What must happen for Alianza Lima to play a semifinal without winning Clausura 2022?

Alianza Lima got its first win at altitude after defeating Cienciano (2-0) in Cusco. In this way, the purple-and-white team continues in the fight for the Closing Tournament by placing in second place with 33 units and two points behind the leader Sporting Cristal.

Although, to tempt the top, the box led by Guillermo Salas will have to wait for a fall of the light blue. In case they fail to win the second tournament of the year, the intimate team still has an alternative to qualify for the semifinals (playoffs).

How are the play-offs defined?

The play-offs they will be played with the single elimination system in round-trip matches; that is, the semifinals and finals, if any. And it is that, according to the bases, if a club wins the Apertura and the Clausura it will be proclaimed national champion without the need to dispute a definition. The last team to follow that path was Alianza Lima in 2017.

Melgar appeals to this case. The people of Arequipa won the first lathe of the year and if they win the second they will be crowned national champions. For that they must overcome the three points that Cristal leads them and that Alianza also stumbles like the celestial ones.

If the Apertura and Clausura had two different winners, then the semifinals would be played. Of course, these two clubs must finish within the first 8 of the accumulated. To them will be added those who finish in first and second position of the accumulated. The keys will be closed between the one with the highest score against the one with the lowest score, and the one with the second best position against the one that remains.

This is the path that Cristal hopes to have. Rimenses today lead the Clausura and the general table. If the contest ends like this, the Bajopontino cast will qualify directly for the final and will wait for the winner of a semifinal. Melgar could also qualify if he manages to stay in the top two of the accumulated. If it continues as before, Celestes and Arequipeños will play the final directly

What must happen for Alianza Lima to play a semifinal without winning Clausura 2022?

In case the purple-and-white team does not win the Closing Tournament, its objective will be to get into the first two of the Accumulated. For now, he is in third place in the general table with 66 units, while Melgar remains second (69) and Sporting Cristal is the pointer (73). Guillermo Salas’s squad will have to win their remaining games and wait for a stumble from the red and black cast or the light blue team.

Cumulative table of League 1

Closing Tournament standings