2020–21 Primera División de El Salvador

The 2020–21 Primera División de El Salvador (also known as the Liga Pepsi) is the 22nd season and 43rd and 44th Primera División tournament, El Salvador's top football division, since its establishment of an Apertura and Clausura format. Alianza F.C. and Once Deportivo de Ahuachapan are the defending champions of both Apertura and Clausura tournaments respectively. The league will consist of 12 teams. There will be two seasons conducted under identical rules, with each team playing a home and away game against the other clubs for a total of 22 games per tournament. At the end of each half-season tournament, the top six teams in that tournament's regular season standings will take part in the playoffs.

Primera División de El Salvador
Season2020–21
ChampionsAlianza (Apertura)
FAS (Clausura)
RelegatedC.D. Sonsonate
CONCACAF LeagueAlianza
FAS
Once Deportivo
Top goalscorerNicolas Munoz (12 goals Apertura 2020)
Rodolfo Zelaya (8 goals Clausura 2021)
Biggest home winIsidro Metapán 6-0 Once Deportivo (TBD, 2020)
Biggest away winC.D. Sonsonate 0–3 Isidro Metapán (TBD, 2021)
Longest winning rungames by: TBD
Longest unbeaten rungames by: TBD
Longest winless rungames by: TBD
Longest losing rungames by: TBD
All statistics correct as of 3 April 2020.

The champions of Apertura or Clausura with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League. The other champion, and the runner-up with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2020 CONCACAF League. Should the same team win both tournaments, both runners-up will qualify for CONCACAF League. Should the final of both tournaments features the same two teams, the semifinalist with the better aggregate record will qualify for CONCACAF League.

Team information

A total of 12 teams will contest the league, including 10 sides from the 2019–20 Primera División, 1 promoted from the 2019–20 Segunda División and 1 returning from self imposed exile.

No teams were relegated to 2020–21 Segunda División the previous season as that season was cancelled.

Further changes

Personnel and sponsoring

TeamChairmanHead CoachCaptainKitmakerShirt Sponsors
Águila Jose Alexander Menjivar Hugo Coria Andres QuejadaUmbroMister Donut, Canal 4, Tigo, Pilsener, Boston
Alianza Adolfo Salume Juan Dieguez Marvin MonterrozaUmbroCanal 4, Mister Donut, Tigo, Gatorade, Pepsi
Atletico Marte TBD Cristian Domizi TBDArijam SportsSevisal, Canal 4
Chalatenango Bertilio Henríquez Juan Ramón Sánchez Henry Noe ReyesAqua SportElectrolit, Eurofarma, mnicom, Powerade, Aqu del Campo
Jocoro F.C. Leonel Hernández Carlos Romero Giuviny EsquivelMilanCaja de Credito Jocoro, Electruit
FAS Guillermo Moran Jorge Humberto Rodriguez Xavier GarciaJomaPilsener, Tigo, Canal 4, Hospital Cader, Sol
Firpo TBD William Renderos Iraheta Tardelis PenaTBDTBD
Isidro Metapán Rafael Morataya Victor Coreas Milton MolinaMilanCanal 4, Arroz de San Pedro, Agroamigo, Morataya
Limeño TBD Alvaro Misael Alfaro Francisco Jovel ÁlvarezInnova SportsGSR, Chilos Seafood Restaurant, TuriTravel, Disturbidora Torres
Once Deportivo José Antonio Salaverría Bruno Martinez Christian SánchezRushClaro, Mister Donut, Pepsi, La Geo, Alcasa
Sonsonate Pedro Contreras Ruben da Silva Jorge MoránMilanProACES, Aldasa, Alcadia Municipal Sonsonate, Canal 4, Leche salud, Ferreteria Santa Sofia, Coop-1
Santa Tecla José Eduardo Amaya Juan Andrés Sarulyte Rodrigo RiveraMacaPilsener, Tigo, Plaza Mertio, Pala-grip, Ferreteria Sumersa

Notable events

El Vencedor cessation of spot

El Vencedor announced that due to ongoing cost and lack of sponsorship, they would be ceding their spot to Atletico Marte.[2]

Change of ownership

On 3 April, Chalatenango president Rigoberto Mejia announced that Chalatenango had been acquired by a new ownership group[3]

Change of license owner

At the end of the 2020 season, Pablo Herrera (owner of the franchise license) announced that Independiente will lose their license and he will be giving the license to Luis Angel Firpo for the Clausura 2020.[4]

Notable death from Clausura 2020 season and 2021 Apertura season

The following people associated with the Primera Division have died between the middle of 2020 and middle of 2021.

  • Miguel Herrera (ex Dragon player)
  • Hugo Ernesto Burgos Ventura (ex Chalatenango player) [1]
  • Rodolfo Alvarado Barrientos (Ex Fuerte San Francisco, Cojutepeque and Chalatenango)
  • Hugo Ottenson (Chilean, ex Alianza player)
  • Marco Pereira (Brazilian, ex Aguila, Metapan, Chalatenango, Luis Angel Firpo, Once Lobos, FAS and Dragon player)
  • Jesus Velázquez Chacon (Ex Platense player)
  • Peter Sandoval (Guatemalan, ex Once Lobos player)
  • Delvani Quaresma (Brazilian, ex Dragon player)
  • Ruben Plaino "La Bruja" (Argentinian, ex Firpo player)
  • Mario Tiorra Castro (Ex Sonsonate, Atletico Marte and Aguila)
  • Hernan Sosa (Uruguayan, ex Alianza player)
  • Juan Carlos Masnik (Uruguayan, ex coach of Atlético Marte, FAS, Firpo and Alianza)
  • Agustin Balbueno Mencho (Argentinian, Ex FAS player)
  • Mario Carlos Rey (Argentinian, Ex Juventud Olimpica and Alianza player and coach of the latter)
  • Daniel Mena Luna (current Firpo player)

Managerial changes

Before the start of the season

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
Aguila Daniel MessinaContract finishedApril 2020 Hugo Coria [5]April 2020th (Apertura 2020)
Atletico Marte Juan Carlos CarreñoContract finishedMay 2020 Cristian DomiziMay 2020th (Apertura 2020)
Alianza Wilson Gutierrez [6]Contract rescinded due to difficulty of travelJuly 2020 Juan CortésAugust 2020th (Apertura 2020)
Once Deportivo Juan Cortés [7]ResignedJuly 2020 Bruno MartinezAugust 2020th (Apertura 2020)
Santa Tecla Osvaldo EscuderoContract rescinded due to difficulty of travelAugust 2020 Juan Andrés SarulyteAugust 2020th (Apertura 2020)

During the Apertura season

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
Limeno Misael AlfaroSackedOctober 2020 Nelson AnchetaOctober 2020
Santa Tecla Juan SuralyteResignedOctober 2020 Jaime Medina (‘’’Interim’’’)October 2020Th (Apertura 2020)
Firpo William Renderos IrahetaResignedNovember 2020 Roberto GamarraNovember 2020Th (Apertura 2020)
Aguila Hugo CoriaSackedNovember 2020 Ernesto CortiNovember 2020Th (Apertura 2020)
Chalatenango Juan Ramón SánchezSackedDecember 2020 Ricardo MontoyaDecember 2020Th (Apertura 2020)
Isidro Metapan Victor CoreasSackedDecember 2020 Osvadlo Figueroa (Interim)December 2020Th (Apertura 2020)
Alianza Juan CortésSackedDecember 2020 Milton Meléndez (Interim)December 2020Th (Apertura 2020)

Between Apertura and Clausura seasons

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
A.D. Isidro Metapan Oswaldo FigueroaInterim finishedJanuary 2021 Juan Cortés DieguezJanuary 2021th (Apertura 2021)
C.D. Sonsonate Rubén da SilvaContract finished, not renewedJanuary 2021 Fabio CastrománJanuary 2021th (Apertura 2021)
Alianza F.C. Milton MeléndezInterimship finished, made it official head coachJanuary 2021 Milton MeléndezJanuary 2021th (Apertura 2021)
Santa Tecla F.C. Jaime MedinaInterimship finished, contract not renewedJanuary 2021 Rubén da SilvaJanuary 2021th (Apertura 2021)
C.D. Aguila Ernesto CortiResignedFebruary 2021 Armando Osma RuedaFebruary 2021th (Apertura 2021)

Clausura seasons

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
Once Deportivo Bruno MartinezSackedApril 2021 Mario Elias GuevaraApril 2021th (Clausura 2021)

Apertura

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams will divided into groups of three: Orientale Group, Central Group and Occidentale Group.[2]The first game would start 10 October 2020.

The games will be divided into three different stages:

Phase 1

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1Isidro Metapán6312139+410
2FAS631295+410
3Once Deportivo631289−110
4Sonsonate6114411−74
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1Alianza6510143+1116
2Chalatenango6132810−26
3Santa Tecla6132610−46
4Atletico Marte6114712−54
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1Jocoro640298+112
2Firpo631254+110
3Municipal Limeño621378−17
4Águila620478−16
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Phase 2

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Águila (Q)10640156+922Advance to Playoffs
2Alianza (Q)106131812+619
3Jocoro102531012−211
4Sonsonate101721213−110
5Atletico Marte101541521−68
6Isidro Metapán101451016−67
Updated to match(es) played on 4 January 2021. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1FAS (Q)106221510+520Advance to Playoffs
2Municipal Limeño (Q)105231511+417
3Once Deportivo (Q)10523128+417
4Firpo (Q)10334811−312
5Santa Tecla10235914−59
6Chalatenango10145914−57
Updated to match(es) played on 4 January 2021. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Aggregate Table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1Alianza1611233215+1735
2Jocoro166551920−123
3Isidro Metapán164572325−217
4FAS169342415+930
5Firpo166461315−222
6Chalatenango162771724−713
7Once Deportivo168352017+327
8Municipal Limeño167362219+324
9Santa Tecla163671524−915
10Águila168442214+828
11Sonsonate162861624−814
12Atletico Marte162682233−1112
Updated to match(es) played on 4 January 2021. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Phase 3

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

First legs
Firpo0-2Aguila
NilNicolas Munoz 61'
Yan Maciel 90'
Once Deportivo de Ahuachapan1-2Alianza
Henry Romero 12'
Rodolfo Zelaya 30'
Tony Rugamas 7'
Jocoro0-0Limeno
NilNil
Sonsonate0-1FAS
NilDiego Areco 5'
Estadio
Second legs
Aguila1-0Firpo
Yan Maciel 42'Nil
Estadio

Aguila won 3-0 on aggregate

Alianza3-1Once Deportivo
Bryan Tamacas 39' 58'
Rodolfo Zelaya 82'
Elvin Alvarado 18'
Estadio

Alianza won 5-2 on Aggregate

Limeno1-2Jocoro
Hugo Oviedo 26'Ovidio Lanza 34'
Oscar Rodriguez 49'
Estadio

Jocoro won 2-1 aggregate

FAS2-2Sonsonate
Diego Areco 9' 45'Alexis Montes 13'
David Boquin 48'
Estadio

FAS won 3-2 on aggregate

Semifinals

First legs
Alianza3-0FAS
Bryan Tamacas 5' 26'
Narciso Orellana 41' 59'
Nil
Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador
Jocoro1-0Aguila
Nicolas Munoz own goal 41'Nil
Estadio
Second legs
FAS0-0Alianza
NilNil
Estadio Oscar Quiteno , Santa Ana

Alianza advances 3-0 on aggregate.

Aguila2-0Jocoro
Andres Quejada 42'
Marlon Silva 74'
Nil

Aguila advances 2-1 on aggregate.

Final

Final
Alianza3-0Aguila
Jonathan Jiménez 41'
Rodolfo Zelaya 79'
Dixon Rivas own goal 84'
[3]Nil
Attendance: TBD
Referee: Ivan Barton
Aguila
GK22 Benji Villalobos
DF3 Ronald Rodríguez
DF28 Andrés Quejada
DF21 Marlon Trejo  40'
DF16 Kevin Melara
MF15 Fabricio Alfaro  74'
MF12 Santos Ortiz
MF19 Diego Galdámez Coca  74'
MF10 Gerson Mayen
FW17 Yan Maciel  63'
FW23 Nicolas Munoz
Substitutes:
MF4 Fredy Espinoza  40'
FW9 Marlon da Silva  63'
MF6 Dixon Rivas  74' own goal 84'
MF'11 Victor Garcia  74'
Manager:
Ernesto Corti


 Apertura 2020 champions 
Alianza
15th title

Individual awards

[4]

Hombre GOL (Top goalscorer)Hernán Carrasco Vivanco (Best Coach Award)Fair player AwardRevelation player of the tournamentBest Goalkeeper Award
Nicolas Munoz
Aguila
Jorge Humberto Rodriguez
FAS
Jomal Williams
Isidro Metapan
Diego Chévez
Atletico Marte
Yonathan Guardado
Once Deportivo

Records

  • Best home records: TBD (0 points out of 33 points)
  • Worst home records: TBD (0 points out of 33 points)
  • Best away records : TBD (0 points out of 33 points)
  • Worst away records : TBD (0 points out of 33 points)
  • Most goals scored: Alianza F.C. (32 goals)
  • Fewest goals scored: C.D. Luis Angel Firpo (13 goals)
  • Fewest goals conceded : C.D. Aguila (14 goals)
  • Most goals conceded : Atletico Marte (33 goals)
No.PlayerClubGoals
1 Nicolas MunozC.D. Aguila12
2 Ovido LanzaJocoro F.C.9
3 Hugo OviedoMunicipal Limeno8
4 David RugamasOnce Deportivo7
5 Juan Carlos PortilloAlianza FC6
6 Jomal WilliamsA.D. Isidro Metapan6
7 Oswaldo BlancoAlianza F.C.5
8 Guillermo StradellaC.D. FAS5
9 Eduardo RodriguezAtletico Marte5
10 David BoquinC.D. Sonsonate4

Scoring

Clausura

Results

Home \ AwayÁGUALIFIRCHAFASATMMETJOCLIMONCSTESON
Águila
Alianza
C.D. Luis Angel Firpo
Chalatenango
C.D. FAS
Atletico Marte
Isidro Metapán
Jocoro
Limeño
Once Deportivo
Santa Tecla
Sonsonate
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Phase 3 (Playoffs)

Quarterfinals

First legs
Firpo1-0Isidro Metapan
Jefferson Polio 74'Nil
Estadio Sergio Torres Rivera
Aguila0-1Alianza
NilMichel Mercado 86'
Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza
FAS2-1Limeno
Wilma Torres 46'
Dustin Corea 89'
Romulo Villalobos 5'
Estadio Oscar Alberto Quiteno
Santa Tecla1-1Once Deportivo
Roberto Gonzalez 71'David Rugamas 74'
Estadio Las Delicias
Second legs
Isidro Metapan1-3Firpo
Marvin Marquez 43'Eduardo Vigil 47'
Eder Caicedo 70'
Jefferson Polio 85'
Estadio Jorge Calero Suazo

Firpo won 4-1 on aggregate

Once Deportivo de Ahuachapan1-2Santa Tecla F.C.
David Rugamas 80'Roberto González 68' Irvin Herrera 70'
Estadio

Santa Tecla won 3-2 on aggregate

Alianza F.C.2-1C.D. Aguila
Rodolfo Zelaya 81' 86'Nicolas Munoz 18'
Estadio

Alianza won 3-2 on aggregate

Limeno2-1FAS
Rómulo Villalobos 83' Víctor Torres 85'Wilma Torres 57'
Estadio

2-2. FAS won 3-2 on penalties

Semifinals

First legs
Santa Tecla F.C.0-1FAS
NilDustin Corea 89'
Estadio Las Delicias
Referee: Ismael Cornejo
C.D. Luis Angel Firpo1-2Alianza F.C.
Jefferson Polio 70'Juan Portillo 43'
Rodolfo Zelaya 98'
Estadio Sergio Torres Rivera
Referee: Ivan Arcides Barton
Second legs
Alianza F.C.0-1C.D. Luis Angel Firpo
NilLuis Canales 74'
Estadio Cuscatlan
Referee: Germany Stanley Martinez

2-2. Alianza advances 5-4 on penalties.

FAS0-1Santa Tecla F.C.
NilDiego Areco 74'
Estadio Quiteno, Santa Ana
Referee: Jaime Alfredo Herrera

1-1. FAS advances 4-2 on penalties.

Final

Final
Alianza1-1FAS
Andres Flores Jaco own goal 56'[5]Kevin Reyes 39'
Penalties
3-4
Attendance: TBD
Referee: Edgar Ramirez
FAS
GK1 Kevin Carabantes
DF20 Ibsen Castro  98'
DF23 Roberto Chen
DF24 Mauricio Cuellar
DF6 Andrés Floresown goal 56'  34'
MF6 Ervian Flores  99'
MF11 Tomas Granitto  60'
MF27 Carlos Peña  65'
MF21 Wilma Torres  60'
MF7 Kevin Reyes  85' 39'
FW9 Luis Peralta  99'
Substitutes:
MF4 Guillermo Stradella  60'
FW9 Brayan Landeverde  60'
MF6 Dustin Corea  65'
MF'11 Julio Amaya  99'
MF'11 Luis Perea  99'
Manager:
Jorge Humberto Rodriguez


 Clausura 2021 champions 
FAS
18th title

Records

  • Best home records: TBD (0 points out of 33 points)
  • Worst home records: TBD (0 points out of 33 points)
  • Best away records : TBD (0 points out of 33 points)
  • Worst away records : TBD (0 points out of 33 points)
  • Most goals scored: Alianza F.C. (38 goals)
  • Fewest goals scored: Jocoro F.C. (9 goals)
  • Fewest goals conceded : C.D. Aguila (10 goals)
  • Most goals conceded : Atletico Marte (34 goals)
No.PlayerClubGoals
1 Rodolfo ZelayaAlianza8
2 Kemal MalcolmChalatenango7
3 Edgar MedranoOnce Deportivo7
4 Irvin HerreraSanta Tecla F.C.6
5 Jorge CordobaAlianza FC6
6 Wilma TorresFAS6
7 Craig FosterChalatenango6
8 Michel MercanoAlianza5
9 David RugamasOnce Deportivo5
10 Nicolas MunozAguila5

Scoring

List of foreign players in the league

This is a list of foreign players in the 2020–21 season. The following players:

  1. Have played at least one game for the respective club.
  2. Have not been capped for the El Salvador national football team on any level, independently from the birthplace

A new rule was introduced this season, that clubs can have four foreign players per club and can only add a new player if there is an injury or a player is released and it is before the close of the season transfer window. [6][7]

(player released during the Apertura season) (player released between the Apertura and Clausura seasons) (player released during the Clausura season) (player naturalised for the Clausura season)

References