The 2020–21 Liga Nacional de Guatemala was the 68th professional season of the top-flight football league in Guatemala. The season was divided into two championships—the 2020 Apertura and the 2021 Clausura—each in an identical format and each contested by the same 12 teams.
| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 29 August 2020 – 23 May 2021 |
| Champions | Apertura: Guastatoya (3rd title) Clausura: Santa Lucía (1st title) |
| Relegated | Sacachispas Sanarate |
| CONCACAF League | Gustatoya Santa Lucía Comunicaciones |
| Top goalscorer | Ramiro Rocca - 21 goals |
← 2019–20 2021–22 →
Stats are from the regular season only | |
Teams
edit
Promotion and relegation (pre-season)
editA total of 12 teams will contest the league, including 10 sides from the 2019–20 Liga Nacional and 2 promoted from the 2019–20 Primera División.
- Teams relegated to Primera División de Ascenso
Siquinalá and Mixco were relegated to 2020–21 Primera División the previous season.
- Teams promoted from Primera División de Ascenso
The relegated team were replaced by the 2019–20 Primera División winners Achuapa and Sacachispas.
Personnel and sponsoring
edit| Team | Chairman | Head Coach | Captain | Kitmaker | Shirt Sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achuapa |  Francisco Zepeda |
 Sergio Pardo |
 Juliano Rangel |
NetSportswear | Tigo, Domino’s |
| Antigua | Víctor Hugo García |
 Roberto Montoya |
Jairo Arreola |
NetSportswear | Tigo, TBD |
| Cobán Imperial | Irasema Meléndez |
 Ernesto Corti |
Jorge Sotomayer |
NetSportswear | Tigo, TBD |
| Comunicaciones | Juan Garcia |
Mauricio Tapia |
 Michael Umaña |
Nino | Tigo, Gatorade |
| Guastatoya | Léster Rodríguez |
 Willy Coito Olivera |
Wilson Pineda |
NetSportswear | Tigo, TBD |
| Iztapa | Mario Mejía |
Ramiro Cepeda |
Carlos Kamiani Félix |
TutoSport | Tigo, TBD |
| Malacateco | Carlos Gutiérrez |
Ronald Gomez |
Sixto Betancourt |
Silver Sport | Tigo, TBD |
| Municipal | Gerardo Villa |
Sebastian Bini |
Jose Mario Rosales |
Umbro | Tigo, TBD |
| Sacachispas | Alexander Hernández |
Diego Cerruti |
Egidio Arévalo Ríos |
NetSportswear | Tigo, TBD |
| Sanarate | Jahiro Otzoy |
Matías Tatangelo |
 Orlando Moreira |
NetSportswear | Tigo, TBD |
| Santa Lucía | Rodolfo Puertas |
 Mario Acevedo |
Rafael da Roza |
TutoSport | Tigo, TBD |
| Xelajú | Francisco Santos |
Marcó Antonio Morales |
Pablo Mignorance |
MR | Tigo, Domino’s |
Managerial changes
editBeginning of the season
edit| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | |
Resigned | May 2019 | TBD |
May 2019 | th (Clausura 2018) |
During the Apertura season
edit| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacachispas | Erick Gonzalez |
Sacked | October 2020 | Alejandro Larrera |
October 2020 | th (Clausura 2018) |
| Antigua GFC | Juan Antonio Torres |
Resigned | November 2020 |  Jeff Korytoski |
November 2020 | th (Aperura 2018) |
| Deportivo Achuapa | Irbin Olivares |
Resigned | November 2020 | Marvin Ivan Leon |
November 2020 | th (Clausura 2018) |
Between Apertura and Clausura seasons
edit| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F.C. Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa | Sergio Guevara |
Resigned | December 2020 | Mario Acevedo |
January 2021 | th (Apertura 2020) |
| Sanarate | Gabriel Castillo |
Resigned | December 2020 | Matias Tatangelo |
January 2021 | th (Apertura 2020) |
| Xelaju | Walter Claveri |
Sacked | December 2020 | Antonio Morales |
January 2021 | th (Apertura 2020) |
During the Clausura season
edit| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua GFC | Jeff Korytoski |
Resigned | March 2021 | Roberto Montoya |
March 2021 | 12th (Clausura 2021) |
Apertura
editLeague table
editGroup A
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comunicaciones | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 10 | +15 | 32 | Advance to Playoffs (Final Series) |
| 2 | Malacateco | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 18 | +1 | 24 | |
| 3 | Xelajú | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 22 | −5 | 21 | Advance to Playoffs (Prem. Round) |
| 4 | Antigua GFC | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 23 | −2 | 20 | |
| 5 | Iztapa | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 24 | 28 | −4 | 19 | |
| 6 | Santa Lucía | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 17 | −5 | 16 |
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Group B
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Municipal | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 11 | +22 | 33 | Advance to Playoffs (Final Series) |
| 2 | Cobán Imperial | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 12 | +10 | 29 | |
| 3 | Guastatoya | 16 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 20 | Advance to Playoffs (Prem. Round) |
| 4 | Achuapa | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 19 | |
| 5 | Sanarate | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 19 | 33 | −14 | 14 | |
| 6 | Sacachispas | 16 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 34 | −14 | 13 |
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Finals
edit| 5 February 2021 Final | Guastatoya | 2–1 | Municipal | |
| 01:00 | Attendance: 0 Referee: Bryan Lopez Castellano |
| 8 February 2021 Final | Municipal | 1–1 | Guastatoya | |
| 01:00 | Attendance: 0 Referee: Walter López Castellanos |
Clausura
editLeague table
editGroup A
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comunicaciones | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 12 | +16 | 34 | Advance to Playoffs (Final Series) |
| 2 | Malacateco | 16 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 14 | −6 | 16 | |
| 3 | Xelajú | 16 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 15 | −1 | 17 | Advance to Playoffs (Prem. Round) |
| 4 | Antigua | 16 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 26 | −11 | 13 | |
| 5 | Iztapa | 16 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 29 | 25 | +4 | 22 | |
| 6 | Santa Lucía | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 24 |
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Group B
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Municipal | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 11 | +13 | 27 | Advance to Playoffs (Final Series) |
| 2 | Cobán Imperial | 16 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 20 | 17 | +3 | 23 | |
| 3 | Guastatoya | 16 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 23 | 10 | +13 | 28 | Advance to Playoffs (Prem. Round) |
| 4 | Achuapa | 16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 27 | −11 | 14 | |
| 5 | Sanarate | 16 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 25 | −9 | 18 | |
| 6 | Sacachispas | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 26 | −11 | 18 |
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Finals
edit| 21 May 2021 Final | Santa Lucía | 4–0 | Comunicaciones | Cotzumalguapa |
| 02:00 | Diego Ruiz  12' Romario da Silva 28' 88' Isaac Acuna 38' |
Nil | Stadium: Estadio Municipal Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa Attendance: 9,000 Referee: Walter López Castellanos |
| 23 May 2021 Final | Comunicaciones | 5–2 | Santa Lucía | Guatemala City |
| 08:00 | Lacayo 39' 53' 74' Robles 49' Royón 47' |
Thales Douglas Moreira Possas 90+2' Nelson Miranda 90+4' |
Stadium: Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores Attendance: 0 Referee: Mario Escobar |
| Clausura 2021 winners: |
|---|
| 1st title |
Aggerate League table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comunicaciones | 32 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 53 | 22 | +31 | 66 | |
| 2 | Municipal | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 57 | 22 | +35 | 60 | |
| 3 | Cobán Imperial | 32 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 42 | 29 | +13 | 52 | |
| 4 | Guastatoya | 32 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 42 | 29 | +13 | 48 | CONCACAF League round of 16 |
| 5 | Iztapa | 32 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 41 | |
| 6 | Santa Lucía | 32 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 25 | 30 | −5 | 40 | |
| 7 | Malacateco | 32 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 27 | 32 | −5 | 40 | |
| 8 | Xelajú | 32 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 31 | 37 | −6 | 38 | |
| 9 | Antigua GFC | 32 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 36 | 49 | −13 | 33 | |
| 10 | Achuapa | 32 | 9 | 6 | 17 | 33 | 48 | −15 | 33 | |
| 11 | Sanarate | 32 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 35 | 58 | −23 | 32 | Relegation play-offs |
| 12 | Sacachispas | 32 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 35 | 60 | −25 | 31 | Relegated to Segunda División |
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
List of foreign players in the league
editThis is a list of foreign players in 2020-2021 season. The following players:
- have played at least one apertura game for the respective club.
- have not been capped for the Guatemala national football team on any level, independently from the birthplace. Archived 2018-07-29 at the Wayback Machine
A new rule was introduced a few season ago, that clubs can only have five foreign players per club and can only add a new player if there is an injury or player/s is released.
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