1996 Torneo Descentralizado

The 1996 Torneo Descentralizado was the 81st season of the top category of Peruvian football. A total of 16 teams competed in the tournament. Sporting Cristal won its 13th first division title, completing a string of 3 consecutive titles starting in 1994. The feat is known as a tricampeonato and was only accomplished before by Alianza Lima.

Changes from 1995

The tournament would be played like in 1994, where the champion was crowned after the first stage of the tournament and the second berth to the Copa Libertadores was determined by an end-of-season Liguilla featuring 4 teams.
Four teams were relegated instead of the customary two. Two teams from the Copa Perú and the Segunda División in their place.

Teams

Alianza Lima
Ciclista Lima
G. Republicana
Municipal
San Agustín
Sporting Cristal
Universitario
Sport Boys

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Locations of the 1996 Primera División teams

First stage

The first stage of the season was played as a double round-robin tournament. Sporting Cristal as champions qualified for the 1997 Copa Libertadores. Alianza Lima directly advanced to the end-of-season Liguilla and received a bonus point for placing second. The teams that placed 3 to 8 advanced to a preliminary round.

Updated to match(es) played on 1996. Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

Results

Updated to match(es) played on 1996. Source: RSSSF Peru 1996
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Pre-Liguilla

Universitario, Deportivo Pesquero, and Cienciano qualified for the Liguilla.^[1]

Liguilla Pre-Libertadores

All matches were played in Lima.

Updated to match(es) played on 1996. Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:

^ Alianza Lima obtained 1 point for finishing second in the Torneo Descentralizado.

Results

Teams play each other once, either home or away. Liguilla Final was played only at the Estadio Nacional, Lima.

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: 1995
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

References

^ "Peru 1996". RSSSF. Retrieved 2008-04-20.

External links

RSSSF Peru 1996 by Eli Schmerler, José Luis Pierrend