2008–09 Lega Pro Prima Divisione
# 2008–09 Lega Pro Prima Divisione

The 2008–09 Lega Pro Prima Divisione season is the thirty-first since its renaming to Serie C1 in 1978, and the first edition since the renaming from Serie C1 to Lega Pro. It was divided into two phases: the regular season, played from September 2008 to May 2009, and the playoff phase from May to June 2009.

The league was composed of 36 teams divided into two divisions of 18 teams each, whose teams was divided mainly according to geographical principles. Teams will play only other teams in their own division, once at home and once away for a total of 34 matches.

Teams finishing first in the regular season, plus one team winning the playoff round from each division, were promoted to Serie B; teams finishing last in the regular season, plus two relegation playoff losers from each division was relegated to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. In all, four teams was promoted to Serie B, and six teams were relegated to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.

## Events

### Start of season

The league was to feature four teams relegated from Serie B in 2007–08; Avellino, Ravenna, Spezia, and Cesena. Two vacancies were created with the re-admission of Avellino to Serie B, and the bankruptcy of Spezia.

It featured six teams promoted from 2007–08 Serie C2: Pergocrema, Reggiana, Benevento, Lumezzane, Portosummaga, and Marcianise.

The remaining 26 teams were to come from the teams that played in 2007–08 Serie C1 that were neither promoted nor relegated. Of those, Lucchese (8th in Girone B), and Massese (13th in Girone B) were also banned creating two more vacancies.

Three of the four vacancies were filled by Virtus Lanciano, Pro Patria and Lecco which had lost in last year's Serie C1 relegation playoffs and were destined to play in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. The fourth vacancy was filled by SPAL, which lost in last year's Serie C2 promotional playoffs and was thus destined to remain there.

### Promotions

Cesena won direct promotion to Serie B for the 2009–10 season by finishing first in Girone A. Just one year ago Cesena was directly relegated from the same Serie B for finishing in last place. Gallipoli also won direct promotion to Serie B by being crowned champions in Girone B. It was Gallipoli's third consecutive year in Lega Pro Prima Divisione/C1 after winning promotion from Serie C2 in 2005–06.

### Relegations

Legnano and Potenza were the first two teams relegated by finishing last in their respective divisions. Both teams had been in Prima Divisione/C1 for two consecutive years after winning promotion from 2006–07 Serie C2.

Four teams were relegated by losing in the relegation playoffs. Pro Sesto was relegated after 4 seasons in Prima Divisione/C1, winning promotion from C2 in 2004–05. Pro Sesto was forced to play in the playouts two other times, winning one and losing the other in 2006, but asked to remain in C1 to fill vacancies. Sambenedettese also lost in the Girone A playouts after 7 seasons in Prima Divisione/C1, winning promotion from C2 in 2001–02.

In Girone B, Pistoiese and Juve Stabia lost in the relegation playoffs. Pistoiese had been in 2001–02 Serie B, and after being relegated that year, spent the next 7 years in Prima Divisione/C1. Juve Stabia was promoted from C2 2004–05, spending the next four seasons in C1/Lega Pro.

## Teams

On 14 August 2008 the following clubs were confirmed to be competing in the division:

### Girone A

| Club | City | Stadium | Capacity | 2007–08 season |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| A.C. Cesena | Cesena | Stadio Dino Manuzzi | 23,860 | 22nd in Serie B |
| U.S. Cremonese | Cremona | Stadio Giovanni Zini | 22,000 | 2nd in Serie C1/A |
| Calcio Lecco 1912 | Lecco | Stadio Rigamonti-Ceppi | 4,977 | 16th in Serie C1/A |
| A.C. Legnano | Legnano | Stadio Giovanni Mari | 6,600 | 7th in Serie C1/A |
| A.C. Lumezzane | Lumezzane | Nuovo Stadio Comunale | 4,150 | Serie C2/A Play-off Winners |
| A.C. Monza Brianza 1912 | Monza | Stadio Brianteo | 18,568 | 8th in Serie C1/A |
| Novara Calcio | Novara | Stadio Silvio Piola | 8,810 | 9th in Serie C1/A |
| Calcio Padova | Padua | Stadio Euganeo | 32,336 | 6th in Serie C1/A |
| U.S. Pergocrema 1932 | Crema | Stadio Giuseppe Voltini | 3,490 | Serie C2/A Champions |
| Calcio Portogruaro Summaga | Portogruaro | Stadio Pier Giovanni Mecchia | 3,335 | Serie C2/B Play-off Winners |
| Pro Patria | Busto Arsizio | Stadio Carlo Speroni | 3,990 | 14th in Serie C1/A |
| A.C. Pro Sesto | Sesto San Giovanni | Stadio Breda | 4,500 | 11th in Serie C1/A |
| Ravenna Calcio | Ravenna | Stadio Bruno Benelli | 12,020 | 20th in Serie B |
| A.C. Reggiana 1919 | Reggio Emilia | Stadio Giglio | 29,546 | Serie C2/B Champions |
| S.S. Sambenedettese Calcio | San Benedetto del Tronto | Stadio Riviera delle Palme | 22,000 | 12th in Serie C1/B |
| SPAL 1907 | Ferrara | Stadio Paolo Mazza | 19,000 | 4th in Serie C2/B |
| S.S.C. Venezia | Venice | Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo | 10,500 | 12th in Serie C1/A |
| Hellas Verona F.C. | Verona | Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi | 39,211 | 17th in Serie C1/A |

### Girone B

| Club | City | Stadium | Capacity | 2007–08 season |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| A.C. Arezzo | Arezzo | Stadio Città di Arezzo | 13,128 | 7th in Serie C1/B |
| Benevento Calcio | Benevento | Stadio Santa Colomba | 18,927 | Serie C2/C Champions |
| S.S. Cavese 1919 | Cava de' Tirreni | Stadio Simonetta Lamberti | 16,000 | 10th in Serie C1/A |
| F.C. Crotone | Crotone | Stadio Ezio Scida | 9,631 | 4th in Serie C1/B |
| U.S. Foggia | Foggia | Stadio Pino Zaccheria | 25,000 | 5th in Serie C1/A |
| Foligno Calcio | Foligno | Stadio Enzo Blasone | 5,650 | 4th in Serie C1/A |
| Gallipoli Calcio | Gallipoli | Stadio Antonio Bianco | 5,000 | 9th in Serie C1/B |
| S.S. Juve Stabia | Castellammare di Stabia | Stadio Romeo Menti | 10,400 | 15th in Serie C1/B |
| Real Marcianise Calcio | Marcianise | Stadio Progreditur | 3,000 | Serie C2/C Play-off Winners |
| Paganese Calcio 1926 | Pagani | Stadio Marcello Torre | 3,700 | 15th in Serie C1/A |
| Perugia Calcio | Perugia | Stadio Renato Curi | 28,000 | 5th in Serie C1/B |
| Pescara Calcio | Pescara | Stadio Adriatico | 22,260 | 6th in Serie C1/B |
| A.C. Pistoiese | Pistoia | Stadio Marcello Melani | 13,195 | 14th in Serie C1/B |
| Potenza S.C. | Potenza | Stadio Alfredo Viviani | 6,000 | 11th in Serie C1/B |
| Sorrento Calcio | Sorrento | Stadio Italia | 3,600 | 10th in Serie C1/B |
| Taranto Sport | Taranto | Stadio Erasmo Iacovone | 28,000 | 3rd in Serie C1/B |
| Ternana Calcio | Terni | Stadio Libero Liberati | 20,095 | 13th in Serie C1/A |
| S.S. Virtus Lanciano 1924 | Lanciano | Stadio Guido Biondi | 7,500 | 16th in Serie C1/B |

## League tables

### Girone A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Cesena (C, P) | 34 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 42 | 26 | +16 | 60 | Promotion to Serie B |
| 2 | Pro Patria | 34 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 50 | 27 | +23 | 58 | Qualification for Promotion play-off |
| 3 | Ravenna | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 48 | 36 | +12 | 56 | Qualification for Promotion play-off |
| 4 | Padova (O, P) | 34 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 37 | 31 | +6 | 54 | Promotion to Serie B |
| 5 | Reggiana | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 54 | Qualification for Promotion play-off |
| 6 | SPAL | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 38 | 30 | +8 | 53 | |
| 7 | Hellas Verona | 34 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 38 | 32 | +6 | 48 | |
| 8 | Novara | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 46 | |
| 9 | Cremonese | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 38 | 36 | +2 | 45 | |
| 10 | Lumezzane | 34 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 37 | 35 | +2 | 45 | |
| 11 | Pergocrema | 34 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 44 | |
| 12 | Portogruaro | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 33 | 39 | −6 | 43 | |
| 13 | Monza | 34 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 41 | 48 | −7 | 38 | |
| 14 | Pro Sesto (R) | 34 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 34 | 49 | −15 | 37 | Qualification for Relegation play-off |
| 15 | Lecco | 34 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 31 | 35 | −4 | 35 | Qualification for Relegation play-off |
| 16 | Sambenedettese (R) | 34 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 22 | 36 | −14 | 32 | Relegation to Eccellenza |
| 17 | Venezia (R) | 34 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 35 | 42 | −7 | 31 | Relegation to Serie D |
| 18 | Legnano (R) | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 31 | 54 | −23 | 30 | Relegation to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione |

* ↑ 4 points deducted

### Girone B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Gallipoli (C, P) | 34 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 55 | 32 | +23 | 66 | Promotion to Serie B |
| 2 | Benevento | 34 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 49 | 31 | +18 | 64 | Qualification for Promotion play-off |
| 3 | Crotone (O, P) | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 46 | 37 | +9 | 59 | Promotion to Serie B |
| 4 | Arezzo | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 56 | 37 | +19 | 56 | Qualification for Promotion play-off |
| 5 | Foggia | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 56 | Qualification for Promotion play-off |
| 6 | Cavese | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 40 | 35 | +5 | 53 | |
| 7 | Real Marcianise | 34 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 32 | 33 | −1 | 43 | |
| 8 | Perugia | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 33 | 30 | +3 | 43 | |
| 9 | Taranto | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 31 | 41 | −10 | 42 | |
| 10 | Ternana | 34 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 36 | 34 | +2 | 42 | |
| 11 | Sorrento | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 37 | 39 | −2 | 42 | |
| 12 | Pescara | 34 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 36 | 45 | −9 | 42 | |
| 13 | Paganese | 34 | 9 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 29 | −8 | 41 | |
| 14 | Virtus Lanciano | 34 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 37 | 46 | −9 | 41 | Qualification for Relegation play-off |
| 15 | Foligno | 34 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 35 | 45 | −10 | 35 | Qualification for Relegation play-off |
| 16 | Pistoiese (R) | 34 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 42 | −15 | 33 | Relegation to Eccellenza |
| 17 | Juve Stabia (R) | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 29 | 40 | −11 | 32 | Relegation to Relegation play-off |
| 18 | Potenza | 34 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 39 | −15 | 28 | Relegation to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione |

* ↑ 1 point deducted
* ↑ 2 points deducted
* ↑ 3 points deducted
* ↑ Potenza was reprieved from relegation to fill vacancy.

## Promotion and relegation playoffs

### Girone A

**Promotion**


    Promotion playoff semifinals
    First legs played 31 May 2009; return legs played 7 June 2009

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Reggiana (5) | 6–8 | (2) Pro Patria | 4–5 | 2–3 |
| Padova (4) | 3–2 | (3) Ravenna | 1–1 | 2–1 |

    Promotion playoff finals
    First legs played 14 June 2009; return legs played 21 June 2009

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Padova (4) | 2–1 | (2) Pro Patria | 0–0 | 2–1 |

    Padova promoted to Serie B

**Relegation**


    Relegation playoffs
    First legs played 31 May 2009; return legs played 7 June 2009

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Venezia (17) | 4–2 | (14) Pro Sesto | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Sambenedettese (16) | 0–1 | (15) Lecco | 0–0 | 0–1 |

    Pro Sesto and Sambenedettese relegated to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione

### Girone B

**Promotion**


    Promotion playoff semifinals
    First legs played 31 May 2009; return legs played 7 June 2009

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Foggia (5) | 2–2 | (2) Benevento | 0–0 | 2–2 |
| Arezzo (4) | 1–6 | (3) Crotone | 1–2 | 0–4 |

    Promotion playoff finals
    First legs played 14 June 2009; return legs played 21 June 2009

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Crotone (3) | 2–1 | (2) Benevento | 1–1 | 1–0 |

    Crotone promoted to Serie B

**Relegation**


    Relegation playoffs
    First legs played 31 May 2009; return legs played 7 June 2009

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Juve Stabia (17) | 2–2 | (14) Virtus Lanciano | 2–1 | 0–1 |
| Pistoiese (16) | 2–2 | (15) Foligno | 2–1 | 0–1 |

    Juve Stabia and Pistoiese relegated to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione
