Costa Rican football moves at a breakneck speed, but if you look at the liga deportiva alajuelense standings lately, one thing is glaringly obvious: Alajuelense is living in a different reality than the rest of the league. It's not just that they're winning. It's how they're doing it. They finished the Apertura 2025/2026 phase sitting pretty at the top, and as we roll into mid-January 2026, the gap between them and the chasing pack feels more like a canyon than a bridge.
Honestly, being a Manudo right now feels great, but for the rest of the Primera División, it’s a bit of a nightmare. They wrapped up the regular season with 40 points from 18 matches. That’s a 12-4-2 record for those of you counting at home.
Breaking Down the Current liga deportiva alajuelense standings
You’ve probably seen the table. Alajuelense is currently leading the pack, followed by their eternal rivals Deportivo Saprissa. But while Saprissa has been flickering like a dying lightbulb at times, Alajuelense has been a floodlight. They’ve managed a goal difference of +19, which is just absurd when you realize the next best team is barely touching double digits.
- LD Alajuelense: 40 points (18 matches, +19 GD)
- Deportivo Saprissa: 34 points (18 matches, +12 GD)
- CS Cartaginés: 28 points (18 matches, +7 GD)
- Municipal Liberia: 27 points (18 matches, -1 GD)
- CS Herediano: 26 points (18 matches, 0 GD)
See that jump from second to third? That’s a six-point cushion just between the top two, and a massive 12-point lead over Cartaginés. It basically means Alajuelense could lose two games in a row—which they won't—and still be looking down at everyone else.
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The defense has been the real hero here. Guillermo Villalobos and Santiago van der Putten have turned the backline into a brick wall. They only conceded 10 goals in 18 games. In a league where "defending" is sometimes treated as a suggestion rather than a requirement, that's elite.
The Saprissa Factor and the Recent Finals
You can't talk about the standings without talking about the Clásico. On December 21, 2025, Alajuelense put a stamp on their dominance by beating Saprissa 3-1. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. Ronaldo Cisneros and Fernando Piñar were all over the pitch. That win basically solidified their psychological grip on the league.
Why the Midfield is Actually the Secret Sauce
Everyone talks about the strikers, but look at Celso Borges. The guy is 37 and still plays like he’s got three lungs. He’s the reason the liga deportiva alajuelense standings look the way they do. He controls the tempo, breaks up plays, and basically acts as the coach on the field. When Alejandro Bran is alongside him, the transition from defense to attack is seamless. It’s almost unfair.
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The squad depth is also kind of terrifying. You look at their bench and see guys who would be undisputed starters at Herediano or San Carlos. This allows Alexandre Guimarães to rotate the squad without the quality dropping off a cliff.
What the 2026 Clausura Means for the Table
We are literally days into the Clausura 2026. The slate technically resets for this half of the year, but momentum is a hell of a drug. Alajuelense is scheduled to face Municipal Liberia on January 14. If they win that—and they should—they’ll immediately set the tone for the new year.
- Key Stat: LDA has a 75% win rate when scoring first this season.
- Watch out for: Ronald Matarrita's assists. He's been carving up wings lately.
- The Rivalry: Herediano is currently the title holder from a previous short tournament, and they're sitting in 5th. They are desperate to climb back up, but Alajuelense’s consistency is making that look like a tall order.
People often ask if Saprissa can catch them. Sure, mathematically. But Saprissa is dealing with internal inconsistency. They’ve got the goals—32 for the season—but they leak them at the back. You can't win a league by hoping you score four because you gave up three.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Standings
A lot of casual fans think the liga deportiva alajuelense standings are just about money. "Oh, they just buy the best players." Not really. Look at the youth integration. Players like Creichel Pérez (21) and Kenay Myrie are getting significant minutes. They aren't just buying talent; they are building a system that makes average players look good and good players look world-class.
Also, don't sleep on the "Recopa" and Cup success. Winning breeds winning. They are currently the Cup champions and the Recopa champions. That winning culture isn't just a buzzword; it's visible in the way they play the final ten minutes of a game when they're up by one. They don't panic. They just keep the ball.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the league this year, here’s how to actually read into the numbers:
- Ignore the Total Points for a second and look at Away Form: Alajuelense has been oddly dominant on the road, which is usually the downfall of Costa Rican teams due to the varying pitch conditions (artificial vs. natural grass).
- Track the "Minutes Rule": Keep an eye on how Guimarães manages the U-21 minutes. If they hit their quota early, they can go "all-in" with the veterans in the final stretch.
- Monitor the Transfer Window: We just saw Silvio Rodríguez join from Pérez Zeledón. Small moves like this often fill the tiny gaps in an already solid roster.
The reality is that Alajuelense is currently the gold standard in Central American club football. Whether they can maintain this through the 2026 Clausura depends on their health and how they handle the pressure of being the team everyone wants to take down.
To keep up with the shifting numbers, you should monitor the official UNAFUT reports every Wednesday and Sunday night. The table updates fast, but for now, Alajuelense is the king of the mountain. Check the upcoming match against Pérez Zeledón on January 18; it's a "trap game" that will test if they've stayed focused during the short break. Keep an eye on the goal difference—if it stays above +15, the title is basically theirs to lose.