The 1996 Torneo Descentralizado was the 81st season of the top category of Peruvian football. A total of 16 teams competed in the tournament. Sporting Cristal won its 13th first division title, completing a string of 3 consecutive titles starting in 1994. The feat is known as a tricampeonato and was previously accomplished only by Alianza Lima.Sporting Cristal campeón 1996Sporting Cristal: Un día como hoy los celestes fueron tricampeonesLo que tu viejo no te contó: El “Tri” de Sporting Cristal de 1996 fue una locura
Changes from 1995 The tournament would be played like in 1994, where the champion was crowned after the first stage of the tournament and the second berth to the Copa Libertadores was determined by an end-of-season Liguilla featuring 4 teams. Four teams were relegated instead of the customary two. Two teams from the Copa Perú and the Segunda División were promoted in their place.
Teams Team changes Promoted from1995 Segunda División Promoted from1995 Copa Perú Relegated from1995 Primera División Guardia Republicana La Loretana Unión Huaral León de Huánuco
Stadia locations
Team City Stadium Capacity Alianza Atlético Sullana Campeones del 368,000 Alianza Lima Lima Alejandro Villanueva35,000 Atlético Torino Talara Campeonísimo8,000 Aurich–Cañaña Chiclayo Elías Aguirre 24,500 Ciclista Lima Lima Nacional 45,750 Cienciano Cusco Garcilaso 42,056 Deportivo Municipal Lima Nacional 45,750 Deportivo Pesquero Chimbote Manuel Gómez Arellano 25,000 Guardia Republicana Lima Nacional 45,750 La Loretana Pucallpa Aliardo Soria 15,000 Melgar Arequipa Mariano Melgar 20,000 San Agustín Lima Nacional 45,750 Sport Boys Callao Miguel Grau 18,000 Sporting Cristal Lima San Martín de Porres 15,000 Unión Minas Cerro de Pasco Daniel Alcides Carrión8,000 Universitario Lima Teodoro Lolo Fernández 15,000
League table The first stage of the season was played as a double round-robin tournament. Sporting Cristal as champions qualified for the 1997 Copa Libertadores. Alianza Lima directly advanced to the end-of-season Liguilla and received a bonus point for placing second. The teams that placed 3 to 8 advanced to a preliminary round. Standings
Results
Pre-Liguilla
First leg
Second leg
Universitario, Deportivo Pesquero, and Cienciano qualified for the Liguilla Pre-Libertadores.
Liguilla Pre-Libertadores All matches were played in Lima. Standings
Results
See also 1996 Peruvian Segunda División 1996 Copa Perú
References
External links RSSSF Peru 1996 by Eli Schmerler, José Luis Pierrend