The unexpected defeat of Sporting Cristal at home against Atlético Grau gave Alianza Lima the opportunity to be the new leader of the Clausura Tournament, a chance that 'Chicho' Salas' club did not waste. The intimate ones did their homework by beating Binacional, a result that left them at the top of the table with 36 points, one more than the rimenses.
With two dates remaining in the tournament, the reigning champion depends on themselves to qualify for the semifinals and even directly to a possible final if other results favor them. However, there is also the risk that the blanquiazules will end up empty-handed.
If the Clausura ends today, Alianza would play the playoffs as the winner of this short tournament against Cristal, the second place in the accumulated table. Meanwhile, Melgar would advance directly to the final as the winner of the Apertura and leader of the general table.
Clausura Tournament Standings
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However, if the victorianos lose and the bajopontinos win in the next matchday, they will reclaim the first place with a two-point advantage and leave Matute's team with no chance of finishing first or second in the accumulated, since the distance between them would increase to five points with only three more points at stake.
That is, if Alianza Lima does not win their remaining two matches (with one draw and one victory, two draws, or two defeats), Sporting Cristal could eliminate them if they get two wins. The only way the intimate team can definitively avoid this unfavorable scenario is by winning all their remaining matches.
Accumulated table with the top three positions. Photo: capture/GLR
How is the Liga 1 2022 defined?
- If the champions of the Apertura and Clausura and the top two in the accumulated are different teams, semifinals and a final will be played.
- If a team wins the Apertura or Clausura and is among the top two in the annual table, it will directly qualify for the final. Their opponent will be the winner of the semifinal between the other tournament winner and the other club with the highest score in the annual table.
- If the two tournament winners are also the top two in the accumulated, the final will be played directly between those clubs.
- If a club wins both tournaments, they will be crowned national champions automatically.