The 2006 Torneo Descentralizado (known as the Copa Cable Mágico for sponsorship reasons) was the ninetieth season of Peruvian football. A total of 12 teams competed in the tournament, with Sporting Cristal as the defending champion. Alianza Lima won its twenty-second Primera División title after beating Cienciano in the final playoffs. The season began on February 3, 2006, and ended on December 27, 2006.
Changes from 2005
Structural changes
Number of teams reduced from 13 to 12.
Season final to be played over two legs (home and away) instead of one leg at a neutral venue.
The relegation would be decided by the season aggregate table; three-season average relegation table removed.
Alianza Lima won the Apertura tournament which allowed them to qualify to the Copa Libertadores 2007. Universitario and Cienciano tied for first in the Clausura tournament and were forced to play a playoff. The playoff was a single game, played on a neutral ground, in Trujillo at Estadio Mansiche. Cienciano won the playoff 2–1, qualifying to the Copa Libertadores 2007. Sporting Cristal placed second on the aggregate table, which allowed them to qualify to the first stage of the Copa Libertadores 2007. The winners of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, Alianza Lima and Cienciano, played in a two-legged final. Both teams won their home games, but due to goal difference, Alianza Lima won their twenty-second national title. Unión Huaral placed last on the aggregate table which meant they were relegated to the second division. José Gálvez FBC and Sport Boys tied for second-to-last place. A playoff was contested and Sport Boys won 5–4 in the penalty shootout after a 0–0 draw.
Updated to match(es) played on May 2, 2008. Source: Peruvian Football Apertura 2006 Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Updated to match(es) played on May 2, 2008. Source: Peruvian Football Clausura 2006 Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. (O) Play-off winners
Updated to match(es) played on May 2, 2008. Source: Peruvian Football Aggregate 2006 Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. Notes:
^ abAlianza Lima and Cienciano qualified to the 2007 Copa Libertadores as Apertura and Clausura champions respectively.