# 2021 Categoría Primera A season

The 2021 Categoría Primera A season (officially known as the 2021 Liga BetPlay Dimayor season for sponsorship reasons) was the 74th season of the Categoría Primera A, Colombia's top-flight football league. The season began on 16 January and ended on 22 December 2021. América de Cali entered the season as defending champions having won back-to-back titles in the 2019 Finalización and 2020 tournaments.
The Torneo Apertura was won by Deportes Tolima, who claimed their third league title on 20 June after beating Millonarios by a 2–1 score in the second leg of the finals and a 3–2 score on aggregate, whilst the Torneo Finalización was won by Deportivo Cali, who beat the defending champions Deportes Tolima by a 3–2 aggregate score in the finals to claim their tenth league title.

## Format

The competition format for this season was approved by the General Assembly of DIMAYOR on 17 December 2020:
* Two tournaments with three stages each were played in the season. The Torneo Apertura was contested by 19 teams, while the Torneo Finalización was played by 20 teams.
* The first stage of both tournaments was contested on a single round-robin basis, with each team playing the other teams once for a total of 18 or 19 games. The additional match against a regional rival would not be played in this season. The top eight teams after the 19 rounds of each tournament qualified for the next stage.
* The second stage of each tournament had a knockout round contested by the top eight teams at the end of the first stage, with the top four teams being seeded for the quarter-finals and paired against a rival decided by draw. The quarter-finals were played under a format of double-legged series with the winners advancing to the semi-finals, which were also played over two legs.
* The finals in both tournaments were contested by the winners of each semi-final tie, playing a double-legged series for the championship.
* One team was relegated to Categoría Primera B at the end of the Torneo Apertura, being replaced in the Torneo Finalización by two teams promoted from the Primera B in order to return to 20 teams for the second half of the year. This was due to the decision of DIMAYOR's General Assembly to postpone relegation from the 2020 season to the end of the first semester of 2021, in order to ensure teams could be able to play the same amount of matches as originally scheduled before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary suspension of the previous season. At the end of the Torneo Finalización and the season, two teams were relegated to the second tier.
On 12 July 2021, DIMAYOR announced changes to the format of the Torneo Finalización, including the extra match against a regional rival for a total of 20 first stage games and replacing the knockout stage for a semi-final stage in which the eight qualified teams were split into two groups of four where they will play each other team in their group twice. The group winners advanced to the double-legged final series.

## Teams

21 teams took part in the season, 19 of them returning from last season plus Atlético Huila and Deportes Quindío, who were promoted from the 2021 Primera B. Cúcuta Deportivo, who also competed in the top flight in 2020, did not take part in the competition this season as they entered liquidation, were forced to forfeit their final two games of the previous tournament, and were ultimately disaffiliated from DIMAYOR on 25 November 2020.

### Stadia and locations

| Team | Manager | City | Stadium | Capacity |
| Águilas Doradas | Johan Fano (caretaker) | Rionegro | Alberto Grisales | 14,000 |
| Alianza Petrolera | Hubert Bodhert | Barrancabermeja | Daniel Villa Zapata | 10,400 |
| América de Cali | Juan Carlos Osorio | Cali | Pascual Guerrero | 33,130 |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Néstor Craviotto | Bucaramanga | Alfonso López | 28,000 |
| Atlético Nacional | Alejandro Restrepo | Medellín | Atanasio Girardot | 40,043 |
| Boyacá Chicó | Mario García | Tunja | La Independencia | 20,630 |
| Deportes Tolima | Hernán Torres | Ibagué | Manuel Murillo Toro | 28,100 |
| Deportivo Cali | Rafael Dudamel | Palmira | Deportivo Cali | 44,000 |
| Deportivo Pasto | Flabio Torres | Pasto | Departamental Libertad | 20,665 |
| Deportivo Pereira | Alexis Márquez | Pereira | Hernán Ramírez Villegas | 30,297 |
| Envigado | Alberto Suárez | Envigado | Polideportivo Sur | 11,000 |
| Independiente Medellín | Julio Comesaña | Medellín | Atanasio Girardot | 40,043 |
| Jaguares | César Torres | Montería | Jaraguay | 12,000 |
| Junior | Arturo Reyes | Barranquilla | Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez | 49,692 |
| La Equidad | Alexis García | Bogotá | Metropolitano de Techo | 8,000 |
| Millonarios | Alberto Gamero | Bogotá | Nemesio Camacho El Campín | 36,343 |
| Once Caldas | Diego Corredor | Manizales | Palogrande | 28,678 |
| Patriotas | Juan David Niño | Tunja | La Independencia | 20,630 |
| Santa Fe | Grigori Méndez | Bogotá | Nemesio Camacho El Campín | 36,343 |
The following two teams competed in the 2021 Finalización tournament, replacing Boyacá Chicó who were relegated to Primera B at the end of the Apertura tournament:
| Team | Manager | City | Stadium | Capacity |
| Atlético Huila | Carlos Abella (caretaker) | Neiva | Guillermo Plazas Alcid | 22,000 |
| Deportes Quindío | Óscar Quintabani | Armenia | Centenario | 20,716 |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Torneo Apertura |||||||
| Atlético Nacional | Alejandro Restrepo | End of caretaker spell | 28 November 2020 | Pre-season | Alexandre Guimarães | 30 November 2020 |
| Alianza Petrolera | Dayron Montesino | End of caretaker spell | 9 December 2020 | Pre-season | Wilson Gutiérrez | 23 November 2020 |
| Independiente Medellín | Humberto Sierra | End of caretaker spell | 10 December 2020 | Pre-season | Hernán Darío Gómez | 11 December 2020 |
| Águilas Doradas | Francesco Stifano | End of contract | 12 December 2020 | Pre-season | Hubert Bodhert | 4 January 2021 |
| Deportivo Pereira | Alexis Márquez | End of caretaker spell | 22 December 2020 | Pre-season | Jorge Artigas | 30 December 2020 |
| Once Caldas | Hubert Bodhert | Resigned | 1 January 2021 | Pre-season | Eduardo Lara | 3 January 2021 |
| Boyacá Chicó | Belmer Aguilar | Sacked | 14 January 2021 | Pre-season | Mario García | 14 January 2021 |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Guillermo Sanguinetti | Mutual consent | 15 February 2021 | 14th | Sergio Novoa (caretaker) | 15 February 2021 |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Sergio Novoa | End of caretaker spell | 23 February 2021 | 10th | Luis Fernando Suárez | 23 February 2021 |
| Alianza Petrolera | Wilson Gutiérrez | Mutual consent | 26 February 2021 | 19th | Dayron Montesino (caretaker) | 26 February 2021 |
| Deportivo Pereira | Jorge Artigas | Mutual consent | 26 February 2021 | 18th | Alexis Márquez | 26 February 2021 |
| Águilas Doradas | Hubert Bodhert | Resigned | 2 March 2021 | 15th | Francesco Stifano | 3 March 2021 |
| Alianza Petrolera | Dayron Montesino | End of caretaker spell | 7 March 2021 | 19th | Hubert Bodhert | 7 March 2021 |
| Envigado | José Arastey | Sacked | 24 March 2021 | 13th | Andrés Orozco (caretaker) | 25 March 2021 |
| Deportivo Pasto | Diego Corredor | Sacked | 9 April 2021 | 11th | Giovanny Ruiz | 9 April 2021 |
| Envigado | Andrés Orozco | End of caretaker spell | 16 April 2021 | 15th | Alberto Suárez | 18 May 2021 |
| Patriotas | Abel Segovia | Sacked | 27 April 2021 | 17th | Jhon Mario Ramírez | 10 May 2021 |
| América de Cali | Juan Cruz Real | Mutual consent | 28 April 2021 | 8th, quarter-finals | Jersson González (caretaker) | 28 April 2021 |
| Jaguares | Alberto Suárez | Signed by Envigado | 11 May 2021 | 10th | César Torres | 25 May 2021 |
| Atlético Nacional | Alexandre Guimarães | Mutual consent | 5 June 2021 | 1st, quarter-finals | Alejandro Restrepo | 9 June 2021 |
| América de Cali | Jersson González | End of caretaker spell | 16 June 2021 | 8th, quarter-finals | Juan Carlos Osorio | 16 June 2021 |
| Torneo Finalización |||||||
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Luis Fernando Suárez | Signed by Costa Rica | 21 June 2021 | Pre-tournament | Óscar Upegui | 8 July 2021 |
| Patriotas | Jhon Mario Ramírez | Deceased | 26 June 2021 | Pre-tournament | Jorge Luis Bernal | 22 June 2021 |
| Deportivo Pasto | Giovanny Ruiz | Demoted | 10 August 2021 | 20th | Flabio Torres | 10 August 2021 |
| Once Caldas | Eduardo Lara | Sacked | 15 August 2021 | 15th | Fernando Dortti (caretaker) | 15 August 2021 |
| Atlético Huila | Dayron Pérez | Resigned | 17 August 2021 | 19th | Alberto Rujana | 18 August 2021 |
| Junior | Luis Amaranto Perea | Mutual consent | 17 August 2021 | 12th | Arturo Reyes | 17 August 2021 |
| Patriotas | Jorge Luis Bernal | Change of role | 17 August 2021 | 17th | Juan David Niño | 17 August 2021 |
| Santa Fe | Harold Rivera | Mutual consent | 22 August 2021 | 17th | Grigori Méndez | 22 August 2021 |
| Once Caldas | Fernando Dortti | End of caretaker spell | 27 August 2021 | 18th | Diego Corredor | 26 August 2021 |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Óscar Upegui | Sacked | 30 August 2021 | 5th | Sergio Novoa (caretaker) | 1 September 2021 |
| Deportivo Cali | Alfredo Arias | Mutual consent | 6 September 2021 | 13th | Rafael Dudamel | 8 September 2021 |
| Independiente Medellín | Hernán Darío Gómez | Resigned | 6 September 2021 | 14th | Julio Comesaña | 7 September 2021 |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | Sergio Novoa | End of caretaker spell | 13 September 2021 | 5th | Néstor Craviotto | 13 September 2021 |
| Atlético Huila | Alberto Rujana | Resigned | 25 October 2021 | 20th | Carlos Abella | 25 October 2021 |
| Águilas Doradas | Francesco Stifano | Sacked | 16 November 2021 | 14th | Johan Fano | 16 November 2021 |

#### Notes

* ↑ Originally as caretaker manager, appointed on a permanent basis on 22 April 2021.
* ↑ Originally as caretaker manager, appointed on a permanent basis on 22 June 2021.
* ↑ Originally appointed as caretaker manager due to John Mario Ramírez's health issues.
* ↑ Ítalo Cervino was the caretaker manager for the 2021 Copa Colombia quarter-final first leg against América de Cali.
* ↑ David Montoya was the caretaker manager for the Torneo Finalización 9th round match against Jaguares.
* 1 2 Caretaker manager until the end of the tournament.

## Torneo Apertura
### First stage
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Atlético Nacional | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 37 | 15 | +22 | 34 | Advance to the knockout stage |
| 2 | Santa Fe | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 25 | 14 | +11 | 33 | Advance to the knockout stage |
| 3 | Millonarios | 18 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 18 | +7 | 33 | Advance to the knockout stage |
| 4 | Deportivo Cali | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 31 | Advance to the knockout stage |
| 5 | Deportes Tolima | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 22 | 14 | +8 | 30 | Advance to the knockout stage |
| 6 | La Equidad | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 21 | 18 | +3 | 30 | Advance to the knockout stage |
| 7 | Junior | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 13 | +8 | 29 | Advance to the knockout stage |
| 8 | América de Cali | 18 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 19 | 12 | +7 | 29 | Advance to the knockout stage |
| 9 | Independiente Medellín | 18 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 17 | 15 | +2 | 26 | |
| 10 | Jaguares | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 25 | |
| 11 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 16 | +4 | 24 | |
| 12 | Deportivo Pasto | 18 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 19 | 20 | −1 | 23 | |
| 13 | Boyacá Chicó | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 20 | −3 | 19 | |
| 14 | Deportivo Pereira | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 24 | −8 | 18 | |
| 15 | Once Caldas | 18 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 20 | 23 | −3 | 17 | |
| 16 | Envigado | 18 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 23 | −8 | 17 | |
| 17 | Patriotas | 18 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 17 | 31 | −14 | 17 | |
| 18 | Águilas Doradas | 18 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 24 | −11 | 14 | |
| 19 | Alianza Petrolera | 18 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 39 | −29 | 6 | |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | AGU | APE | AME | BUC | NAC | BOY | TOL | CAL | PAS | PER | ENV | DIM | JAG | JUN | EQU | MIL | ONC | PAT | SFE |
| Águilas Doradas | — | — | — | — | 1–1 | 0–3 | — | — | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | — | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 |
| Alianza Petrolera | 1–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | — | — | 0–5 | — | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | — | — | — | 0–2 | 0–0 | — | 0–3 |
| América de Cali | 1–1 | — | — | 0–0 | — | — | 2–0 | — | — | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | — | — | 0–1 | 2–1 | — | — | 0–0 |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | 4–1 | — | — | — | 3–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | — | 0–1 | — | — | 0–0 | — | 1–1 | 0–1 | — |
| Atlético Nacional | — | 5–0 | 2–2 | — | — | 2–0 | — | — | — | 5–2 | 3–0 | — | 3–1 | 1–0 | — | — | — | 7–1 | 2–0 |
| Boyacá Chicó | — | 2–0 | 1–2 | — | — | — | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | 3–0 | — | 0–0 | 2–1 | — | 0–1 | — | — | — |
| Deportes Tolima | 1–0 | — | — | 0–0 | 2–1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | — | 1–1 | 3–1 | — |
| Deportivo Cali | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–0 | — | 0–0 | — | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1–1 |
| Deportivo Pasto | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | — | 0–1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | — | — | 1–0 | — |
| Deportivo Pereira | 0–0 | — | — | — | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 4–2 | — | — | 1–0 | — | — | 0–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–2 | — |
| Envigado | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | — | 0–0 | — | 0–1 | 0–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | — | — | 3–0 | 2–1 |
| Independiente Medellín | — | 2–2 | — | — | 0–0 | 1–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | 1–1 | 0–0 | — | 2–1 | — |
| Jaguares | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2–0 | — | — | — | 0–2 | 2–1 | — | — | 3–2 | 0–1 |
| Junior | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | — | — | — | 1–2 | — | 3–0 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | 2–0 | — | — | 1–1 |
| La Equidad | — | 1–1 | — | — | 1–0 | 2–1 | — | 2–5 | — | — | 3–1 | — | — | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | 0–0 | — | 1–2 |
| Millonarios | — | — | — | 2–1 | 1–2 | — | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | — | 0–2 | — | — | — | 4–3 | — | — |
| Once Caldas | — | — | 1–1 | — | 0–1 | 4–2 | — | 0–0 | 0–1 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Patriotas | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | — | — | 1–1 | — | 0–1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | — |
| Santa Fe | — | — | — | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | — | — | — | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | — |
* ↑ Match ended after 79 minutes of play due to the withdrawal of Águilas Doradas player Giovanny Martínez by injury, leaving the team below the minimum number of players required per tournament regulations (seven). The score at the time of suspension was 0–3.

### Knockout stage
#### Bracket

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| | Deportes Tolima | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Deportivo Cali | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Deportivo Cali | 0 | 2 | 2 | Deportes Tolima | Deportes Tolima | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | | | La Equidad | La Equidad | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| | La Equidad | 1 | 2 | 3 | La Equidad | La Equidad | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| 1 | Atlético Nacional | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Atlético Nacional | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | Deportes Tolima | Deportes Tolima | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Millonarios | Millonarios | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | Junior | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | Millonarios | Millonarios | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Santa Fe | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Santa Fe | 1 | 0 | 1 | Junior | Junior | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | | | Millonarios | Millonarios | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | |
| | América de Cali | 1 | 0 | 1 | Millonarios | Millonarios | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | |
| 3 | Millonarios | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Quarter-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| La Equidad | 3–2 | Atlético Nacional | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| Junior | 3–1 | Santa Fe | 3–1 | 0–0 |
| América de Cali | 1–2 | Millonarios | 1–2 | 0–0 |
| Deportes Tolima | 3–2 | Deportivo Cali | 3–0 | 0–2 |

##### Second leg
#### Semi-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Deportes Tolima | 3–2 | La Equidad | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Junior | 3–4 | Millonarios | 3–2 | 0–2 |

##### Second leg
#### Finals

Deportes Tolima won 3–2 on aggregate.
* Liga Betplay Dimayor 2021–I champions
* Deportes Tolima 3rd title

### Top scorers

| Rank | Name | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Jefferson Duque | Atlético Nacional | 11 |
| 1 | Diego Herazo | La Equidad | 11 |
| 1 | Fernando Uribe | Millonarios | 11 |
| 4 | Cristian Arango | Millonarios | 9 |
| 5 | Miguel Borja | Junior | 8 |
| 6 | Agustín Vuletich | Independiente Medellín | 7 |
| 7 | Jarlan Barrera | Atlético Nacional | 6 |
| 7 | David Lemos | Once Caldas | 6 |
| 7 | Brayan Moreno | Boyacá Chicó | 6 |
| 7 | Kelvin Osorio | Santa Fe | 6 |
| 7 | Pablo Rojas | Jaguares | 6 |
Source: Soccerway

### Relegation

A separate table is kept to determine the teams that are relegated to the Categoría Primera B for the next season. This table is elaborated from a sum of all first stage games played for the current season and the previous two seasons (six tournaments). For purposes of elaborating the table, promoted teams are given the same point and goal tallies as the team in the 18th position at the start of the season.
Due to the postponement of promotion and relegation from the previous season to the end of the first semester of 2021 and the disaffiliation of Cúcuta Deportivo, one team was relegated to Primera B at the end of the Torneo Apertura.
| Pos | Team | 2018 Pts | 2019 Pts | 2020 Pts | 2021 Pts | Total Pld | Total GF | Total GA | Total GD | Total Pts | Relegation |
| 1 | Atlético Nacional | 71 | 66 | 35 | 34 | 116 | 180 | 112 | 67 | 206 | |
| 2 | Deportes Tolima | 72 | 64 | 37 | 30 | 116 | 159 | 98 | 61 | 203 | |
| 3 | Deportivo Cali | 58 | 67 | 34 | 31 | 116 | 152 | 111 | 41 | 190 | |
| 4 | Junior | 62 | 63 | 33 | 29 | 116 | 139 | 90 | 49 | 187 | |
| 5 | Millonarios | 51 | 67 | 30 | 33 | 116 | 150 | 122 | 28 | 181 | |
| 6 | América de Cali | 47 | 67 | 33 | 29 | 116 | 146 | 131 | 15 | 176 | |
| 7 | Santa Fe | 56 | 46 | 40 | 33 | 116 | 145 | 99 | 46 | 175 | |
| 8 | Independiente Medellín | 69 | 59 | 20 | 26 | 116 | 162 | 135 | 27 | 174 | |
| 9 | Once Caldas | 63 | 56 | 29 | 17 | 116 | 140 | 121 | 19 | 165 | |
| 10 | La Equidad | 61 | 42 | 32 | 30 | 116 | 132 | 117 | 15 | 165 | |
| 11 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 58 | 46 | 21 | 24 | 116 | 123 | 135 | –12 | 149 | |
| 12 | Deportivo Pasto | 35 | 54 | 34 | 23 | 116 | 115 | 118 | –3 | 146 | |
| 13 | Águilas Doradas | 57 | 40 | 31 | 14 | 116 | 121 | 143 | –22 | 142 | |
| 14 | Envigado | 46 | 47 | 23 | 17 | 116 | 121 | 143 | –22 | 133 | |
| 15 | Patriotas | 49 | 50 | 17 | 16 | 116 | 100 | 147 | –47 | 132 | |
| 16 | Alianza Petrolera | 42 | 55 | 19 | 6 | 116 | 112 | 166 | –54 | 122 | |
| 17 | Jaguares | 39 | 38 | 17 | 25 | 116 | 102 | 164 | –62 | 119 | |
| 18 | Deportivo Pereira | 39 | 38 | 18 | 18 | 116 | 93 | 161 | –68 | 113 | |
| 19 | Boyacá Chicó (R) | 39 | 38 | 15 | 19 | 116 | 90 | 166 | –76 | 111 | Relegation to Categoría Primera B |
Source: Dimayor Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored; 4th away goals scored.

## Torneo Finalización
### First stage
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Atlético Nacional | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 32 | 13 | +19 | 42 | Advance to the semi-finals |
| 2 | Millonarios | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 36 | 23 | +13 | 36 | Advance to the semi-finals |
| 3 | Deportes Tolima | 20 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 25 | 13 | +12 | 36 | Advance to the semi-finals |
| 4 | Junior | 20 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 25 | 21 | +4 | 33 | Advance to the semi-finals |
| 5 | Deportivo Pereira | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 21 | +3 | 33 | Advance to the semi-finals |
| 6 | Alianza Petrolera | 20 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 27 | 18 | +9 | 31 | Advance to the semi-finals |
| 7 | Deportivo Cali | 20 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 27 | 21 | +6 | 31 | Advance to the semi-finals |
| 8 | América de Cali | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 25 | 19 | +6 | 29 | Advance to the semi-finals |
| 9 | Envigado | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 24 | 23 | +1 | 27 | |
| 10 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 29 | −3 | 27 | |
| 11 | Jaguares | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 26 | −3 | 27 | |
| 12 | Independiente Medellín | 20 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 14 | 15 | −1 | 26 | |
| 13 | Águilas Doradas | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 24 | 25 | −1 | 25 | |
| 14 | Santa Fe | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 22 | −1 | 25 | |
| 15 | La Equidad | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 21 | −1 | 25 | |
| 16 | Deportes Quindío | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 24 | −6 | 22 | |
| 17 | Once Caldas | 20 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 30 | −12 | 20 | |
| 18 | Patriotas | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 18 | |
| 19 | Deportivo Pasto | 20 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 28 | −15 | 16 | |
| 20 | Atlético Huila | 20 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 35 | −23 | 10 | |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | AGU | APE | AME | BUC | HUI | NAC | QUI | TOL | CAL | PAS | PER | ENV | DIM | JAG | JUN | EQU | MIL | ONC | PAT | SFE |
| Águilas Doradas | — | 1–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | — | — | — | 1–1 | 1–2 | — | 0–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | — | — | 1–0 | — |
| Alianza Petrolera | — | — | — | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | — | — | 2–3 | 2–0 | — | — | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | — | — | 3–0 | — |
| América de Cali | — | 1–1 | — | — | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–0 | — | — | — | 2–3 | 3–1 | — | — | 1–0 | 0–0 | — |
| Atlético Bucaramanga | — | 1–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–1 | — | — | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | — | 2–1 | — | 0–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–4 | — | — | 4–3 |
| Atlético Huila | 0–2 | — | — | — | — | 1–4 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–5 | — | 0–2 | — | 3–1 | — | — | 1–1 | — | — | 2–2 | 1–2 |
| Atlético Nacional | 1–0 | — | — | 0–0 | — | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | — | 1–1 | — | — | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | — | — |
| Deportes Quindío | 2–1 | 1–0 | — | 2–3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1–2 | 2–3 | — | 1–0 | 2–0 | — | — | — | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 |
| Deportes Tolima | — | 1–1 | 0–1 | — | 1–0 | — | 3–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | — | — | — | — | 3–2 | — | — | 0–0 |
| Deportivo Cali | — | — | 0–1 | 1–2 | — | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | 2–1 | — | 0–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | — |
| Deportivo Pasto | 0–2 | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | — | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | — | — | 1–3 | 0–1 | — | 0–1 |
| Deportivo Pereira | — | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | — | 3–2 | — | — | — | — | — | 0–1 | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | 3–0 | — | 1–1 |
| Envigado | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | — | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | — | — |
| Independiente Medellín | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–0 | — | 0–0 | — | 2–2 | — | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | — | 0–0 | — | — | 3–1 | — | 0–0 |
| Jaguares | — | — | — | — | 2–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–3 | 1–0 | 4–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–1 | — | 1–1 | — | 4–3 | 1–1 | — | — |
| Junior | — | — | — | — | 3–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | — | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | — | 4–2 | 1–0 | — |
| La Equidad | 2–2 | — | 2–1 | 1–0 | — | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | 1–3 | — |
| Millonarios | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | — | 3–1 | — | 2–1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | 0–1 | — | — | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Once Caldas | 2–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–0 | — | — | 0–2 | — | — | 0–1 | — | — | — | — | 2–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Patriotas | — | — | — | 0–2 | — | 0–3 | — | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | 0–1 |
| Santa Fe | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | — | 0–1 | — | — | 1–2 | — | — | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | — | — |

### Semi-finals

The eight teams that advanced to the semi-finals were drawn into two groups of four teams, with the top two teams of the first stage being seeded in each group. The group winners advanced to the finals.

#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | CAL | JUN | NAC | PER |
| 1 | Deportivo Cali | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 13 | Advance to the Finals | — | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| 2 | Junior | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 7 | | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 3–0 |
| 3 | Atlético Nacional | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 6 | | 1–2 | 1–1 | — | 5–1 |
| 4 | Deportivo Pereira | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 13 | −7 | 5 | | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | TOL | MIL | AME | APE |
| 1 | Deportes Tolima | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 12 | Advance to the Finals | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| 2 | Millonarios | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 11 | | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | 3–0 |
| 3 | América de Cali | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 6 | | 0–1 | 2–1 | — | 2–1 |
| 4 | Alianza Petrolera | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 13 | −7 | 4 | | 1–4 | 0–1 | 2–1 | — |

### Finals

Deportivo Cali won 3–2 on aggregate.
* Liga Betplay Dimayor 2021–II champions
* Deportivo Cali 10th title

### Top scorers

| Rank | Name | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Harold Preciado | Deportivo Cali | 13 |
| 2 | Fernando Uribe | Millonarios | 12 |
| 3 | Jefferson Duque | Atlético Nacional | 10 |
| 4 | Bayron Garcés | Alianza Petrolera | 9 |
| 5 | Juan Fernando Caicedo | Deportes Tolima | 7 |
| 5 | Luis González | Junior | 7 |
| 5 | Adrián Ramos | América de Cali | 7 |
| 8 | Larry Angulo | América de Cali | 6 |
| 8 | Edwuin Cetré | Junior | 6 |
| 8 | Wilfrido de La Rosa | Deportivo Pereira | 6 |
| 8 | Teófilo Gutiérrez | Deportivo Cali | 6 |
| 8 | Pablo Lima | La Equidad | 6 |
| 8 | Juan David Pérez | Once Caldas | 6 |
| 8 | Gustavo Ramírez | Deportes Tolima | 6 |
| 8 | Andrés Rentería | Jaguares | 6 |
Source: Soccerway

### Relegation

The bottom two teams of the relegation table were relegated to Categoría Primera B for the 2022 season at the end of the Torneo Finalización, with this table taking into consideration the six most recent tournaments (2018–II, 2019–I, 2019–II, 2020, 2021–I and 2021–II). For purposes of elaborating the table, Atlético Huila and Deportes Quindío, who were promoted from Primera B at the end of the first half of the season, were given the same point and goal tallies as the team in the 18th position at the start of the Finalización tournament (Deportivo Pereira).
| Pos | Team | 2018–II Pts | 2019 Pts | 2020 Pts | 2021 Pts | Total Pld | Total GF | Total GA | Total GD | Total Pts | Relegation |
| 1 | Atlético Nacional | 30 | 66 | 35 | 76 | 117 | 189 | 115 | 74 | 207 | |
| 2 | Deportes Tolima | 39 | 64 | 37 | 66 | 117 | 162 | 97 | 65 | 206 | |
| 3 | Deportivo Cali | 29 | 67 | 34 | 62 | 117 | 153 | 115 | 38 | 192 | |
| 4 | Millonarios | 25 | 67 | 30 | 69 | 117 | 167 | 127 | 40 | 191 | |
| 5 | Junior | 32 | 63 | 33 | 62 | 117 | 145 | 95 | 50 | 190 | |
| 6 | América de Cali | 25 | 67 | 33 | 58 | 117 | 149 | 119 | 30 | 183 | |
| 7 | Santa Fe | 31 | 46 | 40 | 58 | 117 | 146 | 102 | 44 | 175 | |
| 8 | Independiente Medellín | 34 | 59 | 20 | 52 | 117 | 144 | 127 | 17 | 165 | |
| 9 | La Equidad | 36 | 42 | 32 | 55 | 117 | 133 | 122 | 11 | 165 | |
| 10 | Once Caldas | 36 | 56 | 29 | 37 | 117 | 132 | 125 | 7 | 158 | |
| 11 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 35 | 46 | 21 | 51 | 117 | 127 | 140 | –13 | 153 | |
| 12 | Deportivo Pasto | 15 | 54 | 34 | 39 | 117 | 113 | 127 | –14 | 142 | |
| 13 | Águilas Doradas | 32 | 40 | 31 | 39 | 117 | 127 | 146 | –19 | 142 | |
| 14 | Envigado | 20 | 47 | 23 | 44 | 117 | 126 | 147 | –21 | 134 | |
| 15 | Alianza Petrolera | 19 | 55 | 19 | 37 | 117 | 115 | 158 | –43 | 127 | |
| 16 | Patriotas | 20 | 50 | 17 | 35 | 117 | 97 | 150 | –53 | 122 | |
| 17 | Jaguares | 14 | 38 | 17 | 53 | 117 | 109 | 167 | –58 | 121 | |
| 18 | Deportivo Pereira | 14 | 38 | 18 | 51 | 117 | 101 | 159 | –58 | 121 | |
| 19 | Deportes Quindío (R) | 14 | 38 | 18 | 40 | 117 | 95 | 162 | –67 | 110 | Relegation to Categoría Primera B |
| 20 | Atlético Huila (R) | 14 | 38 | 18 | 28 | 117 | 89 | 172 | –83 | 98 | Relegation to Categoría Primera B |
Source: Dimayor Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored; 4th away goals scored.

## Aggregate table

The aggregate table includes the results of teams in all stages in the Torneo Apertura and Torneo Finalización, and awards one berth to the Copa Libertadores and three berths to the Copa Sudamericana. As an exceptional measure for this season, and due to promotion and relegation being implemented halfway into the season, the two teams promoted for the Torneo Finalización (Atlético Huila and Deportes Quindío) entered with the same matches, points, and goals as the team in 19th place in this table at the end of the Apertura tournament (Alianza Petrolera).
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Deportes Tolima (C) | 52 | 23 | 21 | 8 | 69 | 41 | +28 | 90 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 2 | Millonarios | 50 | 26 | 10 | 14 | 78 | 53 | +25 | 88 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores second stage |
| 3 | Atlético Nacional | 46 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 81 | 40 | +41 | 83 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores second stage |
| 4 | Deportivo Cali (C) | 48 | 22 | 16 | 10 | 62 | 46 | +16 | 82 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 5 | Junior | 48 | 19 | 19 | 10 | 61 | 47 | +14 | 76 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 6 | América de Cali | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 51 | 42 | +9 | 65 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 7 | La Equidad | 42 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 46 | 44 | +2 | 60 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 8 | Santa Fe | 40 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 47 | 39 | +8 | 59 | |
| 9 | Deportivo Pereira | 44 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 46 | 58 | −12 | 56 | |
| 10 | Independiente Medellín | 38 | 11 | 19 | 8 | 31 | 30 | +1 | 52 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 11 | Jaguares | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 44 | 47 | −3 | 52 | |
| 12 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 46 | 45 | +1 | 51 | |
| 13 | Envigado | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 39 | 46 | −7 | 44 | |
| 14 | Alianza Petrolera | 44 | 9 | 14 | 21 | 43 | 70 | −27 | 41 | |
| 15 | Águilas Doradas | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 37 | 49 | −12 | 39 | |
| 16 | Deportivo Pasto | 38 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 32 | 48 | −16 | 39 | |
| 17 | Once Caldas | 38 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 38 | 53 | −15 | 37 | |
| 18 | Patriotas | 38 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 31 | 52 | −21 | 35 | |
| 19 | Deportes Quindío | 38 | 6 | 10 | 22 | 28 | 63 | −35 | 28 | |
| 20 | Boyacá Chicó | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 20 | −3 | 19 | |
| 21 | Atlético Huila | 38 | 2 | 10 | 26 | 22 | 74 | −52 | 16 | |
* ↑ Atlético Nacional qualified for the 2022 Copa Libertadores second stage by winning the 2021 Copa Colombia.
* ↑ Independiente Medellín qualified for the 2022 Copa Sudamericana first stage by winning the 2020 Copa Colombia.