# 2021–22 Primera División de El Salvador

The 2021–22 Primera División de El Salvador, also known as the Liga Pepsi, is 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 F.C. and C.D. 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 | Contract finished | 9 May 2021 | Cristian Domizi | 13 May 2021 |
| Atlético Marte | Cristian Domizi | Contract finished | 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 | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Pos. in table |
| Isidro Metapán | Juan Cortés | Sacked | 16 August 2021 | Misael Alfaro | 16 August 2021 | 10th |
| Jocoro | Pablo Quiñónez | Sacked | 25 August 2021 | Víctor Coreas | 26 August 2021 | 10th |
| Municipal Limeño | Bruno Martínez | Sacked | 26 August 2021 | José Manuel Romero | 26 August 2021 | 10th |
| Chalatenango | Ricardo Montoya | Sacked | 14 September 2021 | Ricardo Serrano (interim) | 14 September 2021 | 10th |
| Chalatenango | 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 | Resigned | 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 | Sacked | 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 | Resigned | 24 November 2021 | José Manuel Romero | 24 November 2021 | 12th |

### Between the Apertura and Clausura season

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Pos. in table |
| Municipal Limeño | José Manuel Romero | Intermship finished | December 2021 | Carlos Romero | December 2021 | 12th |
| Santa Tecla F.C. | Rodolfo Gochez | Intermship finished | December 2021 | Daniel Bartolotta | December 2021 | 12th |
| Once Deportivo de Ahuachapan | Mario Elias Guevara | Intermship finished | December 2021 | Ruben da Silva | December 2021 | th |
| Jocoro | Victor Coreas | Sacked | December 2021 | Edgar Henriquez | January 2022 | 10th |

### Clausura seasons

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position 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 2021
### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Alianza (Q) | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 48 | 19 | +29 | 51 | Qualification to Quarterfinals |
| 2 | FAS (Q) | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 33 | 20 | +13 | 38 | Qualification to Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Luis Ángel Firpo (Q) | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 36 | 28 | +8 | 35 | Qualification to Quarterfinals |
| 4 | Once Deportivo (Q) | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 39 | 32 | +7 | 35 | Qualification to Quarterfinals |
| 5 | Águila (Q) | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 36 | 27 | +9 | 34 | Qualification to Quarterfinals |
| 6 | Platense (Q) | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 27 | −5 | 29 | Qualification to Quarterfinals |
| 7 | Chalatenango (Q) | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 27 | Qualification to Quarterfinals |
| 8 | Jocoro (Q) | 22 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 31 | 33 | −2 | 26 | Qualification to Quarterfinals |
| 9 | Atlético Marte | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 30 | −8 | 25 | |
| 10 | Santa Tecla | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 23 | 33 | −10 | 24 | |
| 11 | Isidro Metapán | 22 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 35 | −19 | 16 | |
| 12 | Municipal Limeño | 22 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 38 | −22 | 14 | Relegation to the Segunda División |

### Apertura 2021 results

Round 1
Date & timeHomeScoreAwayReport
31 July – 18:00Chalatenango2–2PlatenseReport
31 July – 19:00Isidro Metapán0–0Atlético MarteReport
1 August – 15:00Once Municipal2–2ÁguilaReport
1 August – 15:00Luis Ángel Firpo1–1JocoroReport
1 August – 15:15FAS3–1Santa TeclaReport
1 August – 15:15Alianza4–1Municipal LimeñoReport :
Round 2
Date & timeHomeScoreAwayReport
7 August – 18:00Atlético Marte0–2ChalatenangoReport
7 August – 18:00Santa Tecla3–0Isidro MetapánReport
7 August – 19:00FAS1–1ÁguilaReport
7 August – 19:00Jocoro3–4Once MunicipalReport
8 August – 15:15Municipal Limeño1–1Luis Ángel FirpoReport
8 August – 15:15Platense2–2AlianzaReport :
Round 3
Date & timeHomeScoreAwayReport
4 August – 15:30FAS4–1Santa TeclaReport
10 August – 15:00Atlético Marte0–1JocoroReport
11 August – 15:30Luis Ángel Firpo3–2PlatenseReport
11 August – 18:00Chalatenango2–1AlianzaReport
11 August – 19:00Isidro Metapán2–2ÁguilaReport
12 August – 15:30Once Municipal4–1Municipal LimeñoReport :
Round 4
Date & timeHomeScoreAwayReport :
Round 5
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Round 6
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Round 7
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Round 8
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Round 9
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Round 10
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Round 11
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Round 12
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Round 13
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Round 14
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Round 15
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Round 16
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Round 17
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Round 18
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Round 19
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Round 20
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Round 21
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Round 22
Date & timeHomeScoreAwayReport :

#### 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
##### Second legs

Alianza won 3–1 on aggregare
Platense won 2–1 on aggregate

#### Final

Alianza F.C. :
| GK | 25 | Mario González |
| DF | 4 | Ivan Mancía | 43' |
| DF | 16 | Bryan Tamacas |
| DF | 15 | Marvin Monterrosa |
| DF | 12 | Juan Carlos Portillo | 72' |
| DF | 20 | Jonathan Jiménez | 90' |
| MF | 6 | Oscar Rodriguez | 72' |
| MF | 27 | Narcisco Orellana | 82' |
| MF | 21 | Harold Osorio |
| FW | 11 | Duvier Riascos | 36' 41' 69' |
| ST | 23 | Rodolfo Zelaya | 76' |
| Substitutes: |||||
| ST | 19 | Michell Mercado | | 72' |
| ST | 22 | Ezquiel Rivas | | 72' |
| DF | 10 | Isaac Portillo | | 76' |
| DF | 17 | Alexis Renderos | | 90' |
| Manager: |||||
| Milton Melendez |||||
Platense :
| GK | 22 | Manuel Gonzalez |
| DF | 3 | Mario Martinez |
| DF | 28 | Denilson Vidal Rosales |
| DF | 21 | Wilber Arizala |
| DF | 16 | Gilberto Baires | 64' |
| MF | 15 | Geovanny Sigaran | 85' |
| MF | 12 | Steve Alfaro | 32' |
| MF | 19 | Rodolfo Orellana | 46' |
| MF | 10 | Javier Lezcano | 78' |
| FW | 17 | Juan Camilio Delgado |
| FW | 23 | Victor Landazuri | 47' 54' |
| Substitutes: |||||
| MF | 4 | Melvin Alfaro | | 46' |
| MF | 6 | Rafael Burgos | | 78' |
| MF | '11 | Bryan Martinez | | 85' |
| Manager: |||||
| Guillermo Rivera |||||
* Apertura 2021 champions
* Alianza 16th title

### 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 (October 18, 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. (October 11, 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 (October 18, 2021)
* Most goals in one half by one team: 3 goals
** TBD 2–3 (2–3) TBD (2nd half, December 20, 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 2022
### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Alianza | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 33 | 21 | +12 | 42 | Advance to Playoffs |
| 2 | Aguila | 22 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 36 | 15 | +21 | 41 | Advance to Playoffs |
| 3 | Chalatenango | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 30 | 25 | +5 | 38 | Advance to Playoffs |
| 4 | Platense | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 31 | Advance to Playoffs |
| 5 | FAS | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 31 | 30 | +1 | 30 | Advance to Playoffs |
| 6 | Isidro Metapan | 22 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 25 | 21 | +4 | 29 | Advance to Playoffs |
| 7 | Jocoro | 22 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 28 | 33 | −5 | 28 | Advance to Playoffs |
| 8 | Luis Angel Firpo | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 23 | 22 | +1 | 25 | Advance to Playoffs |
| 9 | Municipal Limeno | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 27 | −9 | 25 | |
| 10 | Once Deportivo | 22 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 22 | −6 | 23 | |
| 11 | Atletico Marte | 22 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 32 | −13 | 20 | |
| 12 | Santa Tecla | 22 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 19 | 32 | −13 | 19 | |

### Clausura 2022 results
#### 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
##### Second legs

Alianza won 3–2 on aggregare
Águila won 4–2 on aggregate

#### Final

Alianza F.C. :
| GK | 25 | Mario Gonzalez |
| DF | 15 | Jonathan Jiménez | 74' |
| DF | 4 | Ivan Mancía | 43' 54' |
| DF | 16 | Henry Romero | 54' |
| DF | 20 | Bryan Tamacas |
| MF | 26 | Ezequiel Rivas | 60' |
| MF | 11 | Juan Carlos Portillo | 74' |
| MF | 21 | Marvin Monterrosa |
| MF | 6 | Narcisco Orellana | 44' |
| ST | 22 | Rodolfo Zelaya | 80' |
| FW | 23 | Michell Mercado |
| Substitutes: |||||
| ST | 19 | Mario Jacobo | | 60' |
| ST | 22 | Oscar Ceren | | 74' 113' |
| DF | 10 | Franco Arizala | | 74' |
| DF | 17 | Alexis Renderos | | 80' |
| DF | 17 | Oscar Rodriguez | | 113' |
| Manager: |||||
| Milton Melendez |||||
Aguila :
| GK | 22 | Benji Villalobos | 109' |
| DF | 4 | Freddy Espinoza |
| DF | 21 | Marlon Trejo | 73' |
| DF | 16 | Kevin Melara | 60' |
| DF | 8 | Xavier Garcia | 48' 77' (o.g.) |
| MF | 17 | Yan Maciel | 85' |
| MF | 12 | Santos Ortiz | 32' 73' |
| MF | 10 | Gerson Mayen | 50' |
| MF | 15 | Fabricio Alfaro |
| FW | 11 | Kevin Santamaria | 54' 73' |
| FW | 20 | Edgar Medrano | 62' |
| Substitutes: |||||
| MF | 4 | Jairo Henriquez | | 73' |
| MF | 6 | Fabio Burbano | | 73' |
| MF | '11 | Edwin Lazo | | 73' 120' |
| MF | 6 | Luiz Caetano | | 120' |
| Manager: |||||
| Agustin Castillo |||||
* Clausura 2022 champions
* Alianza 17th title

### Clausura 2022 records
#### Records

* Best home records: Alianza F.C. Jocoro Chalatenango (22 points out of 33 points)
* Worst home records: Atletico Marte (12 points out of 33 points)
* Best away records : Aguila (21 points out of 33 points)
* Worst away records : Santa Tecla F.C. (5 points out of 33 points)
* Most goals scored: Aguila (36 goals)
* Fewest goals scored: Once Deportivo de Ahuachapan (16 goals)
* Fewest goals conceded :Aguila (15 goals)
* Most goals conceded : Jocoro (33 goals)
| No. | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Bladimir Diaz | FAS | 9 |
| 2 | Andres Quejada | Atletico Marte | 8 |
| 3 | Kevin Santamaria | Aguila | 7 |
| 4 | Franco Arizala | Alianza F.C. | 7 |
| 5 | Irvin Herrera | Platense | 7 |
| 6 | Jhon Machado | Jocoro | 6 |
| 7 | Nicolas Munoz | Limeno | 6 |
| 8 | Carlos Salazar | Chalatenango | 6 |
| 9 | Roberto Gonzalez | Santa Tecla | 6 |
| 10 | Jomal Williams | LA Firpo | 5 |

### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Henry Castillo for Firpo against Limeno, 9 minutes (January 15, 2022)
* First goal by a foreign player: Henry Castillo for Firpo against Limeno, 9 minutes (January 15, 2022)
* Fastest goal in a match: 2 Minutes
** Jair Crisanto for Jocoro against Alianza, (January 22, 2022)
* Goal scored at the latest goal in a match: 94 minutes
** Nelson Alvarenga goal for Jocoro against FAS, (January 26, 2022)
* First penalty Kick of the season: Fabricio Alfaro for Aguila against FAS, 81st minutes (January 23, 2022)
* Widest winning margin: 3 goals
** Aguila 4–1 Jocoro (January 26, 2022)
** FAS 3–0 Atletico Marte (February 13, 2022)
* First hat-trick of the season: Carlos Salazar for C.D. Chalatenango against Jocoro (April 23, 2022)
* First own goal of the season: Kevin Galdamez (Jocoro) for Isidro Metapan (February 13, 2022)
* Most goals in a match: 11 goals
** Jocoro F.C. 6–5 C.D. Chalatenango (April 23, 2022)
* Most goals by one team in a match: 4 goals
** Aguila 4–1 Jocoro (January 26, 2022)
* Most goals in one half by one team: 4 goals
** Jocoro 4–3 (6–5) C.D. Chalatenango (2nd half, April 23, 2022)
* Most goals scored by losing team: 5 goals
** C.D. Chalatenango 5–6 Jocoro F.C. (April 23, 2022)
* Most goals by one player in a single match: 3 goals
** Carlos Salazar for C.D. Chalatenango against Jocoro (April 23, 2022)
* Players who scored a hat-trick:
** Carlos Salazar for C.D. Chalatenango against Jocoro (April 23, 2022)
** Franco Arizala for Alianza against Limeno (April 23, 2022)

## Aggregate table

The aggregate table is the general ranking for the 2021–22 season. This table is a sum of the Apertura 2021 and Clausura 2022 tournament standings. The aggregate table is used to determine seeding for the CONCACAF Tournaments and relegation to the segunda division.

## List of foreign players in the league

This is a list of foreign players in the 2021–22 season. The following players:
* Have played at least one game for the respective club.
* 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.
(player released during the Apertura season) (player released between the Apertura and Clausura seasons) (player released during the Clausura season) (player naturalized for the Clausura season)