The 2026 Liga 1 Peru runner-up market remains tightly contested because no single side has separated itself in the aggregate standings or across the Apertura and Clausura phases. Deportivo Garcilaso sits atop the Clausura table while Alianza Lima, Los Chankas, Universitario, and FBC Melgar occupy the upper reaches of other partial tables, reflecting strong recent form from multiple clubs. Promoted sides FC Cajamarca and Deportivo Moquegua add further depth, and teams such as Juan Pablo II College, Sporting Cristal, and UTC Cajamarca have posted competitive results that keep realistic paths to second place open. With roughly half the campaign remaining and several clubs separated by only a handful of points, minor shifts in form, injuries, or fixture difficulty can quickly reorder the hierarchy reflected in current trader pricing.