[Serie D - 2007-08] Latest News

LAST UPDATED ON 16-06-08: Serie D is the highest non-professional League in Italy. Ranking below Serie C2 (the 4th and last professional league), Serie D is considered the 5th ranked league in Italian football.

Serie D consists of 162 teams split into 9 regional divisions (Girone), usually formed of 18 teams each. Only the champions of each division are promoted to Serie C2 each year, replacing the 9 teams that are relegated from Serie C2.

The nine division winners then enter an end-of-season tournament to determine the overall Serie D champion and is awarded the Scudetto.

Four teams from each division are relegated each year to the Eccellenza, a regional amateur league below Serie D. The 2 bottom teams are relegated automatically, while teams ranked from 13th to 16th play a two-legged play-out, with the two losers relegated as well.

Teams placed second through fifth in each division enter the 36-team national play-off tournament at the end of the season. Eventually the teams that reach the latter stages may be bumped up to Serie C2 if one or more teams run into financial difficulties or are penalised.

That was a little background as to how Italy's fifth division works. Now check out the latest news on the 2007-08 promotion race and relegation fight by reading the rest of the post:

SERIE D - GIRONE A:
Alessandria won promotion to Serie C2 after they earned a 2-2 draw at Lavagnese in Week 29 on 30 March 2008. The Grigi finished 17 points ahead of second-placed Biellese who, qualify for the national play-offs along with Pro Belvedere Vercelli, Lavagnese and Savona. At the other end of the table Saluzzo and Vado have been automatically relegated to the Eccellenza while, Sanremese, Imperia, Novese and Casale will have to fight for their survival in the relegation play-outs.

SERIE D - GIRONE B:
Como won promotion to Serie C2 after they earned a 1-0 win at Olginatese in Week 33 on 27 April 2008. The Lariani, who were in Serie A as recently as in 2003, finished just two points ahead of second-placed Tritium who, qualify for the national play-offs along with Turate, Solbiatese and Colognese. At the other end of the table Vallagarina and Base Seveso have been automatically relegated to the Eccellenza while, Fanfulla, Merate, Trento and Sestese will have to fight for their survival in the relegation play-outs.

SERIE D – GIRONE C:
Itala San Marco won promotion to Serie C2 after they earned a 1-1 draw against Sacilese in Week 32 on 20 April 2008. San Marco finished six points ahead of second-placed Chioggia who, qualified for the national play-offs along with Sambonifacese, Sacilese and Jesolo. At the other end of the table Sarone and Rivignano have been automatically relegated to the Eccellenza while, Montecchio Maggiore, Virtus Vecomp Verona, Sandona and Este will have to fight for their survival in the relegation play-outs.

SERIE D - GIRONE D:
Giacomense won promotion to Serie C2 after they earned a 2-0 win at Cesenatico in Week 31 on 13 April 2008. They finished ten points ahead of second-placed Montichiari who, qualify for the national play-offs along with Castellarano, Carpi and Real Montecchio. At the other end of the table Cesenatico and Boca San Lazzaro have been automatically relegated to the Eccellenza while, Verucchio, Cagliese, Russi and Castellana will have to fight for their survival in the relegation play-outs.

SERIE D - GIRONE E:
Figline won promotion to Serie C2 after they earned a 2-0 win at home to Colligiana in Week 31 on 13 April 2008. They finished seven points ahead of their opponents who, qualify for the national play-offs along with Pontedera, Armando Picchi and Forcoli. At the other end of the table Fo.Ce.Lunezia and Cascina have been automatically relegated to the Eccellenza while, Torgiano, Montevarchi, Cecina and Sansepolcro will have to fight for their survival in the relegation play-outs.

SERIE D - GIRONE F:
Sangiustese won promotion to Serie C2 after they earned a 2-0 win at home to Tolentino in Week 34 on 4 May 2008. They finished level on points with second-placed Renato Curi but had the better head-to-head record. Renato Curi had to settle for the national play-offs along with Campobasso, Morro d’Oro and Grottammare. At the other end of the table Cologna Paese and Bojano have been automatically relegated to the Eccellenza while, Tolentino, Narnese, Olympia Agnonese and Luco Canistro will have to fight for their survival in the relegation play-outs.

SERIE D - GIRONE G:
Isola Liri, based in the region of Lazio, won promotion to Serie C2 after they earned a 2-1 victory at Ostia Mare in Week 29 on 30 March 2008. The Biancorosso finished 18 points ahead of second-placed Castelsardo who, qualify for the national play-offs along with Tavolara, Alghero and Villacidrese. At the other end of the table Albalonga and Ostia Mare have been automatically relegated to the Eccellenza while, Guidonia, Frascati, Morolo and Calangianus will have to fight for their survival in the relegation play-outs.

SERIE D - GIRONE H:
Aversa Normanna won promotion to Serie C2 after they earned a 4-2 victory at Bitonto in Week 34 on 4 May 2008. Aversa finished just one point ahead of second-placed Barletta who, qualify for the national play-offs along with Bitonto, Grottaglie and Pomigliano. At the other end of the table Lavello and Giugliano have been automatically relegated to the Eccellenza while, Horatiana Venosa, Matera, Quarto and Viribus Unitis will have to fight for their survival in the relegation play-outs.

SERIE D - GIRONE I:
Fortitudo Cosenza won promotion to Serie C2 after they earned a 2-0 win at home to Bacoli Sibilla in Week 33 on 27 April 2008. Cosenza, reformed under the new name Fortitudo Cosenza in 2007 due to financial problems, finished nine-points ahead of their final day opponents. Bacoli Sibilla had to settle for the national play-offs along with Nocerina, Siracusa and Angri. At the other end of the table Campobello and Ippogrifo Sarnese have been automatically relegated to the Eccellenza while, Paterno, Castrovillari, Casertana and Sant’Antonio Abate will have to fight for their survival in the relegation play-outs.


PROMOTED TO SERIE D:
Eccellenza league champions (28) - Chieti, Sporting Genzano, Hinterreggio, Pianura, Vico Equense, Fiorenzuola, Comacchio Lidi, Pordenone, Civitavecchia, Gaeta, Virtus Entella, Casteggio Broni, AlzanoCene, Nuova Verolese, Elpidiense Cascinare, Atletico Trivento, Valle d'Aosta, Albese, Francavilla Fontana, Budoni, Nissa, Castiglione, Mobilieri Ponsacco, Calenzano, Bolzano, Deruta, Somma, Sagittaria Julia.
Eccellenza play-off winners (7) - Suzzara, Albignasego, Casoli, Sangimignano, Boville Ernica, Palazzolo, Trapani.
Coppa Italia Dilettanti runners-up (1) - Pro Settimo & Eureka.


SERIE D COPPA ITALIA:
Como have won the Serie D Coppa Italia trophy after beating Colligiana 3-1 on aggregate. The Lariani, who have achieved promotion to Serie C2 this season, won 2-0 at home on 9 April 2008, before drawing 1-1 in the return match on 16 April 2008.


SERIE D POULE SCUDETTO:
Group A - Como 2-3 Itala San Marco, Alessandria 0-3 Como, Itala San Marco 1-1 Alessandria.
Group B - Giacomense 1-2 Sangiustese, Figline 2-2 Giacomense, Sangiustese 0-0 Figline.
Group C - Aversa Normanna 3-0 Isola Liri, Isola Liri 1-1 Fortitudo Cosenza, Fortitudo Cosenza 4-3 Aversa Normanna.
Semi-Finals - Sangiustese 2-0 San Felice Normanna, Itala San Marco 1-2 Fortitudo Cosenza, San Felice Normanna 3-0 Sangiustese (Agg:3-2), Fortitudo Cosenza 2-0 Itala San Marco (Agg: 4-1).
Final - San Felice Normanna 3-1 Fortitudo Cosenza (in Tolentino).