The 68th season of the Campeonato Gaúcho kicked off on February 20, 1988, and ended on June 26, 1988. Fourteen teams participated. Holders Grêmio won their 26th title. Brasil de Pelotas and Guarany de Cruz Alta were relegated.
Participating teams
Club Stadium Home location Previous season Aimoré Cristo-Rei São Leopoldo Brasil Bento Freitas Pelotas Caxias Centenário Caxias do Sul Esportivo Montanha Bento Gonçalves Grêmio Olímpico Porto Alegre Guarany Taba Índia Cruz Alta Internacional Beira-Rio Porto Alegre Internacional Presidente Vargas Santa Maria Juventude Alfredo Jaconi Caxias do Sul Lajeadense Florestal Lajeado Passo Fundo Vermelhão da Serra Passo Fundo Pelotas Boca do Lobo Pelotas São Paulo Aldo Dapuzzo Rio Grande Santa Cruz Plátanos Santa Cruz do Sul
System The championship would have three stages.:
First phase: The fourteen clubs were divided into two groups of seven. In the first round, teams from one group played against teams from the other group once. In the second round, the teams from each group played in single round-robin format against the others in their group. In each round, the two best teams in each group would dispute a knockout phase, played in one-legged ties, to define the round champions, who would receive one bonus point for the Final quadrangular. The six best teams in the sum of both rounds qualified into the Final hexagonal and all the non-qualified teams would play the Relegation tournament. Relegation Tournament: The eight remaining teams played each other in a double round-robin system; The teams that had finished 7th and 8th in the First round received two bonus points and the teams that had finished 9th and 10th received one bonus point. the two teams with the fewest points were relegated. Final hexagonal: The six remaining teams played each other in a double round-robin system; the team with the most points won the title.
Championship First phase First round Group 1
Group 2
Semifinals
Finals
Second round Group 1
Group 2
Semifinals
Finals
Final standings
Relegation tournament
Final hexagonal
References