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.
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.
Teams 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 El Vencedor later gave their spot to Atletico Marte. Independiente lost their license and their spot was given to Firpo.
Personnel and sponsoring
TeamChairmanHead CoachCaptainKitmakerShirt Sponsors Águila Jose Alexander Menjivar Hugo Coria Andres Quejada Umbro Mister Donut, Canal 4, Tigo, Pilsener, Boston Alianza Adolfo Salume Juan Dieguez Marvin Monterroza Umbro Canal 4, Mister Donut, Tigo, Gatorade, Pepsi Atletico Marte TBD Cristian Domizi TBD Arijam Sports Sevisal, Canal 4 Chalatenango Bertilio Henríquez Juan Ramón Sánchez Henry Noe Reyes Aqua Sport Electrolit, Eurofarma, mnicom, Powerade, Aqu del Campo Jocoro F.C. Leonel Hernández Carlos Romero Giuviny Esquivel Milan Caja de Credito Jocoro, Electruit FAS Guillermo Moran Jorge Humberto Rodriguez Xavier Garcia Joma Pilsener, Tigo, Canal 4, Hospital Cader, Sol Firpo TBD William Renderos Iraheta Tardelis Pena TBD TBD Isidro Metapán Rafael Morataya Victor Coreas Milton Molina Milan Canal 4, Arroz de San Pedro, Agroamigo, Morataya Limeño TBD Alvaro Misael Alfaro Francisco Jovel Álvarez Innova Sports GSR, Chilos Seafood Restaurant, TuriTravel, Disturbidora Torres Once Deportivo José Antonio Salaverría Bruno Martinez Christian Sánchez Rush Claro, Mister Donut, Pepsi, La Geo, Alcasa Sonsonate Pedro Contreras Ruben da Silva Jorge Morán Milan ProACES, Aldasa, Alcadia Municipal Sonsonate, Canal 4, Leche salud, Ferreteria Santa Sofia, Coop-1 Santa Tecla José Eduardo Amaya Juan Andrés Sarulyte Rodrigo Rivera Maca Pilsener, 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.
Change of ownership On 3 April, Chalatenango president Rigoberto Mejia announced that Chalatenango had been acquired by a new ownership group
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.
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) 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 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 Messina Contract finished April 2020 Hugo Coria April 2020 th (Apertura 2020) Atletico Marte Juan Carlos Carreño Contract finished May 2020 Cristian Domizi May 2020 th (Apertura 2020) Alianza Wilson Gutierrez Contract rescinded due to difficulty of travel July 2020 Juan Cortés August 2020 th (Apertura 2020) Once Deportivo Juan Cortés Resigned July 2020 Bruno Martinez August 2020 th (Apertura 2020) Santa Tecla Osvaldo Escudero Contract rescinded due to difficulty of travel August 2020 Juan Andrés Sarulyte August 2020 th (Apertura 2020)
During the Apertura season
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureReplaced byPosition in table Limeno Misael Alfaro Sacked October 2020 Nelson Ancheta October 2020 Santa Tecla Juan Suralyte Resigned October 2020 Jaime Medina (‘’’Interim’’’) October 2020 Th (Apertura 2020) Firpo William Renderos Iraheta Resigned November 2020 Roberto Gamarra November 2020 Th (Apertura 2020) Aguila Hugo Coria Sacked November 2020 Ernesto Corti November 2020 Th (Apertura 2020) Chalatenango Juan Ramón Sánchez Sacked December 2020 Ricardo Montoya December 2020 Th (Apertura 2020) Isidro Metapan Victor Coreas Sacked December 2020 Osvadlo Figueroa (Interim) December 2020 Th (Apertura 2020) Alianza Juan Cortés Sacked December 2020 Milton Meléndez (Interim) December 2020 Th (Apertura 2020)
Between Apertura and Clausura seasons
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table A.D. Isidro Metapan Oswaldo Figueroa Interim finished January 2021 Juan Cortés Dieguez January 2021 th (Apertura 2021) C.D. Sonsonate Rubén da Silva Contract finished, not renewed January 2021 Fabio Castromán January 2021 th (Apertura 2021) Alianza F.C. Milton Meléndez Interimship finished, made it official head coach January 2021 Milton Meléndez January 2021 th (Apertura 2021) Santa Tecla F.C. Jaime Medina Interimship finished, contract not renewed January 2021 Rubén da Silva January 2021 th (Apertura 2021) C.D. Aguila Ernesto Corti Resigned February 2021 Armando Osma Rueda February 2021 th (Apertura 2021)
Clausura seasons
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table Once Deportivo Bruno Martinez Sacked April 2021 Mario Elias Guevara April 2021 th (Clausura 2021)
Apertura Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams will divided into groups of three: Orientale Group, Central Group and Occidentale Group. The first game would start 10 October 2020.
The games will be divided into three different stages:
Phase 1 Group A
Group B
Group C
Phase 2 Group A
Group B
Aggregate Table
Phase 3 Playoffs
Quarterfinals First legs
Second legs
Aguila won 3-0 on aggregate
Alianza won 5-2 on Aggregate
Jocoro won 2-1 aggregate
FAS won 3-2 on aggregate
Semifinals First legs
Second legs
Alianza advances 3-0 on aggregate.
Aguila advances 2-1 on aggregate.
Final
Alianza F.C. GK 25 Mario GonzalezDF 4 Ivan Mancía DF 16 Henry RomeroDF 15 Jonathan Jiménez DF 12 Rubén Marroquín DF 20 Bryan Tamacas MF 6 Narcisco Orellana MF 27 Isaac PortilloMF 21 Marvin Monterrosa FW 11 Juan Carlos Portillo ST 23 Michell Mercado Substitutes:DF 19 César Noé Flores ST 22 Rodolfo Zelaya DF 10 Felipe Ponce Ramírez DF 17 Wilfredo Cienfuegos Manager: Milton Melendez
Aguila GK 22 Benji VillalobosDF 3 Ronald RodríguezDF 28 Andrés QuejadaDF 21 Marlon Trejo DF 16 Kevin Melara MF 15 Fabricio Alfaro MF 12 Santos Ortiz MF 19 Diego Galdámez Coca MF 10 Gerson Mayen FW 17 Yan Maciel FW 23 Nicolas MunozSubstitutes:MF 4 Fredy Espinoza FW 9 Marlon da Silva MF 6 Dixon Rivas own goalMF '11 Victor Garcia Manager: Ernesto Corti
Individual awards
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. Player Club Goals 1 Nicolas Munoz C.D. Aguila 12 2 Ovido Lanza Jocoro F.C. 9 3 Hugo Oviedo Municipal Limeno 8 4 David Rugamas Once Deportivo 7 5 Juan Carlos Portillo Alianza FC 6 6 Jomal Williams A.D. Isidro Metapan 6 7 Oswaldo Blanco Alianza F.C. 5 8 Guillermo Stradella C.D. FAS 5 9 Eduardo Rodriguez Atletico Marte 5 10 David Boquin C.D. Sonsonate 4
Scoring First goal of the season: Roberto Hernandez for Jocoro against Firpo, 78 minutes (10 October 2020) First goal by a foreign player: Nicolas Munoz for Aguila against Limeno, 18 minutes (10 October 2020) Fastest goal in a match: 15 Seconds Ramon Rodriguez for Limeno against FAS (13 December 2020) Goal scored at the latest goal in a match: 90+2 minutes Roberto Hernandez goal for Jocoro against Firpo, (October 10, 2020) First penalty Kick of the season: Nicolas Munoz for Aguila against Limeno, 18 minutes (10 October 2020) Widest winning margin: 6 goals Isidro Metapan 6-0 Once Deportivo (October 18, 2020) First hat-trick of the season: Elvin Alvarado for Once Deportivo against Sonsonate (October 11, 2020) First own goal of the season: Alexander Mendoza (Santa Tecla F.C.) for Alianza F.C. (October 11, 2020) Most goals in a match: 8 goals Atletico Marte 3-5 Alianza F.C. (November 23, 2020) Most goals by one team in a match: 6 goals Isidro Metapan 6-0 Once Deportivo (October 18, 2020) Most goals in one half by one team: 3 goals C.D. Sonsonate 2-3 (2-3) Isidro Metapan (2nd half, December 20, 2020) Most goals scored by losing team: 3 goals Atletico Marte 3-5 Alianza F.C. (November 23, 2020) Most goals by one player in a single match: 3 goals Elvin Alvarado for Once Deportivo against Sonsonate (October 11, 2020) Players that scored a hat-trick': Elvin Alvarado for Once Deportivo against Sonsonate (October 11, 2020)
Clausura Results
Phase 3 (Playoffs) Quarterfinals First legs
Second legs
Firpo won 4-1 on aggregate
Santa Tecla won 3-2 on aggregate
Alianza won 3-2 on aggregate
2-2. FAS won 3-2 on penalties
Semifinals First legs
Second legs
2-2. Alianza advances 5-4 on penalties.
1-1. FAS advances 4-2 on penalties.
Final
Alianza F.C. GK 25 Mario GonzalezDF 4 Ivan Mancía DF 16 Henry RomeroDF 15 Jonathan Jiménez DF 28 Rudy ClavelDF 20 Bryan Tamacas MF 6 Narcisco Orellana MF 27 Isaac Portillo MF 21 Marvin Monterrosa FW 11 Juan Carlos Portillo ST 23 Michell Mercado Substitutes:DF 19 Elvin Alvarado ST 22 Rodolfo Zelaya DF 10 Oscar Ceren DF 17 Oscar Rodriguez Manager: Milton Melendez
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center |colspan="5" style="padding-top: 0.6em; text-align:center"|FAS |- !width="25"| !!width="25"| |- |GK ||1|| Kevin Carabantes |- |DF ||20|| Ibsen Castro || |- |DF ||23|| Roberto Chen |-