The 2021–22 Primera División de El Salvador, also known as the Liga Pepsi, was the 23rd season and 45th and 46th Primera División tournament, El Salvador's top football division, since its establishment of an Apertura and Clausura format. Alianza and FAS 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.
The champions of Apertura or Clausura with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League. The other champion, and the runner-up with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2022 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 semi-finalist with the better aggregate record will qualify for CONCACAF League.
Teams
Promotion and relegation
A total of 12 teams will contest the league, including 11 sides from the 2020–21 Primera División and 1 promoted from the 2020–21 Segunda División.
C.D. Platense Municipal Zacatecoluca was promoted to the Primera División in June 2021 after defeating Real Destroyer in a playoff match by a score of 2–1.
C.D. Sonsonate was relegated to the 2021–22 Segunda División.
Stadiums and locations
Team Location Stadium Capacity A.D. Chalatenango Chalatenango Estadio José Gregorio Martínez 15,000 A.D. Isidro Metapán Metapán Estadio Jorge Calero Suárez 10,000 Alianza F.C. San Salvador Estadio Cuscatlán 53,400 C.D. Águila San Miguel Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza 10,000 C.D. Atlético Marte San Salvador Estadio Cuscatlán 53,400 C.D. FAS Santa Ana Estadio Óscar Quiteño 17,500 C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo Usulután Estadio Sergio Torres 5,000 C.D. Platense Municipal Zacatecoluca Zacatecoluca Estadio Antonio Toledo Valle 10,000 C.D. Municipal Limeño Santa Rosa de Lima Estadio José Ramón Flores Berridos 5,000 Once Deportivo Ahuachapán Estadio Simeón Magaña 5,000 Jocoro F.C. Jocoro Complejo Deportivo Tierra de Fuego 3,000 Santa Tecla F.C. Santa Tecla Estadio Las Delicias 10,000
Notable events
Notable deaths from Clausura 2021 season and 2022 Apertura season The following people associated with the Primera Division died between the middle of 2021 and middle of 2022.
Zizinho (Brazilian, ex FAS player) Oscar Montes (ex ADET player) Luis Angel Leon (ex ADET coach) Raul "Cayito" Mejia (ex Santa Anita, Atlante and Atlético Marte player) Edgar 'Pata Gorda' Morales (ex Alianza and Atlético Marte player) Conrado Miranda (ex Aguila, Atletico Marte player and Aguila, Atletico Marte, Queisqepue, Cojutepeque, Tiburones, Alianza coach) Hector Cedros (Uruguayan, ex FAS player) Hector Edmundo Valdiviseo (ex ADET, CESSA, Cojutepeque and Firpo player) Julio Cesar Oliva (ex Aguila player) Henrique Pasaquiri (Brazilian, ex FAS player) Ramon Zumbado (ex Atletico Marte player) Nahún Corro Bazan (Mexican, Ex Aguila player)
Managerial changes
Before the start of the season
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Jocoro Carlos Romero Contract finished 8 May 2021 Pablo Quiñónez 22 May 2021 Águila Armando Osma Rueda 9 May 2021 Cristian Domizi 13 May 2021 Atlético Marte Cristian Domizi 12 May 2021 Nelson Mauricio Ancheta 2 June 2021 Municipal Limeño Nelson Mauricio Ancheta Sacked 15 May 2021 Bruno Martínez 16 May 2021 Once Municipal Mario Elias Guevara Returned back to assistant coach May 2021 Carlos Romero 18 May 2021
During the Apertura season
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Replaced by in table Isidro Metapán Juan Cortés Sacked 16 August 2021 Misael Alfaro 16 August 2021 10th Jocoro Pablo Quiñónez 25 August 2021 Víctor Coreas 26 August 2021 10th Municipal Limeño Bruno Martínez 26 August 2021 José Manuel Romero 26 August 2021 10th Chalatenango Ricardo Montoya 14 September 2021 Ricardo Serrano (interim) 14 September 2021 10th Ricardo Serrano Returned back to assistant coach 16 September 2021 Erick Dowson Prado 16 September 2021 10th Santa Tecla Rubén da Silva Resigned 27 September 2021 Rodolfo Góchez (interim) 29 September 2021 10th Municipal Limeño José Manuel Romero 29 September 2021 Giovanni Trigueros 29 September 2021 12th Águila Cristian Domizzi Sacked 2 October 2021 Agustín Castillo 5 October 2021 6th Isidro Metapán Misael Alfaro 4 October 2021 Omar Mejía (interim) 4 October 2021 10th Once Deportivo Carlos Romero Resigned 30 October 2021 Mario Elías Guevara (interim) 30 October 2021 5th Municipal Limeño Giovanni Trigueros 24 November 2021 José Manuel Romero 24 November 2021 12th
Between the Apertura and Clausura season Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Replaced by in table Municipal Limeño José Manuel Romero Intermship finished December 2021 Carlos Romero December 2021 12th Santa Tecla F.C. Rodolfo Gochez December 2021 Daniel Bartolotta December 2021 12th Once Deportivo de Ahuachapan Mario Elias Guevara December 2021 Ruben da Silva December 2021 th Jocoro Victor Coreas Sacked December 2021 Edgar Henriquez January 2022 10th
Clausura seasons
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table Firpo Roberto Gamarras Resigned 14 February 2022 Eraldo Correia February 2022 10th (Clausura 2022) Santa Tecla Daniel Bartolotta Changed roles to Sporting director 16 March 2022 Leonel Cárcamo 16 March 2022 12th (Clausura 2022) Platense Guillermo Rivera Mutual Consent 19 April 2022 Ivan Ruiz April 2022 5th (Clausura 2022)
Apertura League table
Apertura 2021 results
| 31 July – 18:00 || Chalatenango ||style="background:#FEFBBB;"| 2–2 || Platense || Report |- | 31 July – 19:00 || Isidro Metapán ||style="background:#FEFBBB;"| 0–0 || Atlético Marte || Report |- | 1 August – 15:00 || Once Municipal ||style="background:#FEFBBB;"| 2–2 || Águila || Report |- | 1 August – 15:00 || Luis Ángel Firpo ||style="background:#FEFBBB;"| 1–1 || Jocoro || Report |- | 1 August – 15:15 ||style="background:#CFDBEB;"| FAS || 3–1 || Santa Tecla || Report |- | 1 August – 15:15 ||style="background:#CFDBEB;"| Alianza || 4–1 || Municipal Limeño || Report
| 7 August – 18:00 || Atlético Marte || 0–2 ||style="background:#CFDBEB;"| Chalatenango || Report |- | 7 August – 18:00 ||style="background:#CFDBEB;"| Santa Tecla || 3–0 || Isidro Metapán || Report |- | 7 August – 19:00 || FAS ||style="background:#FEFBBB;"| 1–1 || Águila || Report |- | 7 August – 19:00 || Jocoro || 3–4 ||style="background:#CFDBEB;"| Once Municipal || Report |- | 8 August – 15:15 || Municipal Limeño ||style="background:#FEFBBB;"| 1–1 || Luis Ángel Firpo || Report |- | 8 August – 15:15 || Platense ||style="background:#FEFBBB;"| 2–2 || Alianza || Report
| 4 August – 15:30 ||style="background:#CFDBEB;"| FAS || 4–1 || Santa Tecla || Report |- | 10 August – 15:00 || Atlético Marte || 0–1 ||style="background:#CFDBEB;"| Jocoro || Report |- | 11 August – 15:30 ||style="background:#CFDBEB;"| Luis Ángel Firpo || 3–2 || Platense || Report |- | 11 August – 18:00 ||style="background:#CFDBEB;"| Chalatenango || 2–1 || Alianza || Report |- | 11 August – 19:00 || Isidro Metapán ||style="background:#FEFBBB;"| 2–2 || Águila || Report |- | 12 August – 15:30 ||style="background:#CFDBEB;"| Once Municipal || 4–1 || Municipal Limeño || Report
Playoffs Quarterfinals First legs
Second legs
Chalatenango won 4–2 on penalties, after drawing 1–1 on aggregate
Alianza FC won 4–2 on Aggregate
Once Deportivo won 4–3 on penalties, after tying 1–1 aggregate
Platense won 4–3 on aggregate
Semifinals First legs
Second legs
Alianza won 3–1 on aggregare
Platense won 2–1 on aggregate
Final
Alianza F.C. GK 25 Mario GonzálezDF 4 Ivan Mancía DF 16 Bryan TamacasDF 15 Marvin Monterrosa DF 12 Juan Carlos Portillo DF 20 Jonathan Jiménez MF 6 Oscar Rodriguez MF 27 Narcisco Orellana MF 21 Harold Osorio FW 11 Duvier Riascos ST 23 Rodolfo Zelaya Substitutes:ST 19 Michell Mercado ST 22 Ezquiel Rivas DF 10 Isaac Portillo DF 17 Alexis Renderos Manager: Milton Melendez
Platense GK 22 Manuel GonzalezDF 3 Mario MartinezDF 28 Denilson Vidal RosalesDF 21 Wilber ArizalaDF 16 Gilberto Baires MF 15 Geovanny Sigaran MF 12 Steve Alfaro MF 19 Rodolfo Orellana MF 10 Javier Lezcano FW 17 Juan Camilio Delgado FW 23 Victor Landazuri Substitutes:MF 4 Melvin Alfaro MF 6 Rafael Burgos MF 11 Bryan Martinez Manager: Guillermo Rivera
Apertura 2021 records Records Best home records: Alianza F.C. (31 points out of 33 points) Worst home records: Limeno (8 points out of 33 points) Best away records : Once Deportivo (21 points out of 33 points) Worst away records : Isidro Metapan (3 points out of 33 points) Most goals scored: Alianza F.C. (48 goals) Fewest goals scored: Isidro Metapan Limeno (16 goals) Fewest goals conceded : Alianza F.C. (19 goals) Most goals conceded : Limeno (38 goals)
No. Player Club Goals 1 Duvier Riascos Alianza F.C. 16 2 Jomal Williams Firpo 14 3 Rodolfo Zelaya Alianza F.C. 11 4 Jhon Machado Jocoro F.C. 9 5 Camilio Delgado Platense 9 6 Luis Peralta C.D. FAS 9 7 Wesley Da Silva Firpo 8 8 Edgar Medrano Once Deportivo 8 9 Bryan Paz Once Deportivo 7 10 Nicolas Martinez Aguila 7
Scoring First goal of the season: Miguel Lemus for Chalatenango against Platense, 16 minutes (2021) First goal by a foreign player: Camilo Delgado for Platense against Chalatenango, 23rd minutes (2021) Fastest goal in a match: 15 Seconds TBD for Limeno against FAS 2021) Goal scored at the latest goal in a match: 90+2 minutes Nicolas Martinez goal for Aguila against Once Deportivo, (2021) First penalty Kick of the season: Camilo Delgado for Platense against Chalatenango, 23rd minutes (2021) Widest winning margin: 3 goals Alianza F.C. 4–1 Limeno (18 October 2021) First hat-trick of the season: Duvier Riascos for Alianza F.C. against Limeno (2021) First own goal of the season: Alexander Mendoza (Santa Tecla F.C.) for Alianza F.C. (11 October 2020) Most goals in a match: 8 goals TBD 3–5 TBD (, 2021) Most goals by one team in a match: 4 goals Alianza F.C. 4–1 Limeno (18 October 2021) Most goals in one half by one team: 3 goals TBD 2–3 (2–3) TBD (2nd half, 20 December 2021) Most goals scored by losing team: 3 goals TBD 3–5 TBD (, 2021) Most goals by one player in a single match: 3 goals Duvier Riascos for Alianza against Limeno (2021) Players who scored a hat-trick: Duvier Riascos for Alianza against Limeno (2021) Duvier Riascos for Alianza against Jocoro (September __, 2021) Kenroy Howell for C.D. Chalatenango against Isidro Metapan (September __, 2021) Rodolfo Zelaya for Alianza against Santa Tecla (november 17, 2021)
Clausura League table
Clausura 2022 results
Playoffs Quarterfinals First legs
Second legs
Isidro Metapan won 3–1 on aggregate
Alianza FC won 4–2 on Aggregate
Aguila won 3–2 on Aggregate
Platense won 3–1 on aggregate
Semifinals First legs
Second legs
Alianza won 3–2 on aggregare
Águila won 4–2 on aggregate
Final
Alianza F.C. GK 25 Mario GonzalezDF 15 Jonathan Jiménez DF 4 Ivan Mancía DF 16 Henry Romero DF 20 Bryan TamacasMF 26 Ezequiel Rivas MF 11 Juan Carlos Portillo MF 21 Marvin Monterrosa MF 6 Narcisco Orellana ST 22 Rodolfo Zelaya FW 23 Michell Mercado Substitutes:ST 19 Mario Jacobo ST 22 Oscar Ceren DF 10 Franco Arizala DF 17 Alexis Renderos DF 17 Oscar Rodriguez Manager: Milton Melendez
Aguila GK 22 Benji Villalobos DF 4 Freddy EspinozaDF 21 Marlon Trejo DF 16 Kevin Melara DF 8 Xavier Garcia MF 17 Yan Maciel MF 12 Santos Ortiz MF 10 Gerson Mayen MF 15 Fabricio Alfaro FW 11 Kevin Santamaria FW 20 Edgar Medrano Substitutes:MF 4 Jairo Henriquez MF 6 Fabio Burbano MF 11 Edwin Lazo MF 6 Luiz Caetano Manager: Agustin Castillo