 Luis Ángel Firpo came into the tournament as defending champions, having won their eighth league title in the previous season.A total of 10 teams contested the league, 8 of which had already participated in the Clausura 2008 season, and two of which had been promoted from the Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño.The 10 teams of the Primera División each played 18 matches, playing each team twice (home and away).