2013 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A


The 2013 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A was the 57th edition of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the top-level of professional football in Brazil. Fluminense come in as the defending champions, having won the title in the 2012 season. On 13 November 2013, Cruzeiro won the title for the third time.
For the first time since the league adopted the 20-team, double round-robin format, all four teams promoted from Série B survived.

Average attendance

ClubAverage attendance
Cruzeiro29,315
Flamengo26,350
Corinthians25,168
São Paulo FC23,024
Grêmio22,301
Fluminense20,777
Vasco da Gama19,958
Bahia18,672
Coritiba15,571
EC Vitória14,891
Botafogo14,748
Goiás EC13,776
Criciúma EC11,837
Atlético Mineiro11,436
Náutico11,224
Santos FC10,478
Atlético Paranaense9,333
Internacional7,708
AA Ponte Preta6,414
Portuguesa4,887

Format and results

For the eleventh consecutive season, the tournament was played in a double round-robin system. In a fashion similar to its second title in 2003, Cruzeiro led the rankings for most of the tournament, declared champion in the fifth to last round. The bottom four teams, Fluminense, Vasco, Ponte Preta and Nautico were relegated to play in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in the 2014 season.
The tournament had a one-month interruption between June 9 and July 6 due to the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, which took place in Brazil.
Although Flamengo finished the championship just above the relegation positions, it was punished by the Superior Court of Sport Justice for irregularly calling in a player during a match against Cruzeiro - André Santos, who was suspended for a red card received at his previous Copa do Brasil match. The team lost four points - three for the irregular usage of a player and a fourth one which the team won due to the game resulting in a tie - and ended up temporarily being relegated. However, Portuguesa had also irregularly called in a player against Grêmio - Héverton the day after. The team also lost four points - three for the irregular usage of a player and a fourth one which the team won due to the game resulting in a tie - and ended up being relegated. This way, with both punishments, Fluminense FC managed to finish the championship above the relegation positions and was spared from having to compete in the next year's second division for the third time on the last 2 decades. Portuguesa's irregular usage of a player raised many suspicions, both from Flamengo's - who had also used an irregular player the day before - and Fluminense's side. Even though Portuguesa's former president Ilidio Lico admitted selling the Série A spot, no clue to whom it was sold was found, so the Court's decision stood. This relegation was a downhill for Portuguesa, as the team was relegated to Brazilian Third Division - Série C the next year, after playing Série B.

International qualification

The Série A served as a qualifier to CONMEBOL's 2014 Copa Libertadores. Cruzeiro and Gremio qualified to the Second Stage of the competition, while Atletico Paranaense qualified to the First Stage. Botafogo qualified to the First Stage as well since Ponte Preta lost the 2013 Copa Sudamericana Finals.

Teams

Stadiums and locations

TeamHome cityStadiumCapacity
Atlético MineiroBelo HorizonteIndependência
Arena do Jacaré '
23,018
19,834
Atlético ParanaenseCuritibaVila Capanema
Arena Joinville '
Vila Olímpica do Boqueirão '
17,000
20,160
8,074
BahiaSalvadorFonte Nova
Pituaçu '
Batistão '
50,025
32,157
15,575
BotafogoRio de JaneiroMaracanã
Raulino de Oliveira '
Mané Garrincha '
Arena Pernambuco
'
São Januário '
78,838
19,183
72,788
45,500
24,584
CorinthiansSão PauloPacaembu
Fonte Luminosa '
Vail Chaves '
Novelli Júnior
'
37,730
21,411
19,900
18,560
CoritibaCuritibaEstádio Couto Pereira34,872
CriciúmaCriciúmaHeriberto Hülse19,900
CruzeiroBelo HorizonteMineirão
Arena do Jacaré '
Parque do Sabiá
'
Independência '
61,846
19,834
53,350
23,018
FlamengoRio de JaneiroMaracanã
Mané Garrincha '
Mário Helênio '
Orlando Scarpelli
'
78,838
72,788
31,863
19,584
FluminenseRio de JaneiroMaracanã
Moacyrzão '
78,838
15,000
GoiásGoiâniaSerra Dourada42,000
GrêmioPorto AlegreArena do Grêmio
Alfredo Jaconi '
55,662
19,924
InternacionalPorto AlegreCentenário '
Estádio do Vale
'
22,132
15,000
NáuticoRecifeArena Pernambuco
Aflitos '
45,500
22,856
Ponte PretaCampinasMoisés Lucarelli19,728
PortuguesaSão PauloCanindé
Arena Castelão '
Morenão '
21,004
63,903
24,000
SantosSantosVila Belmiro
Pacaembu '
Mané Garrincha '
Prudentão
'
16,068
37,730
72,788
45,954
São PauloSão PauloMorumbi
Novelli Júnior '
67,428
18,560
Vasco da GamaRio de JaneiroSão Januário '
Maracanã '
Moacyrzão
'
Mané Garrincha '
Raulino de Oliveira
'
Ressacada '
24,584
78,838
15,000
72,788
19,183
17,826
VitóriaSalvadorBarradão
Arena Fonte Nova '
Joia da Princesa
35,000
50,025
16,274

Personnel and kits

Managerial changes

League table

Results

Positions by round

Top scorers