2021 Ecuadorian Serie A
The 2021 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A, known as the LigaPro Betcris 2021 for sponsorship purposes,[1] was the 63rd season of the Serie A, Ecuador's top tier football league, and the third under the management of the Liga Profesional de Fútbol del Ecuador (or LigaPro). The season began on 19 February and ended on 12 December 2021.[2]
Season | 2021 |
---|---|
Dates | 19 February – 12 December 2021 |
Champions | Independiente del Valle (1st title) |
Relegated | Manta Olmedo |
Copa Libertadores | Independiente del Valle Emelec Universidad Católica Barcelona |
Copa Sudamericana | 9 de Octubre LDU Quito Mushuc Runa Delfín |
Matches played | 240 |
Goals scored | 654 (2.73 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Jonathan Bauman (26 goals) |
Biggest home win | Mushuc Runa 6–1 Delfín (17 July) Dep. Cuenca 5–0 Olmedo (26 September) Ind. del Valle 5–0 Olmedo (31 October) |
Biggest away win | Mushuc Runa 2–6 U. Católica (9 May) Manta 0–4 Emelec (18 July) |
Highest scoring | Mushuc Runa 2–6 U. Católica (9 May) |
← 2020 2022 → |
Independiente del Valle were the champions, winning their first league title by defeating Emelec in the finals by a 4–2 aggregate score.[3] Barcelona were the defending champions, having won the previous season.
Format
On 1 January 2021, LigaPro president Miguel Ángel Loor confirmed that the 2021 season would be contested by 16 teams and the competition would be played under the same format as the previous season.[4] Three stages were played, with the first and second ones to be played as single round-robin tournaments with all teams playing each other once for a total of 15 matches per stage. The first stage fixture was reversed for the second stage, and the top teams at the end of each stage qualified for the final stage as well as the Copa Libertadores group stage. The finals were a double-legged series between the winners of both stages with a penalty shoot-out deciding the champion in case of a tie in points and goals scored. In case a team won both stages of the season, the finals would not be played and that team would win the championship.
An aggregate table including the matches of both the first and second stages was used to decide international qualification and relegation, with the best two teams (other than the stage winners) qualifying for the Copa Libertadores, the next best three teams qualifying for the Copa Sudamericana, while the remaining Copa Sudamericana berth would be awarded to the champions of the 2021 Copa Ecuador, which was eventually cancelled.[5] The bottom two teams of the aggregate table at the end of the season will be relegated to Serie B.
Teams
16 teams competed in the season. LDU Portoviejo and El Nacional were relegated after finishing in the bottom two places of the aggregate table of the previous season, being replaced by 2020 Serie B champions 9 de Octubre and runners-up Manta.
Stadia and locations
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



Aucas
LDU Quito
Universidad Católica
Ambato teams:
Macará
Mushuc Runa
Técnico Universitario
Guayaquil teams:
9 de Octubre
Barcelona
Emelec
Guayaquil City
Team | City | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
9 de Octubre | Guayaquil | Modelo Alberto Spencer Herrera | 42,000 |
Aucas | Quito | Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda | 21,689 |
Barcelona | Guayaquil | Monumental Banco Pichincha | 57,267 |
Delfín | Manta | Jocay | 17,834 |
Deportivo Cuenca | Cuenca | Banco del Austro Alejandro Serrano Aguilar | 18,549 |
Emelec | Guayaquil | Banco del Pacífico Capwell | 40,020 |
Guayaquil City | Guayaquil | Christian Benítez Betancourt | 10,152 |
Independiente del Valle | Sangolquí | Banco Guayaquil | 12,000 |
LDU Quito | Quito | Rodrigo Paz Delgado | 41,575 |
Macará | Ambato | Bellavista | 16,467 |
Manta | Manta | Jocay | 17,834 |
Mushuc Runa | Ambato | COAC Mushuc Runa | 8,200 |
Olmedo | Riobamba | Olímpico | 7,233 |
Orense | Machala | 9 de Mayo | 16,456 |
Técnico Universitario | Ambato | Bellavista | 16,467 |
Universidad Católica | Quito | Olímpico Atahualpa | 35,258 |
Personnel and kits
Team | Manager | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|---|
9 de Octubre | ![]() |
Jasa Evolution | GolTV Play |
Aucas | ![]() |
Umbro | Cooperativa San Francisco Ltda. |
Barcelona | ![]() |
Marathon | Pilsener |
Delfín | ![]() |
Baldo's | Banco del Pacífico |
Deportivo Cuenca | ![]() |
Lotto | Chubb Seguros |
Emelec | ![]() |
Adidas | Tubos Pacífico |
Guayaquil City | ![]() |
Astro | Cooperativa San Francisco Ltda. |
Independiente del Valle | ![]() |
Marathon | Chery Banco Guayaquil |
LDU Quito | ![]() |
Puma | Banco Pichincha |
Macará | ![]() |
Boman | Cooperativa San Francisco Ltda. |
Manta | ![]() |
Astro | Atún Isabel |
Mushuc Runa | ![]() |
Boman | Cooperativa Mushuc Runa |
Olmedo | ![]() |
Boman | Cooperativa Daquilema |
Orense | ![]() |
Elohim | Banco de Machala |
Técnico Universitario | ![]() |
Boman | Cooperativa San Francisco Ltda. |
Universidad Católica | ![]() ![]() (caretakers) |
Umbro | Banco Pichincha |
Managerial changes
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First stage | ||||||
Delfín | ![]() |
End of caretaker spell | 19 December 2020 | Pre-season | ![]() |
27 December 2020[6] |
Mushuc Runa | ![]() |
End of contract | 19 December 2020 | ![]() |
24 December 2020[7] | |
Independiente del Valle | ![]() |
Resigned | 20 December 2020[8] | ![]() |
25 December 2020[9] | |
Olmedo | ![]() |
End of contract | 20 December 2020 | ![]() |
27 December 2020[10] | |
Macará | ![]() |
21 December 2020[11] | ![]() |
25 December 2020[12] | ||
Aucas | ![]() |
Sacked | 14 March 2021[13] | 10th | ![]() |
16 March 2021[14] |
Deportivo Cuenca | ![]() |
Promoted to sporting director | 18 May 2021[15] | 12th | ![]() |
18 May 2021[15] |
Orense | ![]() |
Sacked | 31 May 2021[16] | 14th | ![]() |
6 June 2021[17] |
LDU Quito | ![]() |
Mutual consent | 16 June 2021[18] | 7th | ![]() |
25 June 2021[20] |
Olmedo | ![]() |
Resigned | 13 July 2021[21] | 16th | ![]() |
14 July 2021[22] |
Second stage | ||||||
Delfín | ![]() |
Mutual consent | 31 July 2021[23] | 8th | ![]() |
4 August 2021[24] |
Macará | ![]() |
Sacked | 3 August 2021[25] | 15th | ![]() |
5 August 2021[26] |
Olmedo | ![]() |
End of caretaker spell | 5 August 2021 | 16th | ![]() |
5 August 2021[27] |
![]() |
Resigned | 28 September 2021[28] | ![]() |
28 September 2021[28] | ||
Universidad Católica | ![]() |
25 October 2021[29] | 4th | ![]() ![]() |
25 October 2021[29] | |
Olmedo | ![]() |
Mutual consent | 1 November 2021[30] | 16th | ![]() |
1 November 2021[31] |
- Notes
- Gabriel Di Noia was caretaker manager during the 2021 Supercopa Ecuador.[19]
- Caretaker managers until the end of the season.
First stage
The first stage began on 19 February and ended on 19 July 2021.[32]
Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Emelec | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 14 | +15 | 34 | Advance to Finals and qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
2 | Barcelona | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 31 | 13 | +18 | 31 | |
3 | Independiente del Valle | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 18 | +9 | 27 | |
4 | Universidad Católica | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 18 | +11 | 25 | |
5 | Mushuc Runa | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 21 | +8 | 25 | |
6 | LDU Quito | 15 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 25 | |
7 | Macará | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 23 | |
8 | 9 de Octubre | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 22 | 21 | +1 | 20 | |
9 | Aucas | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 27 | 26 | +1 | 19 | |
10 | Delfín | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 25 | −6 | 18 | |
11 | Deportivo Cuenca | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 18 | −4 | 16 | |
12 | Manta | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 25 | −7 | 16 | |
13 | Técnico Universitario | 15 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 17 | −6 | 13 | |
14 | Orense | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 24 | −10 | 12 | |
15 | Guayaquil City | 15 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 30 | −19 | 10 | |
16 | Olmedo[lower-alpha 1] | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 27 | −14 | 9 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Goal difference, 3) Goals for, 4) Away goals for, 5) Head-to-head record, 6) Drawing of lots.
Notes:
- Olmedo were deducted three points as punishment for failing to pay their creditors.[33]
Results
- Match ended after 20 minutes of play and awarded 3–0 to Barcelona by walkover due to the withdrawal of Aucas player Johan Lara by injury, leaving the team below the minimum number of players required per tournament regulations (seven). The score at the time of suspension was 2–0.[34]
- Match awarded 3–0 to Universidad Católica due to a breach of the competition's financial regulations and lack of cleared players by Olmedo.[35]
Second stage
Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Independiente del Valle | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 9 | +20 | 34 | Advance to Finals and qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
2 | Emelec | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 15 | +15 | 30 | |
3 | 9 de Octubre | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 17 | +8 | 30 | |
4 | Universidad Católica | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 15 | +10 | 29 | |
5 | LDU Quito | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 27 | 22 | +5 | 23 | |
6 | Delfín | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 22 | |
7 | Técnico Universitario | 15 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 22 | |
8 | Aucas | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 17 | +3 | 20 | |
9 | Barcelona | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 20 | |
10 | Guayaquil City | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 18 | −2 | 20 | |
11 | Orense | 15 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 19 | |
12 | Deportivo Cuenca | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 25 | 24 | +1 | 16 | |
13 | Mushuc Runa | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 21 | −9 | 16 | |
14 | Macará | 15 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 29 | −11 | 13 | |
15 | Manta | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 21 | −10 | 12 | |
16 | Olmedo | 15 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 49 | −40 | 1 |
Results
Finals
The finals (Third stage) were played by Emelec (first stage winners) and Independiente del Valle (second stage winners). The winners of the double-legged series were the Serie A champions and earned the Ecuador 1 berth in the 2022 Copa Libertadores, and the losers were the Serie A runners-up and earned the Ecuador 2 berth in the 2022 Copa Libertadores. By having the greater number of points in the aggregate table, Emelec played the second leg at home.
Independiente del Valle | 3–1 | Emelec |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
Emelec | 1–1 | Independiente del Valle |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Independiente del Valle won 4–2 on aggregate.
Aggregate table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Emelec | 30 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 59 | 29 | +30 | 64 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
2 | Independiente del Valle (C) | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 56 | 27 | +29 | 61 | |
3 | Universidad Católica | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 54 | 33 | +21 | 54 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores second stage |
4 | Barcelona | 30 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 51 | 33 | +18 | 51 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores first stage |
5 | 9 de Octubre | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 47 | 38 | +9 | 50 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage[lower-alpha 1] |
6 | LDU Quito | 30 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 49 | 41 | +8 | 48 | |
7 | Mushuc Runa | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 41 | 42 | −1 | 41 | |
8 | Delfín | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 44 | 45 | −1 | 40 | |
9 | Aucas | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 47 | 43 | +4 | 39 | |
10 | Macará | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 35 | 46 | −11 | 36 | |
11 | Técnico Universitario | 30 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 26 | −2 | 35 | |
12 | Deportivo Cuenca | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 39 | 42 | −3 | 32 | |
13 | Orense | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 28 | 37 | −9 | 31 | |
14 | Guayaquil City | 30 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 27 | 48 | −21 | 30 | |
15 | Manta (R) | 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 29 | 46 | −17 | 28 | Relegation to Serie B |
16 | Olmedo[lower-alpha 2] (R) | 30 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 22 | 76 | −54 | 10 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Goal difference, 3) Goals for, 4) Away goals for, 5) Head-to-head record, 6) Drawing of lots.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Since the 2021 Copa Ecuador was cancelled due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador, the spot awarded to its champions (Copa Sudamericana first stage) was passed over to the aggregate table fourth best-placed team not qualified for the Copa Libertadores.[5]
- Olmedo were deducted three points as punishment for failing to pay their creditors.[33]
Top scorers
Rank | Name | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Mushuc Runa / Independiente del Valle | 26 |
2 | ![]() |
Delfín | 17 |
3 | ![]() |
Universidad Católica | 15 |
4 | ![]() |
Deportivo Cuenca | 14 |
5 | ![]() |
9 de Octubre | 12 |
![]() |
Aucas | ||
7 | ![]() |
Emelec | 10 |
![]() |
Aucas | ||
![]() |
Emelec | ||
![]() |
Emelec |
Source: FEF
References
- "(VIDEO) Betcris es el nuevo auspiciante de la LigaPro" (in Spanish). Studio Fútbol. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- "LigaPro 2021 ya tiene fecha de inicio" (in Spanish). Ecuagol. 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Independiente del Valle, campeón de la LigaPro 2021; superó en el marcador global 4-2 a Emelec" (in Spanish). El Universo. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- "LigaPro 2021 arrancaría entre 19 y 27 de febrero, plantea el presidente" (in Spanish). El Universo. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "OFICIAL: NO se realizará la Copa Ecuador en el 2021" (in Spanish). Studio Fútbol. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- "Paúl Vélez fue presentado como nuevo entrenador de Delfín para 2021" (in Spanish). Primicias. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Geovanny Cumbicus dirigirá a Mushuc Runa" (in Spanish). Afición Central. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "El español Miguel Ángel Ramírez dice adiós a Independiente del Valle: "Estoy orgulloso"" (in Spanish). Marca. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "El director técnico portugués Renato Paiva dirigirá al Independiente del Valle" (in Spanish). El Comercio. 25 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Pablo Trobbiani es nuevo director técnico de Olmedo" (in Spanish). Afición Central. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Paúl Vélez se va de Macará con una eficiencia del 56%" (in Spanish). Primicias. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Macará anuncia la contratación del técnico Eduardo Favaro y el fichaje de cuatro futbolistas" (in Spanish). El Comercio. 25 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "OFICIAL: Aucas despidió a Tempesta" (in Spanish). Studio Fútbol. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- "(FOTO) Nuevo entrenador para 'Papá' Aucas" (in Spanish). Ecuagol. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- "Deportivo Cuenca presentó a su nuevo entrenador" (in Spanish). Ecuagol. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- "Orense SC separa al técnico Patricio Lara y a seis jugadores por bajo rendimiento" (in Spanish). El Universo. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- "OFICIAL: Un español es el nuevo DT de Orense" (in Spanish). Studio Fútbol. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- "Liga de Quito oficializó la salida del entrenador uruguayo Pablo Repetto" (in Spanish). El Comercio. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- "Gabriel Di Noia y Ariel Varady dirigirán a Liga de Quito en la Supercopa; ¿hay candidatos a entrenadores?" (in Spanish). El Comercio. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- "El argentino Pablo Marini es nuevo entrenador de Liga de Quito" [Argentine Pablo Marini is the new manager of Liga de Quito] (in Spanish). Primicias. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- "EL CICLÓN SIN DT: Pablo Trobbiani renunció a Olmedo" (in Spanish). Studio Fútbol. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- "¿Conseguirá salvar del descenso a Olmedo?" (in Spanish). futbolecuador.com. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- "OFICIAL: Paúl Vélez dejó de ser el DT de Delfín" (in Spanish). Studio Fútbol. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- "EL REEMPLAZO DE VÉLEZ: Delfín ya tiene a su nuevo DT" (in Spanish). Studio Fútbol. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- "Desde Macará confirman la salida de Eduardo Favaro" (in Spanish). Ecuagol. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- "OFICIAL: Paúl Vélez vuelve a casa, será DT de Macará" (in Spanish). Studio Fútbol. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- "¿Ahora sí? Olmedo anuncia la llegada de Luis Espinel como nuevo entrenador" (in Spanish). Bolavip. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- "Luis Espinel dejó de ser DT de Olmedo" [Luis Espinel ceased to be manager of Olmedo] (in Spanish). Studio Fútbol. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- "Santiago Escobar deja la dirección técnica de Universidad Católica" (in Spanish). El Universo. 25 October 2021.
- "(FOTO) Olmedo se quedó sin entrenador y ya piensa en el 2022" (in Spanish). Ecuagol. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- "Héctor González, nuevo entrenador de Olmedo" (in Spanish). El Universo. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- "Calendario de la LigaPro 2021; primer Clásico del Astillero será en mayo". El Universo (in Spanish). 2 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- "Comunicado: Centro Deportivo Olmedo" (in Spanish). LigaPro. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- "Barcelona SC derrota 3-0 a Aucas, que inició con 7 jugadores y terminó con 6 en el Monumental" (in Spanish). El Universo. 12 April 2021.
- "El primer partido del campeonato 2021 entre la Católica y Olmedo no se jugó; el 'Ciclón' no habilitó a sus titulares" (in Spanish). El Comercio. 19 February 2021.