The 2020 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C was a football competition held in Brazil, equivalent to the third division. The competition was originally scheduled to begin on 3 May and end on 8 November, however due to COVID-19 pandemic the tournament was rescheduled for 8 August 2020 – 30 January 2021.
Twenty teams competed in the tournament, twelve returning from the 2019 season, four promoted from the 2019 Campeonato Brasileiro Série D (Brusque, Manaus, Ituano and Jacuipense) and four relegated from the 2019 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B (Londrina, São Bento, Criciúma and Vila Nova).
The matches Treze v Imperatriz, scheduled for 9 August 2020 (Group A 1st round), and Imperatriz v Jacuipense, scheduled for 15 August 2020 (Group A 2nd round), were postponed after 14 Imperatriz players tested positive for COVID-19.
Brusque, Londrina, Remo and Vila Nova were promoted to the 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B.
Vila Nova defeated Remo 8–3 on aggregate in the finals to win their third title.
Format changes Starting from this edition, the quarter-finals and semi-finals were replaced by a second group stage played by eight teams. They were divided into two groups of four teams each. The top two teams of each group were promoted to the Série B, while the group winners qualified for the finals.
Teams
Pos.Relegated from 2019 Série B17ºLondrina18ºSão Bento19ºCriciúma20ºVila NovaPos.Promoted from 2019 Série D1ºBrusque2ºManaus3ºItuano4ºJacuipense
Number of teams by state Numberof teams State Team(s)2 Boa Esporte and Tombense Paysandu and Remo Botafogo-PB and Treze São José and Ypiranga Brusque and Criciúma Ituano and São Bento1 Manaus Jacuipense Ferroviário Vila Nova Imperatriz Londrina Santa Cruz Volta Redonda
Personnel
TeamHome cityManagerKit Manufacturer Boa EsporteVarginha Ariel Mamede GSportBotafogo-PBJoão Pessoa Evaristo Piza Belo 1931 (Club manufactured kit)BrusqueBrusque Jerson Testoni EmbratexCriciúmaCriciúma Itamar Schülle Garra91 (Club manufactured kit)FerroviárioFortaleza Totonho (caretaker) BM9 Sports ImperatrizImperatriz Charles Guerreiro DG Sports ItuanoItu Vinícius Bergantin KanxaJacuipenseRiachão do Jacuípe Jonilson Veloso Niory SportsLondrinaLondrina Silvinho (caretaker) KariluManausManaus Souza Baiano (caretaker) Soft MalhasPaysanduBelém João Brigatti Lobo (Club manufactured kit)RemoBelém Paulo Bonamigo KappaSanta CruzRecife Marcelo Martelotte Cobra Coral (Club manufactured kit)São BentoSorocaba Edson Vieira JomaSão JoséPorto Alegre China Balbino Mega Sports TombenseTombos Julinho Camargo VettorTrezeCampina Grande Márcio Fernandes KariluVila NovaGoiânia Márcio Fernandes V43 (Club manufactured kit)Volta RedondaVolta Redonda Neto Colucci Ícone sportsYpirangaErechim Celso Teixeira Clanel
First stage In the first stage, each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, the following criteria would be used to determine the ranking: 1. Wins; 2. Goal difference; 3. Goals scored; 4. Head-to-head (if the tie is only between two teams); 5. Fewest red cards; 6. Fewest yellow cards; 7. Draw in the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (Regulations Article 15).
The top four teams of each group advanced to the second stage.
Group A
Results
Group B
Results
Second stage In the second stage, each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, the criteria to determine the ranking were the same as used in the first stage (Regulations Article 19).
The top two teams of each group were promoted to the Série B. Group winners advanced to the finals.
Group C
Results
Group D
Results
Finals The finals were played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, with the higher-seeded team hosting the second leg. If tied on aggregate, the away goals rule would not be used, extra time would not be played, and the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the champions (Regulations Article 20).
The finalists were seeded according to their performance in the tournament. The teams were ranked according to overall points. If tied on overall points, the following criteria would be used to determine the ranking: 1. Overall wins; 2. Overall goal difference; 3. Draw in the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (Regulations Article 21).
The matches were played on 23 and 30 January 2021.
Matches
Top goalscorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Thiago AlagoanoBrusque122 Willian LiraFerroviário113 HenanVila Nova10 Neto PessoaYpiranga5 NicolasPaysandu96 ChiquinhoSanta Cruz8 HamiltonManaus João CarlosVolta Redonda9 CapriniYpiranga7 FernandinhoYpiranga RubensTombense
References