The 82nd season of the Campeonato Gaúcho kicked off on January 13, 2002 and ended on May 29, 2002. Seventeen teams participated. Holders Grêmio were eliminated in the Semifinals, while Internacional beat 15 de Novembro in the finals and won their 34th title. São Paulo was relegated.
Participating teams
Club Home location Previous season 15 de Novembro Campo Bom Caxias Caxias do Sul Esportivo Bento Gonçalves Grêmio Porto Alegre Guarani Venâncio Aires Internacional Porto Alegre Juventude Caxias do Sul Palmeirense Palmeira das Missões Passo Fundo Passo Fundo Pelotas Pelotas São Gabriel São Gabriel São José Porto Alegre São Luiz Ijuí São Paulo Rio Grande Santa Cruz Santa Cruz do Sul Santo Ângelo Santo Ângelo Veranópolis Veranópolis
System The championship would have three stages:
First phase: The thirteen teams that didn't participate in the Copa Sul-Minas played against each other in a double round-robin system. After 26 rounds, the champion of each of the halves of the stage and the two teams with the best overall record qualified to the Semifinals and the bottom team was relegated. The teams that qualified to the Semifinals would also play a playoff tournament, the winner of which would qualify to the Copa do Brasil. Semifinals: The four remaining teams joined the teams that participated in the Copa Sul-Minas (Internacional, Grêmio, Pelotas and Juventude), and the eight teams were divided in two groups of four teams, the teams in each group playing against each other once, and the group winners qualifying to the Finals. Finals: Semifinals winners played in two matches to define the Champions.
Championship First phase First round
Second round
Final standings
Semifinals
Finals
Group I
Group II
Finals
References