2008–09 Serie D

Serie D

Season	2008–09
← 2007–08 2009–10 →

Serie D, the fifth level of Italian Football, is usually composed of 162 teams divided into nine 18-team divisions. Special relegation of four teams from the professional leagues above Serie D after the team list had been set increased the total number of teams for this season to 166. One division will have 20 teams, two will have 19, while the other six will remain at 18 teams.

The regular Serie D season started September 7, 2008. Each team will play two matches against every other team in its own division; a total of 34 matches for 18-team divisions, 36 matches for the 19-team divisions, and 38 matches for the 20-team division. The nine division winners are automatically promoted to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione for the 2009-10 season, while the two last-placed teams are automatically relegated to Eccellenza.

After the regular season is complete, teams placed 6th-last through to 3rd-last in each division play a double-leg series (6th-last vs 3rd-last, 5th-last vs 4th-last) where the winners remain in Serie D the following season and the two losers are also relegated to Eccellenza for a total of 4 relegations in each division, 36 in total for the league.

The nine division winners enter a tournament to determine the over-all Serie D champion and is awarded the Scudetto Dilettanti.

Teams placed second through fifth in each division enter a playoff tournament after the regular season as well. Eventually, a final game determines which team finishes first and which teams comes in second in this 36-team playoff, and these teams may be bumped up to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione if one or more current Seconda Divisione teams runs into financial difficulties or is penalized.

Events

Start of season

Given a normal season where there are no team failures and special promotions, Serie D would feature 9 teams that had been relegated from Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, 36 teams that had been promoted from Eccellenza, and 117 teams had played in Serie D the year before. Due to nine bankruptcies and non-admissions in the professional leagues above Serie D, the 2008-09 season was to feature only 5 teams that played in 2007–08 Serie C2, 36 teams that played in 2007–08 Eccellenza, and 121 teams that played in 2007–08 Serie D.

After the 162-team list was set, the league admitted four of the teams that had failed in the senior leagues. Messina & Spezia, both of whom played in 2007–08 Serie B, were placed in Girone I & Girone A respectively. Sporting Lucchese & Massese, both of whom played in 2007–08 Serie C1, were both placed in Girone E. The schedule in those 3 divisions needed to be expanded to accommodate these extra teams.

Promotions

On March 29, 2009 Siracusa became the first team to get promoted from Serie D in the season, winning the Girone I in advance of six weeks after a 2–0 home win to Rosarno that mathematically guaranteed a spot in the 2009–10 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione for the Sicilian side. ^[1] They were followed one week later by Tuscans Sporting Lucchese, heir of AS Lucchese-Libertas, club formerly of Serie A and Serie B who was excluded from professional football only twelve months earlier. ^[2] On April 26, Brindisi also obtained promotion to the fourth tier, after winning the Girone H in advance of three weeks. ^[3]

On May 10, with only one weeks remaining in the league, four more teams mathematically won promotion to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione: Biellese (Girone A), Pro Belvedere Vercelli (Girone B), Sacilese (Girone C) and Villacidrese (Girone G). ^[4] Seven days later the league winners list finally became complete, with Girone D winners Crociati Noceto (in a historical first promotion into professional football for the Emilian club) and Girone F champions Pro Vasto. ^[5]

Standings

updated to games played May 17, 2009

Promoted

To relegation playoffs

Directly relegated

Dissolved

Girone A teams from Piedmont, Liguria & Aosta Valley Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Biellese [lower-alpha 1] (R) 36 82 2 Spezia (P) 36 78 3 Casale 36 66 4 Sarzanese 36 62 5 Albese 36 61 6 Pro Settimo 36 57 7 Savona 36 53 8 Derthona 36 52 9 Virtus Entella 36 50 10 Lavagnese 36 48 11 Cuneo 36 44 12 Rivoli 36 42 13 Rivarolese (R) 36 39 14 Sestri Levante (R) 36 35 15 Valle d'Aosta 36 34 16 Cirié (R) 36 33 17 Sestrese 36 31 18 Lottogiaveno (R) 36 30 19 Novese (R) 36 26 Source: [ citation needed ] (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes: Biellese has decided to self-relegate to Eccellenza 2009-10

Girone B teams from Lombardy & Piedmont Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Pro Belvedere Vercelli (P) 34 71 2 Renate 34 64 3 Colognese 34 60 4 US Sestese 34 60 5 AlzanoCene 34 59 6 Tritium 34 53 7 Turate 34 49 8 Darfo Boario 34 48 9 Voghera 34 45 10 Solbiatese 34 41 11 Nuova Verolese 34 39 12 Casteggio Broni 34 37 13 Olginatese 34 37 14 Caratese 34 36 15 Merate (R) 34 33 16 Calcio Caravaggese (R) 34 32 17 Borgomanero (R) 34 28 18 Fanfulla (R) 34 25 Source: [ citation needed ] (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Girone C teams from Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia & Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Sacilese (P) 34 73 2 Eurotezze [lower-alpha 1] (R) 34 65 3 Domegliara 34 59 4 Union Quinto 34 58 5 Chioggia S. 34 54 6 Pordenone 34 50 7 Belluno 34 49 8 Tamai 34 46 9 Virtus Verona 34 44 10 Sanvitese 34 44 11 Jesolo 34 42 12 Sagittaria Julia 34 42 13 Trento (R) 34 37 14 Somma (R) 34 35 15 Montebelluna 34 35 16 Montecchio M. 34 33 17 Sandonà (R) 34 30 18 Bolzano (R) 34 21 Source: [ citation needed ] (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes: Eurotezze has decided not to join in Serie D 2009-10

Girone D teams from Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto & Tuscany Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Crociati Noceto (P) 34 67 2 Castellarano 34 61 3 Fiorenzuola 34 54 4 Salò [lower-alpha 1] (P) 34 50 5 Castel San Pietro 34 48 6 Feralpi Lonato [lower-alpha 2] 34 47 7 Este 34 46 8 Albignasego 34 45 9 Carpi 34 45 10 Calenzano 34 45 11 Mezzolara 34 45 12 Santarcangelo 34 44 13 Russi 34 43 14 Virtus Castelfranco 34 43 15 Suzzara (R) 34 37 16 Castellana 34 35 17 Comacchio Lidi (R) 34 35 18 Verucchio (R) 34 28 Source: [ citation needed ] (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes: Merger with Feralpi Lonato giving birth to FeralpiSalo admitted in Lega Pro Seconda divisione Merger with Salò giving birth to FeralpiSalo admitted in Lega Pro Seconda divisione

Girone E teams from Tuscany, Umbria & Lazio Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Sporting Lucchese (P) 38 83 2 Sansepolcro 38 71 3 Gavorrano 38 65 4 Montevarchi 38 62 5 AS Sestese 38 62 6 Deruta 38 61 7 Arrone 38 61 8 Rieti 38 57 9 Pontedera 38 56 10 Cecina 38 52 11 Scandicci 38 50 12 Mobilieri Ponsacco 38 49 [lower-alpha 1] 13 Forcoli 38 47 14 Orvietana 38 46 15 Sansovino (R) 38 45 16 Fortis Juventus 38 44 17 Pontevecchio 38 41 18 Sangimignano 38 39 19 Armando Picchi (R) 38 34 20 Massese (R) 38 6 [lower-alpha 2] Source: [ citation needed ] (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes: 1 point deducted 2 points deducted

Girone F teams from Marche, Abruzzo & Molise Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Pro Vasto (P) 34 71 2 Fano (P) 34 70 3 Casoli 34 65 4 Chieti 34 55 5 Campobasso 34 53 [lower-alpha 1] 6 Olympia Agnonese 34 53 7 R.C. Angolana 34 51 8 Santegidiese 34 46 9 Recanatese 34 45 10 Atl. Trivento 34 44 11 Morro d'Oro 34 39 12 Centobuchi 34 39 13 Elpidiense C. 34 36 14 Real Montecchio 34 33 15 Tolentino (R) 34 32 16 Luco Canistro 34 32 17 Maceratese (R) 34 30 18 Grottammare (R) 34 24 Source: [ citation needed ] (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes: 3 points deducted

Girone G teams from Lazio & Sardinia Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Villacidrese (P) 34 67 2 Tavolara 34 61 3 Viterbese 34 60 4 Gaeta 34 57 5 Arzachena 34 56 6 Boville Ernica 34 50 7 Budoni 34 49 8 Cynthia 34 49 9 Civita Castellana 34 44 10 Monterotondo 34 44 11 Astrea 34 42 12 Morolo 34 40 13 Lupa Frascati (R) 34 40 14 Castelsardo 34 40 15 Guidonia M. 34 38 16 Ferentino [lower-alpha 1] (R) 34 38 17 Civitavecchia (R) 34 36 18 Calangianus (R) 34 12 Source: [ citation needed ] (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes: Merger with A.S. Ceccano giving birth to A.S.D. Ceccano

Girone H teams from Campania, Apulia, Basilicata & Molise Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Brindisi (P) 34 69 [lower-alpha 1] 2 Nocerina (P) 34 61 3 Pianura 34 60 4 Pomigliano 34 56 5 Ischia 34 55 6 Turris 34 54 7 Matera 34 47 8 FC Francavilla 34 47 9 Fasano 34 46 10 ASD Francavilla 34 46 11 Bacoli Sibilla 34 45 12 Angri 34 43 13 Sant'Antonio Abate 34 42 14 Bitonto 34 38 15 Grottaglie 34 36 16 Sporting Genzano (R) 34 32 17 Gelbison Cilento (R) 34 24 18 Venafro (R) 34 20 Source: [ citation needed ] (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes: 1 point deducted

Girone I teams from Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, Sicily & Molise Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Siracusa (P) 36 81 2 Vico Equense (P) 36 64 3 Sapri 36 60 4 Nissa 36 60 5 Adrano 36 55 6 Rosarno 36 53 7 Viribus Unitis 36 52 8 Neapolis Mugnano 36 51 9 HinterReggio 36 50 10 Libertas Acate 36 49 11 Acicatena 36 48 12 Messina 36 47 13 Trapani 36 46 14 Palazzolo 36 41 15 Puteolana (R) 36 41 16 Castrovillari 36 38 17 Vittoria (R) 36 31 18 Savoia (R) 36 30 19 Castiglione (R) 36 20 Source: [ citation needed ] (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Division winners

All teams promoted to 2009–10 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione

Division	Winners
A	Biellese
B	P.B. Vercelli
C	Sacilese
D	Crociati Noceto
E	Sporting Lucchese
F	Pro Vasto
G	Villacidrese
H	Brindisi
I	Siracusa

Scudetto Dilettanti

First round

• division winners placed into 3 groups of 3
• group winners and best second-placed team qualify for semi-finals

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Biellese (A)	2	1	1	0	7	5	+2	4
2	Sacilese (C)	2	1	1	0	5	4	+1	4
3	P.B. Vercelli (B)	2	0	0	2	1	4	−3	0

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

P.B. Vercelli (B)	0–1	Sacilese (C)	played May 24, 2009
Biellese (A)	3–1	P.B. Vercelli (B)	played May 27, 2009
Sacilese (C)	4–4	Biellese (A)	played May 30, 2009

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Pro Vasto (F)	2	1	1	0	6	5	+1	4
2	Crociati Noceto (D)	2	0	2	0	7	7	0	2
3	Sporting Lucchese (E)	2	0	1	1	4	5	−1	1

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

Pro Vasto (F)	2–1	Sporting Lucchese (E)	played May 24, 2009
Sporting Lucchese (E)	3–3	Crociati Noceto (D)	played May 27, 2009
Crociati Noceto (D)	4–4	Pro Vasto (F)	played May 31, 2009

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Siracusa (I)	2	1	1	0	4	3	+1	4
2	Brindisi (H)	2	1	1	0	2	1	+1	4
3	Villacidrese (G)	2	0	0	2	4	6	−2	0

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

Siracusa (I)	0–0	Brindisi (H)	played May 24, 2009
Villacidrese (G)	3–4	Siracusa (I)	played May 27, 2009
Brindisi (H)	2–1	Villacidrese (G)	played May 31, 2009

Semi-finals

First legs played June 6 & 7, 2009; return legs played June 13, 2009

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Biellese (A)	3-3	Siracusa (I)	2-2	1-1
Pro Vasto (F)	6-4	Sacilese (C)	4-2	2-2

Final

Played June 20, 2009 in Aprilia, Lazio

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Pro Vasto (F)	3-0	Siracusa (I)

game suspended at the half with Pro Vasto leading 2-0 due to rioting by Siracusa fans ^[6]

championship awarded to Pro Vasto with a 3-0 final score ^[7]

Winners: Pro Vasto (F)

Tie-breakers

• before the promotion and relegation playoffs could begin, four tie-breakers needed to be played.

Girone B - 12th-13th place - played May 24, 2009

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Olginatese	1-2	Casteggio Broni

Casteggio Broni saved, Olginatese forced to play in relegation playoffs

Girone D - 16th-17th place - played May 24, 2009

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Comacchio Lidi	0-1	Castellana

Castellana to play in relegation playoffs, Comacchio Lidi directly relegated

Girone F - 5th-6th place - played May 24, 2009

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Campobasso	1-1(5-4)(p)	Olympia Agnonese

only Campobasso qualified to play in promotional playoffs

Girone G - 12th-13th place - played May 24, 2009

• Morolo, Castelsardo & Lupa Frascati each finished with 40 points, tied for 12th position
• Head-to-head results: Morolo - 7 points, Castelsardo - 7, Lupa Frascati -3
• Lupa Frascati places 14th and forced to play in relegation playoffs, other two qualify for tie-breaker.

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Morolo	2-0	Castelsardo

Morolo saved, Castelsardo forced to play in relegation playoffs

Promotion playoffs

Rules

• promotion playoffs involved a total of 36 teams; four from each of the nine Serie D divisions (teams placed from 2nd through to 5th with one exception)
• new for 2007-08, the Coppa Italia Serie D winner is directly admitted to the semi-final round. The 2008-09 cup winner was Sapri.
• since Sapri finished 3rd in division I, teams finishing 2nd, 4th, 5th & 6th were admitted to the playoffs in that division
• the first two rounds were one-legged matches played in the home field of the best-placed team.
• games ending in ties were extended to extra time. New for the 2007-08 season, the higher classified team was declared the winner if the game was still tied after extra time. Penalty kicks were not taken.
• Round one matched 2nd & 5th-placed teams, and 3rd & 4th-placed teams within each division, except for division I
• The two winners from each division played each other in the second round.
• The nine winners - one each from the nine Serie D divisions - were then split into three groups of three teams each. Every team played two matches, one against each of the other two opponents within the group. The three group winners qualified for the semifinal round, joining Sapri
• the semi-finals were two-legged matches, and the respective winners moved on to play in a one-legged final hosted in a neutral ground.
• the tournament results provided a list, starting with the winner, by which vacancies could be filled in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione

First round

• Played on May 27, 2009; single-legged matches played at best placed club home field
• 2nd-placed team plays 5th-placed team, 3rd-placed team plays 4th placed team
• games ending in a tie are extended to extra time, if still tied, the higher-classified team wins

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Spezia (A2)	2–1	(A5) Albese
Casale Calcio (A3)	4–2	(A4) Sarzanese
Renate (B2)	3–0	(B5) AlzanoCene
Colognese (B3)	2–1	(B4) US Sestese
Eurotezze (C2)	0–1	(C5) Chioggia S.
Domegliara (C3)	0–2(aet)	(C4) Union Quinto
Castellarano (D2)	2–1	(D5) Castel San Pietro
Fiorenzuola (D3)	2–3	(D4) Salò
Sansepolcro (E2)	2–1	(E5) AS Sestese
Gavorrano (E3)	2–0	(E4) Montevarchi
Fano (F2)	3–2(aet)	(F5) Nuovo Campobasso
Casoli (F3)	2–1	(F4) Chieti
Tavolara (G2)	1–2	(G5) Arzachena
Viterbese (G3)	2–1	(G4) Gaeta
Nocerina (H2)	5–0	(H5) Ischia
Pianura (H3)	3–2	(H4) Pomigliano
Vico Equense (I2)	3–0	(I6) Rosarno
Nissa (I4)	0–1(aet)	(I5) Adrano

Second round

• Played on May 31, 2009; single-legged matches played at best placed club home field
• games ending in a tie are extended to extra time, if still tied, the higher-classified team wins

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Spezia (A2)	1–1(aet)	(A3) Casale
Renate (B2)	2–1	(B3) Colognese
Union Quinto (C4)	1–2	(C5) Chioggia S.
Castellarano (D2)	0–3	(D4) Salò
Sansepolcro (E2)	0–1	(E3) Gavorrano
Fano (F2)	1–1(aet)	(F3) Casoli
Viterbese (G3)	4–1	(G5) Arzachena
Nocerina (H2)	1–0(aet)	(H3) Pianura
Vico Equense (I2)	1–0	(I5) Adrano

Third round

• group winners qualify for semi-finals

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Renate (B2)	2	1	0	1	4	4	0	3
2	Viterbese (G3)	2	1	0	1	3	3	0	3
3	Chioggia S. (C5)	2	1	0	1	2	2	0	3

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

Chioggia S. (C5)	0–1	(G3) Viterbese	June 7, 2009
Renate (B2)	1–2	(C5) Chioggia S.	June 10, 2009
Viterbese (G3)	2–3	(B2) Renate	June 14, 2009

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Vico Equense (I2)	2	1	1	0	3	1	+2	4
2	Spezia (A2)	2	1	0	1	3	2	+1	3
3	Fano (F2)	2	0	1	1	1	4	−3	1

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

Spezia (A2)	3–0	(F2) Fano	June 7, 2009
Fano (F2)	1–1	(I2) Vico Equense	June 10, 2009
Vico Equense (I2)	2–0	(A2) Spezia	June 14, 2009

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Nocerina (H2)	2	1	0	1	5	4	+1	3
2	Salò (D4)	2	1	0	1	3	2	+1	3
3	Gavorrano (E3)	2	1	0	1	2	4	−2	3

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

Gavorrano (E3)	1–0	(D4) Salò	June 7, 2009
Salò (D4)	3–1	(H2) Nocerina	June 10, 2009
Nocerina (H2)	4–1	(E3) Gavorrano	June 14, 2009

Semi-finals

First legs played June 17, 2009; return legs played June 21, 2009

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Renate (B2)	0-2	Vico Equense (I2)	0-1	0-1
Nocerina (H2)	4-4	Sapri (Cup Winner)	2-1	2-3

Final

Played June 30, 2009 in Rieti, Lazio

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Nocerina (H2)	3-1	Vico Equense (I2)

Relegation playoffs

Played May 31 & June 7, 2009
in case of aggregate tie score, higher classified team wins
team highlighted in green saved, other is relegated to Eccellenza

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Sestrese(A17)	4-2	(A14)Sestri Levante	4-1	0-1
Cirié(A16)	2-5	(A15)Valle d'Aosta	1-1	1-4
Calcio Caravaggese(B16)	1-1	(B13)Olginatese	0-0	1-1
Merate(B15)	1-1	(B14)Caratese	1-0	0-1
Montecchio M.(C16)	4-2	(C13)Trento	1-1	3-1
Montebelluna(C15)	2-1	(C14)Somma	1-0	1-1
Castellana(D16)	3-2	(D13)Russi	1-0	2-2
Suzzara(D15)	1-1	(D14)Virtus Castelfranco	0-0	1-1
Sangimignano(E18)	3-1	(E15)Sansovino	1-0	2-1
Pontevecchio(E17)	2-2	(E16)Fortis Juventus	2-1	0-1
Luco Canistro(F16)	2-1	(F13)Elpidiense C.	0-1	2-0
Tolentino(F15)	0-1	(F14)Real Montecchio	0-0	0-1
Guidonia M.(G16)	5-1	(G13)Lupa Frascati	3-0	2-1
Ferentino(G15)	1-1	(G14)Castelsardo	1-1	0-0
Sporting Genzano(H16)	0-3	(H13)Sant'Antonio	0-1	0-2
Grottaglie(H15)	0-1	(H14)Bitonto	0-0	0-1
Vittoria(I17)	1-1	(I14)Palazzolo	1-0	0-1
Castrovillari(I16)	2-1	(I15)Puteolana	1-0	1-1

Footnotes

1. "Siracusa promosso in Seconda Divisione" (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport - Stadio. 2009-03-29. Retrieved 2009-03-29.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
2. "Lucchese in Seconda Divisione" (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport - Stadio. 2009-04-04. Retrieved 2009-04-19.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
3. "Lucchese in Seconda Divisione" (in Italian). 2009-04-26. Retrieved 2009-05-11.^{[ dead link ]}
4. "Villacidrese e Biellese promosse" (in Italian). 2009-05-10. Retrieved 2009-05-11.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
5. "La Pro Vasto vola in Lega Pro" (in Italian). 2009-05-17. Retrieved 2009-05-18.^{[ dead link ]}
6. "Sospesa Finale Scudetto Serie D Pro Vasto-Siracusa" (in Italian). Sport Live. 2009-06-21. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
7. "Pro Vasto Campione d'Italia Serie D" (in Italian). Sport Live. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2009-06-24.