3-0

Sport Huancayo – Sport Boys 0-1

Universidad de San Martín – Deportivo Municipal 1-0

 

                                                Group B final table

 

1	Sporting Cristal	9	8	0	1	18-6	24	Qualified for Stage 1 final
2	Universidad César Vallejo	9	5	3	1	17-8	18
3	Alianza Lima	9	4	4	1	12-6	16
4	Sport Huancayo	9	3	3	3	8-9	12
5	Sport Boys	9	3	1	5	12-14	10
6	Alianza Universidad	9	3	1	5	8-13	10
7	Cusco FC	9	1	5	3	12-13	8
8	Deportivo Municipal	9	2	1	6	6-15	7
9	Binacional	9	1	1	7	8-21	4

 

Rules for classification (except for first place): 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots.

A play-off is needed to decide the group winner if two or more teams are tied on points on top of the table at the end of the tournament.

 

Stage 1 final (30 May 2021) – on neutral ground

 

Sporting Cristal – Universidad de San Martín 2-0 (0-0) after extra time

 

Sporting Cristal are the winners of Stage 1 and are therefore qualified for the play-offs and the next year Copa Libertadores.

 

Stage 2 (Clausura)

 

Stage 2 (former Clausura) was the second tournament of the 2021 Peruvian First Division (Liga 1 Betsson). Each team played each other once (single round-robin), a total of 17 matches. Though initially hoped that each team would be able to use its own ground for home matches, due to the COVID-19 pandemic all matches in Stage 2 were played on selected stadiums (neutral grounds) in Lima and Callao, without spectators and under strict health-related rules. Matches were played usually on Saturdays and Sundays, with fewer matches Fridays, Mondays or in mid-week. Stage 2 started on 17 July 2021 and finished on 31 October 2021. Alianza Lima won Stage 2 on 16 October 2021 by winning 1-0 over Carlos A. Mannucci and maintaining a 9-point gap over second classified Sporting Cristal with two rounds to go.

 

Round 1 (17-19 July 2021)

 

Deportivo Municipal – UTC 1-1

Universidad de San Martín – Carlos A. Mannucci 0-2

Academia Cantolao – Sporting Cristal 2-4

Sporting Huancayo – FBC Melgar 0-3

Sport Boys – Cienciano 1-4

Alianza Lima – Ayacucho 4-1

Binacional – Alianza Universidad 1-1

Universidad César Vallejo – Cusco FC 1-0

Universitario – Alianza Atlético 2-2

 

Round 2 (23-25 July 2021)

 

Cienciano – Academia Cantolao 0-0

Carlos A. Mannucci – Deportivo Municipal 1-2

Alianza Atlético – Sport Huancayo 1-0

Ayacucho – Sport Boys 1-2

Alianza Universidad – Alianza Lima 0-0

Cusco FC – Binacional 2-2

FBC Melgar – Universidad César Vallejo 1-1

UTC – Universitario 0-1

Sporting Cristal – Universidad de San Martín 1-1 – played on 3 September 2021

 

Round 3 (30 July – 1 August 2021)

 

Academia Cantolao – Ayacucho 2-2

Universidad de San Martín – Cienciano 1-1

Deportivo Municipal – Sporting Cristal 1-1

Universidad César Vallejo – Alianza Atlético 2-0

Universitario – Carlos A. Mannucci 1-3

Sport Huancayo – UTC 0-0

Cusco FC – Alianza Universidad 2-3

Binacional – FBC Melgar 1-5

Sport Boys – Alianza Lima 0-0

 

Round 4 (2-4 August 2021)

 

Ayacucho – Universidad de San Martín 1-0

Cienciano – Deportivo Municipal 2-3

UTC – Universidad César Vallejo 0-0

Carlos A. Mannucci – Sport Huancayo 1-1

Sporting Cristal – Universitario 2-2

Alianza Atlético – Binacional 0-3

FBC Melgar – Cusco FC 2-2

Alianza Universidad – Sport Boys 2-0

Alianza Lima – Academia Cantolao 2-1

 

Round 5 (6-9 August 2021)

 

Deportivo Municipal – Ayacucho 0-1

Sport Huancayo – Sporting Cristal 1-2

Binacional – UTC 1-0

Universidad César Vallejo – Carlos A. Mannucci 0-1

Cusco FC – Alianza Atlético 3-0

Academia Cantolao – Sport Boys 0-2

Universidad de San Martín – Alianza Lima 0-2

Universitario – Cienciano 3-1

FBC Melgar – Alianza Universidad 3-0

 

Round 6 (13-15 August 2021)

 

UTC – Cusco FC 2-1

Alianza Atlético – FBC Melgar 3-3

Carlos A. Mannucci – Binacional 3-1

Sporting Cristal – Universidad César Vallejo 0-1

Ayacucho – Universitario 1-1

Alianza Lima – Deportivo Municipal 1-0

Cienciano – Sport Huancayo 0-0

Alianza Universidad – Academia Cantolao 0-3

Sport Boys – Universidad de San Martín 2-0

 

Round 7 (17-19 August 2021)

 

Cusco FC – Carlos A. Mannucci 2-3

Universidad César Vallejo – Cienciano 0-1

FBC Melgar – UTC 0-1

Sport Huancayo – Ayacucho 1-1

Universitario – Alianza Lima 1-2

Alianza Atlético – Alianza Universidad 1-2

Universidad de San Martín – Academia Cantolao 0-2

Deportivo Municipal – Sport Boys 0-1 – played on 3 September 2021

Binacional – Sporting Cristal 3-4 – played on 8 October 2021

 

Round 8 (21-23 August 2021)

 

Carlos A. Mannucci – FBC Melgar 1-2

Cienciano – Binacional 2-0

Ayacucho – Universidad César Vallejo 2-1

Sport Boys – Universitario 0-0

Sporting Cristal – Cusco FC 4-1

Alianza Universidad – Universidad de San Martín 1-1

UTC – Alianza Atlético 3-1

Alianza Lima – Sport Huancayo 1-1

Academia Cantolao – Deportivo Municipal 2-1

 

Round 9 (27-29 August 2021)

 

Binacional – Ayacucho 3-1

FBC Melgar – Sporting Cristal 0-1

Cusco FC – Cienciano 2-2 (initially awarded 3-0[8])

Alianza Atlético – Carlos A. Mannucci 2-0

UTC – Alianza Universidad 1-0

Universitario – Academia Cantolao 2-2

Sport Huancayo – Sport Boys 1-1

Deportivo Municipal – Universidad de San Martín 2-0

Universidad César Vallejo – Alianza Lima 0-1

 

Round 10 (11-13 September 2021)

 

Academia Cantolao – Sport Huancayo 0-0

Ayacucho – Cusco FC 1-3

Alianza Universidad – Deportivo Municipal 0-3

Carlos A. Mannucci – UTC 1-3

Alianza Lima – Binacional 3-2

Sporting Cristal – Alianza Atlético 5-2

Cienciano – FBC Melgar 0-1

Sport Boys – Universidad César Vallejo 2-2

Universidad de San Martín – Universitario 0-2

 

Round 11 (17-19 September 2021)

 

Alianza Atlético – Cienciano 2-2

UTC – Sporting Cristal 1-6

Cusco FC – Alianza Lima 0-2

FBC Melgar – Ayacucho 1-1

Carlos A. Mannucci – Alianza Universidad 1-1

Universidad César Vallejo – Academia Cantolao 0-0

Binacional – Sport Boys 1-2

Sport Huancayo – Universidad de San Martín 3-1

Universitario – Deportivo Municipal 0-2

 

Round 12 (21-23 September 2021)

 

Cienciano – UTC 2-2

Ayacucho – Alianza Atlético 0-1

Sport Boys – Cusco FC 3-2

Alianza Lima – FBC Melgar 1-0

Sporting Cristal – Carlos A. Mannucci 1-3

Deportivo Municipal – Sport Huancayo 2-2

Academia Cantolao – Binacional 1-2

Alianza Universidad – Universitario 0-4

Universidad de San Martín – Universidad César Vallejo 0-1

 

Round 13 (25-27 September 2021)

 

UTC – Ayacucho 0-2

Carlos A. Mannucci – Cienciano 1-3

Alianza Atlético – Alianza Lima 1-3

Universidad César Vallejo – Deportivo Municipal 2-0

FBC Melgar – Sport Boys 1-0

Sport Huancayo – Universitario 1-3

Alianza Universidad – Sporting Cristal 1-2

Cusco FC – Academia Cantolao 3-2

Binacional – Universidad de San Martín 1-0

 

Round 14 (1-3 October 2021)

 

Ayacucho – Carlos A. Mannucci 3-2

Sport Boys – Alianza Atlético 3-1

Cienciano – Sporting Cristal 2-1

Sport Huancayo – Alianza Universidad 4-3

Deportivo Municipal – Binacional 1-2

Alianza Lima – UTC 2-0

Universidad de San Martín – Cusco FC 1-1

Academia Cantolao – FBC Melgar 0-2

Universitario – Universidad César Vallejo 3-0

 

Round 15 (16-18 October 2021)

 

Alianza Atlético – Academia Cantolao 3-1

UTC – Sport Boys 1-1

Carlos A. Mannucci – Alianza Lima 0-1

FBC Melgar – Universidad de San Martín 6-0

Alianza Universidad – Cienciano 1-1

Sporting Cristal – Ayacucho 1-0

Cusco FC – Deportivo Municipal 3-5

Binacional – Universitario 1-2

Universidad César Vallejo – Sport Huancayo 0-0

 

Round 16 (22-24 October 2021)

 

Academia Cantolao – UTC 2-0

Ayacucho – Cienciano 1-3

Sport Boys – Carlos A. Mannucci 3-3

Sport Huancayo – Binacional 2-0

Universidad de San Martín – Alianza Atlético 3-1

Universitario – Cusco FC 2-1

Deportivo Municipal – FBC Melgar 1-3

Universidad César Vallejo – Alianza Universidad 3-1

Alianza Lima – Sporting Cristal 1-3

 

Round 17 (29-31 October 2021)

 

Cienciano – Alianza Lima 1-1

Binacional – Universidad César Vallejo 0-0

Cusco FC – Sport Huancayo 2-1

UTC – Universidad de San Martín 4-0

Carlos A. Mannucci – Academia Cantolao 1-0

Alianza Atlético – Deportivo Municipal 0-2

Alianza Universidad – Ayacucho 1-2

Sporting Cristal – Sport Boys 1-1

FBC Melgar – Universitario 1-2

 

Initial Stage 2 (Clausura) table

 

1	Alianza Lima	17	12	4	1	27-11	40	Qualified for the play-offs
2	Sporting Cristal	17	10	4	3	39-23	34
3	Universitario de Deportes	17	9	5	3	31-19	32
4	FBC Melgar	17	9	4	4	34-15	31
5	Sport Boys	17	7	7	3	24-20	28
6	Cienciano	17	6	7	4	25-21	25
7	Deportivo Municipal	17	7	3	7	26-22	24
8	Universidad César Vallejo	17	6	6	5	14-12	24
9	Carlos A. Mannucci	17	7	3	7	27-26	24
10	UTC	17	6	5	6	19-21	23
11	Ayacucho FC	17	6	4	7	21-26	22
12	Binacional	17	6	3	8	24-29	21
13	Cusco FC	17	5	3	9	31-34	18
14	Sport Huancayo	17	3	9	5	18-21	18
15	Academia Cantolao	17	4	5	8	20-24	17
16	Alianza Atlético	17	4	3	10	21-37	15
17	Alianza Universidad	17	3	5	9	17-32	14
18	Universidad San Martín	17	1	4	12	8-33	7

 

Rules for classification (except for first place): 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots.

A play-off is needed to decide the winner if two or more teams are tied on points on top of the table at the end of the tournament.

 

Updated[9] Stage 2 (Clausura) table

 

1	Alianza Lima	17	12	4	1	27-11	40	Qualified for the play-offs
2	Sporting Cristal	17	10	4	3	39-23	34
3	Universitario de Deportes	17	9	5	3	31-19	32
4	FBC Melgar	17	9	4	4	34-15	31
5	Sport Boys	17	7	7	3	24-20	28
6	Cienciano	17	6	8	3	27-20	26
7	Deportivo Municipal	17	7	3	7	26-22	24
8	Universidad César Vallejo	17	6	6	5	14-12	24
9	Carlos A. Mannucci	17	7	3	7	27-26	24
10	UTC	17	6	5	6	19-21	23
11	Ayacucho FC	17	6	4	7	21-26	22
12	Binacional	17	6	3	8	24-29	21
13	Sport Huancayo	17	3	9	5	18-21	18
14	Academia Cantolao	17	4	5	8	20-24	17
15	Cusco FC	17	4	4	9	30-36	16
16	Alianza Atlético	17	4	3	10	21-37	15
17	Alianza Universidad	17	3	5	9	17-32	14
18	Universidad San Martín	17	1	4	12	8-33	7

 

Rules for classification (except for first place): 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots.

A play-off is needed to decide the winner if two or more teams are tied on points on top of the table at the end of the tournament.

 

Initial aggregate table (Stage 1 + Stage 2)

 

1	Sporting Cristal (AW, Q)	26	18	4	4	57-29	58	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
2	Alianza Lima (CW,Q, C)	26	16	8	2	39-17	56	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
3	Universitario de Deportes	26	13	8	5	43-30	46	[10] Qualified for C. Libertadores
4	Univ. César Vallejo	26	11	9	6	31-20	42	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
5	FBC Melgar	26	11	7	8	45-27	40	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
6	Cienciano	26	10	9	7	39-33	38	[10]Qualified for C. Sudamericana
7	Sport Boys	26	10	8	8	36-34	37	[10]Qualified for C. Sudamericana
8	Ayacucho FC	26	9	10	7	37-36	37	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
9	Carlos A. Mannucci	26	10	6	10	40-40	36
10	UTC	26	9	6	11	28-33	33
11	Sport Huancayo	26	6	12	8	26-30	30
12	Deportivo Municipal	26	9	4	13	32-37	30	[10]
13	Academia Cantolao	26	7	6	13	28-37	27
14	Cusco FC	26	6	8	12	43-47	25	[10]
15	Alianza Atlético	26	7	4	15	31-46	25
16	Binacional (PO, R)	26	7	4	15	32-50	25	Relegation/promotion play-offs
17	Univ. de San Martín (R)	26	7	5	14	18-39	25	[10]Relegated to Second Division
18	Alianza Universidad (R)	26	6	6	14	25-45	23	[10]Relegated to Second Division

 

C – Champions

Q – Qualified for the play-offs

AW – Stage 1 (Apertura) Winners

CW – Stage 2 (Clausura) Winners

PO – Relegation / promotion play-off

R – Relegated

 

Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots; 5) play-off (only if needed to decide teams for relegation)

 

Updated[11] aggregate table (Stage 1 + Stage 2)

 

1	Sporting Cristal (AW, Q)	26	18	4	4	57-29	58	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
2	Alianza Lima (CW,Q, C)	26	16	8	2	39-17	56	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
3	Universitario de Deportes	26	13	8	5	43-30	46	[12] Qualified for C. Libertadores
4	Univ. César Vallejo	26	11	9	6	31-20	42	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
5	FBC Melgar	26	11	7	8	45-27	40	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
6	Cienciano	26	10	10	8	41-32	39	[12]Qualified for C. Sudamericana
7	Sport Boys	26	10	8	8	36-34	37	[12]Qualified for C. Sudamericana
8	Ayacucho FC	26	9	10	7	37-36	37	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
9	Carlos A. Mannucci	26	10	6	10	40-40	36
10	UTC	26	9	6	11	28-33	33
11	Sport Huancayo	26	6	12	8	26-30	30
12	Deportivo Municipal	26	9	4	13	32-37	30	[12]
13	Academia Cantolao	26	7	6	13	28-37	27
14	Alianza Atlético	26	7	4	15	31-46	25
15	Binacional	26	7	4	15	32-50	25
16	Univ. de San Martín	26	7	5	14	18-39	25	[12]
17	Cusco FC (R)	26	5	9	12	42-49	23	[12]Relegated to Second Division
18	Alianza Universidad (R)	26	6	6	14	25-45	23	[12]Relegated to Second Division

 

C – Champions

Q – Qualified for the play-offs

AW – Stage 1 (Apertura) Winners

CW – Stage 2 (Clausura) Winners

PO – Relegation / promotion play-off

R – Relegated

 

Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots; 5) play-off (only if needed to decide teams for relegation)

 

Relegation / promotion play-offs

 

The relegation / promotion play-offs, introduced for the first time in 2021, were played between the 16^th classified in the aggregate table of the First Division (Deportivo Binacional) and the second classified in the Second Division (Carlos Stein). The winners would compete in the 2022 season of the First Division, while the losers would play in the 2022 season of the Second Division.

 

Qualified team	Manner of qualification
Deportivo Binacional[13]	16th classified in the aggregate table of the First Division
Carlos Stein	2nd classified in the Second Division

 

First leg, 4 November 2021

 

Carlos Stein – Deportivo Binacional 0-1

 

Second leg, 7 November 2021

 

Deportivo Binacional – Carlos Stein 0-1 (2-4 at penalties)

 

Carlos Stein promoted to the 2022 Peruvian First Division, while Deportivo Binacional were initially relegated to the 2022 Peruvian Second Division. However, Deportivo Binacional were saved from relegation due to the decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne on 20 January 2022, which ruled in their favour and against Cusco FC. The Peruvian Football Federation confirmed the updated aggregate table on 21 January 2022, in which Deportivo Binacional were classified in 15^th place, above the relegation line, and were therefore received back for the 2022 season of the First Division. It was also decided that Universidad de San Martín (classified 16^th in the updated aggregate table) would be saved from relegation too, and that the relegation / promotion play-off would not be played again, as Carlos Stein had already won, and both teams were allowed to play in the 2022 Peruvian First Division to avoid further legal issues. This means that the 2022 Peruvian First Division would involve 19 teams.

 

Play-offs

 

Play-offs were played to establish the champions of the Peruvian First Division. Sporting Cristal, as winners of Stage 1 and classified first in the aggregate table, and Alianza Lima, as winners of Stage 2 and classified second in the aggregate table, were qualified directly to the play-off finals. All matches, either “home” or “away”, were played in Lima.

 

Qualified team	Manner of qualification	Stage
Sporting Cristal	Winners of Stage 1	Finals
	First classified in the aggregate table
Alianza Lima	Winners of Stage 2	Finals
	Second classified in the aggregate table

 

Finals

 

First leg, 21 November 2021

 

Alianza Lima – Sporting Cristal 1-0

 

Second leg, 28 November 2021

 

Sporting Cristal – Alianza Lima 0-0

 

Alianza Lima became the 2021 champions of the Peruvian First Division, winning 1-0 on aggregate.

 

Top goalscorers

 

Rank	Name and nationality	Club	Goals
1	Luis Iberico (PER)	FBC Melgar	12
1	Felipe Rodríguez (URU)	Carlos A. Mannucci	12
3	Alexis Blanco (ARG)	UTC	11
3	Gabriel Leyes (URU)	Academia Cantolao	11
3	Victor Perlaza (COL)	Alianza Atlético	11
3	Alex Valera (PER)	Universitario	11
3	Joao Villamarín (PER)	Sport Boys	11
8	Hernán Barcos (ARG)	Alianza Lima	10
8	Marlon de Jesús (ECU)	Binacional	10

 

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[1] Initially Universidad de San Martín and Deportivo Binacional were relegated, along with Alianza Universidad. Due to the decision made by the Court of Arbitration of Sport in Lausanne on 20 January 2022, the result of the match Cusco FC – Cienciano was changed back to 2-2, as it was in the field, instead of 3-0, as awarded by the Peruvian Football Federation. As a result, a new updated final aggregate table was confirmed by the Peruvian Football Federation on 21 January 2022. Cusco FC dropped into 17^th place and were relegated, while Deportivo Binacional and Universidad de San Martín were saved from relegation and received back into the First Division for the 2022 season.

[2] Deportivo Binacional were in the 16^th position in the final aggregate table at the end of the 2021 season. However, they moved up to the 15^th position after the decision issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 20 January 2022 and were therefore saved from relegation.

[3] Carlos Stein initially finished 17^th and remained in the First Division, while Alianza Lima finished 18^th at the end of the 2020 season and were relegated. However, Alianza Lima appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne concerning certain financial irregularities of Carlos Stein, and the Court ruled in their favour on 17 March 2021. Carlos Stein were deducted 2 points in the 2020 aggregate table and therefore finished 19^th and were relegated, while Alianza Lima effectively took their place, despite the fact that the 2021 season had begun and Carlos Stein had already played a game in the first round, whose result had to be cancelled.

[4] For important games, Sporting Cristal, Universidad de San Martín and Sport Boys use the much larger Nacional Stadium as their home ground.

[5] On 18 March 2021 Alianza Lima replaced Carlos Stein, which were originally drawn in this group.

[6] Initially, this game was scheduled between Alianza Atlético and Carlos Stein and finished 0-0. The result was cancelled when Carlos Stein were relegated to the Second Division, on 18 March 2021, and Alianza Atlético had to play it again, this time against Alianza Lima, which replaced Carlos Stein.

[7] Initially, this game was scheduled between Alianza Atlético and Carlos Stein and finished 0-0. The result was cancelled when Carlos Stein were relegated to the Second Division, on 18 March 2021, and Alianza Atlético had to play it again, this time against Alianza Lima, which replaced Carlos Stein.

[8] Initially, Cienciano were punished for allegedly fielding an ineligible player and the match was awarded 3-0 to Cusco FC. On 20 January 2022, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favour of Cienciano and Deportivo Binacional, and against Cusco FC and the Peruvian Football Federation, so the result of the match was reversed to 2-2, as it was in the field.

[9] According to the decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne on 20 January 2022, which reversed back the result of the match Cusco FC – Cienciano 2-2, as it was in the field, instead of 3-0, as awarded initially by the Peruvian Football Federation.

[10] Universitario de Deportes, Universidad de San Martín, Cienciano, Alianza Universidad, Sport Boys, Cusco FC, and Deportivo Municipal have been all deducted 1 point in the aggregate table for financial irregularities.

[11] According to the decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne on 20 January 2022, which reversed back the result of the match Cusco FC – Cienciano 2-2, as it was in the field, instead of 3-0, as awarded initially by the Peruvian Football Federation. The Peruvian Football Federation confirmed the updated aggregate table on 21 January 2022, and that Cusco FC are relegated, while Deportivo Binacional and Universidad de San Martín are saved from relegation.

[12] Universitario de Deportes, Universidad de San Martín, Cienciano, Alianza Universidad, Sport Boys, Cusco FC, and Deportivo Municipal have been all deducted 1 point in the aggregate table for financial irregularities.

[13] Deportivo Binacional were in the 16^th position in the final aggregate table at the end of the 2021 season. However, they moved up to the 15^th position after the decision issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 20 January 2022 and were therefore saved from relegation.