Lega Pro Seconda Divisione (Lega Pro 2) is the fourth highest football league in Italy. It ranks below Lega Pro Prima Divisione (Lega Pro 1) and above Serie D - the highest non-professional league.This page rounds up all the latest news from Lega Pro 2 as teams chase automatic promotion and for play-off spots, while others fight for survival. We will update all of the verdicts until the end of the season.
LAST UPDATED: Sunday 21 June 2009.
> Lega Pro 2 Background information
The 2008-09 Lega Pro 2 season consists a total of 54 teams split into three divisions (Girone), formed of 18 teams each. At the end of the season, six teams go up to Lega Pro 1 and nine teams go down to Serie D.
In each of the three divisions, two teams are promoted and three teams are relegated. The first-placed team is automatically promoted, while the next four teams (2nd-5th) enter a play-off tournament to determine the second team that will be promoted. In the relegation zone, the last placed team (18th) is automatically relegated. The teams placed 14th down to 17th enter a play-out round. The two losing teams from the ties go down.
> Lega Pro 2 Promotions & Relegations
Lega Pro 2 Girone AVarese won promotion to Lega Pro 1 despite finishing level on points with second-placed Alessandria. Varese beat Montichiari 2-1 on the final day of the season in Week 34 on 17 May 2009 while Alessandria secured a 2-0 win over Olbia to finish level on 61 points. However, the Leopardi secure top spot and promotion as they had a better head-to-head record this season.
Alessandria will now have to settle for the end-of-season play-offs. They will be joined by Como, Rodengo Saiano and Olbia for the final promotion spot. Sambonifacese missed out on a play-off spot by just one point.
At the other end of the table, Pizzighettone were automatically relegated to Serie D after a 3-0 defeat at home to Mezzocorona in Week 33 on 10 May 2009. Carpenedolo, Valenzana, Sudtirol and Montichiari survive the automatic drop but will have to take part in the two-legged relegation play-out to determine the final two sides to be relegated this season.
Scroll down the page for play-off and play-out news, fixtures and results.
Lega Pro 2 Girone BFigline won promotion to Lega Pro 1 despte a 1-0 defeat at Colligiana in Week 33 on 10 May 2009 as rivals Giulianova lost 3-0 at Esperia Viareggio. The Gialloblu, based in Tuscany and have former Fiorentina legend Enrico Chiesa in their squad, had an unassailable four-point lead over their closest rivals and confirm back-to-back promotion following last year's success in Serie D. At the end, the gap between the top two remained the same.
Giulianova and Esperia Viareggio will now take part in the end-of-season play-offs along with Bassano Virtus and Prato for the final promotion spot. Cisco Roma missed out on a play-off spot by just four points.
At the other end of the table, Rovigo were automatically relegated to Serie D after a 3-0 defeat at Giulianova in Week 34 on 17 May 2009. Bellaria Igea Marina just survive the automatic drop but will have to take part in the two-legged relegation play-out finals with San Marino, Poggibonsi and Cuoiopelli Cappano to determine the final two sides to be relegated this season.
Scroll down the page for play-off and play-out news, fixtures and results.
Lega Pro 2 Girone CCosenza won promotion to Lega Pro 1 after a 1-1 draw at home to Melfi in Week 33 on 10 May 2009. The Lupi, based in Calabria, had an unassailable three-point and head-to-head lead over second-placed Gela and confirm back-to-back promotion following last year's success in Serie D. At the end, the gap remained the same between the top two. The club, who hit financial difficulties and went bankrupt in 2003 - resulting in their demotion from Serie B, are now just one step away from a return to Italian football's second tier.
Gela will now take part in the end-of-season play-offs along with Catanzaro, Pescina Vallegiovenco and Andria Bat for the final promotion spot. Cassino missed out on a play-off spot due to their head-to-head record with Andria.
At the other end of the table, Vigor Lamezia were automatically relegated to Serie D after a 3-1 defeat at Gela in Week 32 on 4 May 2009. Isola Liri, Vibonese, Polisportiva Val Di Sangro and Manfredonia will have to take part in the two-legged relegation play-out finals to determine the final two sides to be relegated this season.
Scroll down the page for play-off and play-out news, fixtures and results.
> Lega Pro 2 Play-offs & Play-outs
Fixtures, results and news from the Lega Pro 2 play-offs and play-outs.
Lega Pro 2 Girone A Play-off Semi-Finals
First Leg: Sunday 31 May / Second Leg: Sunday 7 June
Olbia 1-0 Alessandria / Alessandria 1-0 Olbia (Agg: 1-1, Alessandria qualify on league position)
Rodengo Saiano 1-1 Como / Como 0-0 Rodengo Saiano (Agg: 1-1, Como qualify on league position)
Lega Pro 2 Girone A Play-off Final
First Leg: Sunday 14 June / Second Leg: Sunday 21 June
Como 2-1 Alessandria / Alessandria 0-2 Como (Agg: 1-4, Como are promoted to Lega Pro 1)
Lega Pro 2 Girone A Play-out Finals
First Leg: Sunday 31 May / Second Leg: Sunday 7 June
Carpenedolo 1-0 Montichiari / Montichiari 1-1 Carpenedolo (Agg: 1-2, Montichiari are relegated)
Valenzana 2-2 Sudtirol / Sudtirol 2-0 Valenzana (Agg: 4-2, Valenzana are relegated)
Lega Pro 2 Girone B Play-off Semi-Finals
First Leg: Sunday 31 May / Second Leg: Sunday 7 June
Prato 2-0 Viareggio / Viareggio 2-1 Prato (Agg: 2-3)
Bassano Virtus 1-1 Giulianova / Giulianova 1-0 Bassano Virtus (Agg: 2-1)
Lega Pro 2 Girone B Play-off Final
First Leg: Sunday 14 June / Second Leg: Sunday 21 June
Prato 0-1 Giulianova / Giulianova 0-1 Prato AET (Agg: 1-1, Giulianova are promoted to Lega Pro 1 on league position)
Lega Pro 2 Girone B Play-out Finals
First Leg: Sunday 31 May / Second Leg: Sunday 7 June
Bellaria 3-2 Cuoiopelli / Cuoiopelli 0-1 Bellaria (Agg: 2-4, Cuoiopelli are relegated)
San Marino 3-1 Poggibonsi / Poggibonsi 1-0 San Marino (Agg: 2-3, Poggibonsi are relegated)
Lega Pro 2 Girone C Play-off Semi-Finals
First Leg: Sunday 31 May / Second Leg: Sunday 7 June
Andria 0-0 Gela / Gela 1-1 Andria (Agg: 1-1, Gela qualify on league position)
Pescina 0-0 Catanzaro / Catanzaro 2-3 Pescina (Agg: 2-3)
Lega Pro 2 Girone C Play-off Final
First Leg: Sunday 14 June / Second Leg: Sunday 21 June
Pescina 1-0 Gela / Gela 1-1 Pescina (Agg: 1-2, Pescina are promoted to Lega Pro 1)
Lega Pro 2 Girone C Play-out Finals
First Leg: Sunday 31 May / Second Leg: Sunday 7 June
Isola Liri 0-3 Manfredonia / Manfredonia 2-0 Isola Liri (Agg: 5-0, Isola Liri are relegated)
Vibonese 1-0 Val Di Sangro / Val Di Sangro 1-2 Vibonese (Agg: 1-3, Val Di Sangro are relegated)
> Lega Pro 2 Supercoppa
The three Lega Pro 2 champions enter an end-of-season three-way tournament to determine the overall Lega Pro 2 champions.
Supercoppa di Lega Pro 2 Champions' Group
Matchday 1: Sunday 24 May
Varese 2-2 Figline (Cosenza resting)
Matchday 2: Sunday 31 May
Cosenza 1-2 Varese (Figline resting)
Matchday 3: Thursday 4 June
Figline 3-0 Cosenza (Varese resting, Figline win the Lega Pro 2 Supercoppa)
> Coppa Italia Lega Pro
The Lega Pro Coppa Italia is a group stage and knock-out based competition involving mainly teams from Lega Pro 1 and Lega Pro 2. The semi-finals and the final are played on a home and away basis. No Lega Pro 2 team reached the 2009 final.
Sorrento have won the 2009 Lega Pro Coppa Italia after surprsing fellow Lega Pro 1 outfit Cremonese 1-0 in the final on 23 April. After a goalless first leg draw in Cremona on 25 March, the Rossonero secured their first Coppa title thanks to Federico Giampaolo's goal shortly before the half time interval. Both of the finalists are sitting midtable in their respective Lega Pro 1 divisions and cannot qualify for the play-off spots for a chance of promotion to Serie B.
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