The 2015–16 Campeonato de Portugal (also known as Campeonato de Portugal Prio, for sponsorship reasons) was the third season of Portuguese football's renovated third-tier league, since the merging of the Segunda Divisão and Terceira Divisão in 2013, the first season under the current Campeonato de Portugal title, and the 69th season of recognised third-tier football in Portugal. A total of 80 teams competed in this division, which began on 23 August 2015 and ended on 10 June 2016.
Format The competition format consisted of two stages. In the first stage, the 80 clubs were divided in eight series of 10 teams, according to geographic criteria. The only exceptions were teams from Madeira, which were placed in the first series, and teams from the Azores, which were distributed through the latter series. In each series, teams played against each other in a home-and-away double round-robin system.
In the second stage, the two best-placed teams from each first-stage series were divided in two groups of eight teams, again according to geographic proximity, with home-and-away matches. The two group winners, plus the winner of a two-legged play-off between the two group runners-up, secured promotion to the LigaPro. To determine the overall division champion, the group winners contested a one-off grand final on neutral ground.
The remaining eight clubs from each first-stage series were divided in eight groups of eight teams, with home-and-away matches. The bottom-two teams from each group were relegated to the Districts Championships. The sixth-placed teams were paired into four two-legged play-out ties, with the four winners being paired into two further two-legged play-out ties. All six play-out losers were also relegated.
Teams Relegated from the 2014–15 Segunda Liga: Marítimo B Trofense
From the 2014–15 Campeonato Nacional de Seniores:
Fafe Mirandela Vilaverdense Bragança Vianense Pedras Salgadas Limianos Vizela Felgueiras 1932 AD Oliveirense Amarante Vila Real Tirsense Sousense Salgueiros Gondomar Coimbrões Cinfães Sobrado Lusitânia de Lourosa Pedras Rubras Cesarense Lusitano de Vildemoinhos Anadia Sanjoanense Estarreja Gafanha Camacha Benfica e Castelo Branco AD Nogueirense Oliveira do Hospital Pampilhosa Mortágua Tourizense Vitória de Sernache Naval 1º de Maio Caldas União de Leiria Sertanense Alcanenense Torreense Eléctrico Casa Pia 1.º Dezembro Sacavenense Loures Cova da Piedade Pinhalnovense Sintrense Atlético da Malveira Operário Louletano Angrense Moura Lusitano VRSA Praiense Atlético de Reguengos
Promoted from the 2014–15 District Championships:
Algarve FA: Almancilense Aveiro FA: Bustelo Beja FA: Castrense Braga FA: Torcatense and Arões Bragança FA: Argozelo Castelo Branco FA: Águias do Moradal Coimbra FA: Académica – SF Évora FA: Juventude de Évora Guarda FA: Sabugal Leiria FA: Peniche Lisboa FA: Real Madeira FA: none (Caniçal declined the promotion) Portalegre FA: Crato Porto FA: São Martinho and Varzim B Santarém FA: Coruchense Setúbal FA: Barreirense Viana do Castelo FA: Neves Vila Real FA: Mondinense Viseu FA: Oliveira de Frades Azores League: Sporting Ideal
First stage
Serie A
Serie B
Serie C
Serie D
Serie E
Serie F
Serie G
Serie H
Second stage
Promotion groups
North zone
South zone
Promotion play-off
Fafe won 1–0 on aggregate and were promoted.
Final
Relegation groups
Serie A
Serie B
Serie C
Serie D
Serie E
Serie F
Serie G
Serie H
Relegation play-out
First round
Lusitânia da Lourosa lost 3–2 on aggregate and were relegated.
Atlético de Reguengos lost 4–2 on aggregate and were relegated.
Vila Real lost 4–3 on aggregate and were relegated.
Vianense lost 5–2 on aggregate and were relegated.
Second round
1–1 on aggregate. Arões lost 5–4 on penalties and were relegated.
Águias do Moradal lost 3–0 on aggregate and were relegated.
References