2008 Torneo Descentralizado
The 2008 Torneo Descentralizado was the ninety-second season of Peruvian football. A total of 14 teams competed in the tournament, with Universidad San Martín defending their national title. The season began on February 17, 2008 and ended on December 14, 2008.
Competition modus
The season was divided into two tournaments; Torneo Apertura from February to July and the Torneo Clausura from July to December. Both tournaments had the fourteen teams play a round-robin home-and-away round for a total of 26 matches in each tournament. The winner of the Torneo Apertura qualified to the 2009 Copa Libertadores group stage and was eligible to play in the season final if they finished above 8th place in the Torneo Clausura. The winner of the Torneo Clausura also qualified to the group stage and was eligible to play in the season final if they finished above 8th place in the Torneo Apertura. A team that would've won both tournament was automatically season champion. If one of the tournament winners failed to place above 8th place, the other tournament winner would've been season champion. If both teams failed to finish above 8th place, the team that placed higher on the aggregate table–the summation of the points earned in both tournaments–would've been season champion. The two teams that placed last on the aggregate table were relegated and the best placed team–excluding the two tournament winners–qualified to the first stage of the 2009 Copa Libertadores. The second and third best placed teams on the aggregate table qualified to the 2009 Copa Sudamericana.Changes from 2007
Structural changes
- The number of teams was increased from 12 to 14.
- Due to the increase in teams, the tournament winners could finish in the top seven instead of the top six to play in the season finals.
- 1,170 minutes of game time was to be accumulated by players born on or after 1989 in the Torneo Apertura and Torneo Clausura. The amount for the Torneo Clausura was later reduced to 600.
- The minimum stadium capacity was increased from 4,000 to 5,000.
Promotion and relegation
Season overview
Universitario won the Apertura title after 6 years of failing to win a half-year tournament. They won the title with 50 points, a ten-point lead, and had four games left to be played. Sporting Cristal was the other team close to winning the title, however they had three games left to play and would have been unable to reach Universitario. Universitario had a 15-game undefeated streak and a 9-game winning streak. In the Clausura Universitario did surprisingly worse and finished 11th. They lost four games at home and failed to finish in the top 7 to contest the national title. U. San Martin finished third in the Apertura and won the Clausura with three games to spare. They achieved their second national title after only four years of existence. This is the first time since 1958 where the big three were not able to win the title for two consecutive years.Alianza Lima experienced a terrible season because they were close to being relegated this season. Every team, with the exception of José Gálvez, gained points playing at their home ground and they had also lost several home games. Fortunately, Alianza Lima remained in the First Division. Sport Boys saved itself from relegation two years ago, however this year they could not. They were the worst team of the year and won very few games. Problems arose in the club as the players were not paid for many months. This led to a sorrowful year for the fans of Sport Boys.
Teams
| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Field |
| Alianza Atlético | Sullana | Campeones del 36 | 8,000 | Grass |
| Alianza Lima | Lima | Alejandro Villanueva | 35,000 | Grass |
| Atlético Minero | Matucana | Municipal de Matucana | 5,000 | Grass |
| Cienciano | Cusco | Garcilaso | 42,056 | Grass |
| Coronel Bolognesi | Tacna | Jorge Basadre | 19,850 | Grass |
| José Gálvez | Chimbote | Manuel Rivera Sanchez | 25,000 | Artificial |
| Juan Aurich | Chiclayo | Elías Aguirre | 24,500 | Artificial |
| Melgar | Arequipa | Mariano Melgar | 20,000 | Grass |
| Sport Áncash | Huaraz | Rosas Pampa | 8,000 | Grass |
| Sport Boys | Callao | Miguel Grau | 15,000 | Grass |
| Sporting Cristal | Lima | San Martín de Porres | 18,000 | Grass |
| Universidad César Vallejo | Trujillo | Mansiche | 25,000 | Artificial |
| Universidad San Martín | Lima | San Martín de Porres | 18,000 | Grass |
| Universitario | Lima | Monumental | 80,093 | Grass |
Torneo Apertura
Standings
Results
Top goalscorers
;20 goals;13 goals
;12 goals
;11 goals
;9 goals
- Donny Neyra '
- Carlos Lobaton '
- Pedro García '
- Carlos Alberto Pérez '
Torneo Clausura
Standings
Results
Top goalscorers
;15 goals;14 goals
;12 goals
- Miguel Ximénez '
;10 goals
;9 goals
;8 goals
;7 goals
- Donny Neyra '
- Piero Alva '
- Wilmer Aguirre '
- Roberto Ovelar
Aggregate table