The 2015–16 Primera División de El Salvador (also known as the Liga Pepsi) is the 18th season and 35th and 36th tournament of El Salvador's Primera División since its establishment of an Apertura and Clausura format. Isidro Metapán and Santa Tecla were the defending champions of the Apertura and Clausura, 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 8 teams in that tournament's regular season standings will take part in the playoffs. The champions of Apertura and Clausura will both qualify for the 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League. Should the same team win both tournaments, the runners-up with the best aggregate record will qualify for the Champions League.
Teams
A total of 12 teams will contest the league, including 9 sides from the Clausura 2014 and 3 promoted from the 2014–15 Segunda División.
The 2015 season features the addition of two extra sides from the Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño. These were decided based on how good the club infrastructure, fan base and lastly if they secured the 100,000 dollar Primera División license
C.D. Atlético Marte were relegated to 2015–16 Segunda División the previous season.
The relegated team was replaced by the 2014–15 Segunda División playoffs promotion winner. Real Destroyer won the Clausura 2015 title, this led to take part of the promotion playoffs along with the Apertura 2014 champions side C.D. Guadalupano. Real Destroyer won the playoffs by the score of 5–2.
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño as of June, 2015.
Champions: Real Destroyer
Relegated to Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño as of June, 2015.
Last Place: Atlético Marte (However, purchased new spot in the Primera División)
Franchises
The 2015–16 Primera División de Fútbol Profesional season features the increase of two additional sides, Atlético Marte and C.D. Chalatenango. Both clubs were the only teams that nominated themselves (which included a 100,000 payment) and as such were accepted.
Further Changes
Real Destroyer later sold their spot to C.D. Sonsonate for 75,000 dollars.
Firpo purchased the spot of Juventud Independiente after the end of the Apertura season. Although the club will play under their own colours, flags, jersey, stadium, coaching staff, directors and players, they were forced to be registered under the name and have the same points as Juventud Independiente.
Stadia and locations
TeamHome cityStadiumCapacity C.D. Águila San Miguel Juan Francisco Barraza 10,000 Alianza F.C. San Salvador Estadio Cuscatlán 53,400 C.D. Atlético Marte San Salvador Estadio Cuscatlán 53,400 C.D. Chalatenango Chalatenango Estadio José Gregorio Martínez 15,000 C.D. Dragón San Miguel Juan Francisco Barraza 10,000 C.D. FAS Santa Ana Estadio Óscar Quiteño 15,000 C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo Usulután Estadio Sergio Torres 5,000 A.D. Isidro Metapán Metapán Estadio Jorge Calero Suárez 8,000 C.D. Juventud Independiente San Juan Opico Complejo Municipal 5,000 C.D. Pasaquina Pasaquina Estadio San Sebastián 5,000 Santa Tecla F.C. Santa Tecla Estadio Las Delicias 10,000 C.D. Sonsonate Sonsonate Estadio Anna Mercedes Campos 8,000 C.D. Universidad de El Salvador San Salvador Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González 32,000
Personnel and sponsoring
TeamChairmanHead CoachKitmakerShirt sponsor Águila Pedro Arieta Daniel Casanova Joma Tigo, Canal 4, Pepsi, Mister Donut Alianza Lisandro Pohl Nuñez Jorge Rodríguez Lotto Sinai, Canal 4, Maseca, Los Rinconcitos, Pepsi, Tigo Atlético Marte Hugo Carrillo Galaxia Pan Rosvil, Vive, La Curaçao, Foskrol, UFG Chalatenango Rigoberto Mejía Carlos Mijangos Milán Lemus, Alcaldía Municipal de Chalatenango, Canal 4 Dragón Omar Sevilla Galaxia Texas Casino, Hotel Real Centro, Canal 4, Las Perlitas, Tiendas Galo FAS Rafael Villacorta Agustín Castillo Mitre Coop-1 de R.L., Alba Petróleos, Pilsener, Lays Chips, Tigo, Casino Montecarlo Firpo Raul Galo Ramón Sánchez Milán Canal 4, Alcaldía de San Juan Opico, Ria Isidro Metapán Rafael Morataya Misael Alfaro Milán Grupo Bimbo, Arroz San Pedro, Holcim, Pepsi, Canal 4 Romeo Barillas Jorge Abrego Milán Canal 4, Alcaldía de San Juan Opico, Ria Pasaquina Oscar Ramirez Víctor Coreas Milán Megafrío, Aleve Extra Fuerte, Canal 4, Ria Sonsonate Pedro Contreras German Pérez Milán ProACES, Leche Salud, Caja de Crédito de Sonsonate, AlfaParf, Alcaldía de Sonsonate, Ferretería Santa Sofía Santa Tecla Oscar Órtiz Osvaldo Escudero Milán Rio Bingo, La Curaçao, Canal 21, Plaza Merliot, Pollo Indio, Petrox, Claro, Pepsi UES Rufino Quezada William Renderos Iraheta Galaxia Alba Petróleos, MK, Canal 4
Managerial changes
Before the start of the season
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table Águila Julio Dely Valdés Contract finished April 2015 Eraldo Correia May 2015 6th (Clausura 2015) Dragón Abel Blanco Interim finished April 2015 Omar Sevilla June 2015 10th (Clausura 2015) Atlético Marte Daniel Fernández Contract finished April 2015 Carlos "El Cacho" Meléndez June 2015 8th (Clausura 2015) Pasaquina Juan Andrés Sarulyte Contract finished, not renewed May 2015 Víctor Coreas June 2015 7th (Clausura 2015) Juventud Independiente Juan Ramón Sánchez Resigned, hired as El Salvador under 23 May 2015 Jorge Abrego June 2015 3rd (Clausura 2015) Chalatenango Ricardo Serrano Moved to become assistant coach June 2015 Juan Andrés Sarulyte June 2015 Newly Promoted
During the Apertura season
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureReplaced byPosition in table Sonsonate German Pérez Resigned August 2015 and (Caretaker) August 2015 12th (Apertura 2015) Sonsonate and Caretaker tenure finished, moved back to assistant and reserve August 2015 Héctor Jara August 2015 12th (Apertura 2015) Chalatenango Juan Andrés Sarulyte Sacked August 2015 Ricardo Serrano August 2015 11th (Apertura 2015) UES William Renderos Iraheta Sacked September 2015 Efrain Burgos September 2015 12th (Apertura 2015) Atlético Marte Carlos "El Cacho" Meléndez Sacked September 2015 Douglas Vidal Jiménez September 2015 11th (Apertura 2015) Sonsonate Héctor Jara Sacked October 2015 Edwin Portillo October 2015 9th (Apertura 2015)
Between Apertura and Clausura seasons
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table Águila Eraldo Correia Contract finished December 2015 Juan Ramón Sánchez December 2015 2nd (Apertura 2015) Pasaquina Víctor Coreas Resigned for personal reason December 2015 Hugo Ovelar December 2015 7th (Apertura 2015) Chalatenango Ricardo Serrano Resigned December 2015 Nelson Mauricio Ancheta December 2015 6th (Apertura 2015) FAS Agustín Castillo Contract finished December 2015 Carlos Martinez Sequeira December 2015 5th (Apertura 2015) UES Efrain Burgos Resigned December 2015 Edgar "Kiko" Henríquez December 2015 12th (Apertura 2015)
During the Clausura season
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table Chalatenango Nelson Mauricio Ancheta Resigned due to conflict with president January 2016 Ricardo Serrano January 2016 6th (Clausura 2016) Atlético Marte Douglas Vidal Jiménez Sacked February 2016 Juan Andrés Sarulyte February 2016 12th (Clausura 2016) Alianza Rubén Alonso Resigned February 2016 and (Caretaker) February 2016 9th (Clausura 2016) Alianza and (Caretaker) End of Caretaker role February 2016 Daniel Fernandez February 2016 9th (Clausura 2016) Firpo Alvaro Misael Alfaro Resignation March 2016 Jose Mario Martinez March 2016 3rd(Clausura 2016) Atlético Marte Juan Andrés Sarulyte Sacked March 2016 Efrain Burgos March 2016 12th (Clausura 2016) C.D. FAS Carlos Martinez Sequeira Mutual termination March 2016 Roberto Gamarra March 2016 9th (Clausura 2016) C.D. Sonsonate Edwin Portillo Mutual termination April 2016 William Renderos Iraheta April 2016 8th (Clausura 2016) C.D. Sonsonate William Renderos Iraheta Resigned April 2016 and (Caretaker) April 2016 10th (Clausura 2016)
Apertura
League table
Positions by round
This table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve the chronological evolution, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for matchday 3, but then postponed and played between days 6 and 7, it will be added to the standings for day 6.
Results
The home team is listed in the left-hand column.Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Scoring
First goal of the season: Ivan Mancia for Santa Tecla against Juventud Independiente, 21 minutes (August 1, 2015) First goal by a foreign player: Neymer Miranda for Pasaquina against Sonsonate, 57 minutes (August 1, 2015) Fastest goal in a match: 2 minutes Elman Rivas for UES against Santa Tecla (August 15, 2015) José Barahona for Juventud Independiente against Águila (September 27, 2015) Goal scored at the latest point in a match: 90+4 minutes Cristian Cisneros for Isidro Metapán against Chalatenango (August 1, 2015) First penalty Kick of the season: Nicolás Muñoz for Águila against Dragón, 89 minutes (August 3, 2015) Widest winning margin: 5 goals Isidro Metapán 5–0 Juventud Independiente (September 30, 2015) Isidro Metapán 5–0 Santa Tecla (October 24, 2015) Santa Tecla 6–1 Chalatenango (November 14, 2015) FAS 0–5 Santa Tecla (November 22, 2015) First hat-trick of the season: Williams Reyes for Águila against Juventud Independiente (September 27, 2015) First own goal of the season: Mario Martínez (Atlético Marte) for Dragón (August 16, 2015) Most goals in a match: 7 goals Isidro Metapán 3–4 Alianza (August 9, 2015) Sonsonate 3–4 Alianza (September 26, 2015) Santa Tecla 5–2 Alianza (September 30, 2015) Santa Tecla 6–1 Chalatenango (November 14, 2015) Most goals by one team in a match: 6 goals Santa Tecla 6–1 Chalatenango (November 14, 2015) Most goals in one half by one team: 4 goals Santa Tecla 5–2(1–2) Alianza (2nd half, September 30, 2015) Most goals scored by losing team: 3 goals Isidro Metapán 3–4 Alianza (August 9, 2015) Sonsonate 3–4 Alianza (September 26, 2015) Most goals by one player in a single match: 3 goals Williams Reyes for Águila against Juventud Independiente (September 27, 2015) David Rugamas for Isidro Metapán against Juventud Independiente (October 1, 2015) Irvin Herrera for Santa Tecla against Chalatenango (November 14, 2015) Luis Hinestroza for Santa Tecla against FAS (November 22, 2015)
Club
Most clean sheets: Isidro Metapán 11 Fewest clean sheets: Sonsonate 3 Best Home record during the Apertura season: Santa Tecla 26 out of 33 points (8 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss) Worst Home record during the Apertura season: UES 8 out of 33 points (1 win, 5 draws, and 5 losses) Best Away record during the Apertura season: Alianza 18 out of 33 points (5 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses) Worst Away record during the Apertura season: Juventud Independiente 6 out of 33 points (1 win, 3 draws, and 7 losses) Highest scoring team: Santa Tecla 47 goals Lowest scoring team: UES 13 goals
Discipline
First yellow card of the season: Álvaro Guardado for Juventud Independiente against Santa Tecla, 47 minutes (August 1, 2015) First red card of the season: William Maldonado for Santa Tecla against Juventud Independiente, 78 minutes (August 1, 2015) Most yellow cards by a player: 8 Rudy Valencia (Alianza) Jimmy Valoyes (Águila) Most red cards by a player: 3 Bladimir Osorio (Dragón)
Attendances
Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.
Top goalscorers