The 2013 Campeonato Cearense de Futebol was the 99th season of top professional football league in the state of Ceará, Brazil. The competition began on January 5 and ended on May 19. Ceará won the championship for the 42nd time and 3rd since 2011, while São Benedito and Maracanã were relegated.
Format The championship has three stages. On the first stage, all teams excluding those who are playing in 2013 Copa do Nordeste play a double round robin. The best six teams qualifies to the second stage.
On the second stage, the teams are joined by the clubs from Ceará who were playing on Copa Nordeste. The teams then play a double round robin again, where the best four teams qualifies to the final stage. In the final stage, it's a playoff with four teams.
The champion and the best team on first stage qualifies to the 2014 Copa do Brasil. The champion and the runner-up qualify to the 2014 Copa do Nordeste. The best team who isn't on Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Série B or Série C qualifies to Série D. The two worst teams in first stage will be relegated.
Participating teams Club Home city 2012 result Ceará Fortaleza Crato Crato Ferroviário Fortaleza Fortaleza Fortaleza Guarani de Juazeiro Juazeiro do Norte Guarany Sobral Horizonte Horizonte Icasa Juazeiro do Norte Maracanã Maracanaú São Benedito São Benedito Tiradentes Fortaleza
First stage
Results
Second stage The six teams from the First stage are joined by Ceará and Fortaleza who were playing on 2013 Copa do Nordeste.
Results
Final stage
Semifinals First leg
Second leg
Finals
Ceará Sporting Club won due to better campaign.
References