2018 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A


The 2018 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A was the 60th season of the Serie A, Ecuador's top tier football league. Emelec were the defending champions. First stage winners LDU Quito defeated second stage winners and defending champions Emelec 2–1 on aggregate in the final to win their eleventh domestic title.

Teams

Twelve teams competed in the 2018 Serie A season, ten of whom took part in the previous season. Clan Juvenil and Fuerza Amarilla were relegated from the Serie A after accumulating the fewest points during the 2017 season. They were replaced by Técnico Universitario and Aucas, the 2017 Serie B winner and runner-up, respectively. Técnico Universitario were in their 25th top-flight appearance and their first one since 2012, while Aucas returned to the Serie A for their 37th appearance after just one season in the second tier.

Stadia and locations

TeamHome cityStadiumCapacity
AucasQuitoGonzalo Pozo Ripalda21,689
BarcelonaGuayaquilMonumental Banco Pichincha57,267
DelfínMantaJocay17,834
Deportivo CuencaCuencaBanco del Austro Alejandro Serrano Aguilar18,549
El NacionalQuitoOlímpico Atahualpa35,258
EmelecGuayaquilBanco del Pacífico Capwell38,963
Guayaquil CityGuayaquilChristian Benítez Betancourta10,152
Independiente del ValleSangolquíRumiñahui7,233
LDU QuitoQuitoRodrigo Paz Delgado41,575
MacaráAmbatoBellavista16,467
Técnico UniversitarioAmbatoBellavista16,467
Universidad CatólicaQuitoOlímpico Atahualpa35,258

a: Guayaquil City played its home matches between February and early-June at Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha and Estadio George Capwell in Guayaquil due to remodeling works at Estadio Christian Benítez Betancourt.

Personnel and kits

TeamManagerKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Aucas Darío TempestaUmbroCNT
Banco del Pacífico
Barcelona Guillermo AlmadaMarathonPilsener
Delfín Fabián BustosSpyroLa Esquina de Ales
Deportivo Cuenca Richard PáezJomaChubb Seguros
El Nacional Eduardo FavaroLottoAceros ANDEC
Banco General Rumiñahui
Emelec Mariano SosoAdidasElectrocables
Guayaquil City Pool GavilánezAstroDirecTV
Independiente del Valle Ismael RescalvoMarathonChevrolet
DirecTV
LDU Quito Pablo RepettoPumaChevrolet
Macará Paúl VélezBomanCooperativa San Francisco Ltda.
Técnico Universitario Fabián FríasBomanCooperativa San Francisco Ltda.
Universidad Católica Santiago EscobarUmbroDiscover Card

Managerial changes

First stage

The First stage began on February 16 and is scheduled to end on July 16.

Results

Second stage

The Second stage began on July 20 and ended on December 8.

Results

Third stage

and Emelec qualified to the Finals by being the First stage and Second stage winners, respectively. The winners were the Serie A champions and earned the Ecuador 1 berth in the 2019 Copa Libertadores, and the losers were the Serie A runners-up and earned the Ecuador 2 berth in the 2019 Copa Libertadores. By having the greater number of points in the aggregate table, LDU Quito played the second leg at home.
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LDU Quito won 2–1 on aggregate.

Aggregate table

Copa Sudamericana playoff

The Copa Sudamericana playoff was played between:
The winners qualified for the 2019 Copa Sudamericana first stage.
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Mushuc Runa won 3–2 on aggregate.

Top goalscorers

RankNameClubGoals
1 Jhon CifuenteUniversidad Católica37
2 Brayan AnguloEmelec29
3 Edson MontañoAucas25
4 Carlos GarcésDelfín19
5 Juan Manuel TévezMacará18
6 Juan AnangonóLDU Quito16
6 Luis ChicaizaDelfín16
6 Juan DinennoBarcelona16
9 Diego ArmasTécnico Universitario13
10 Anderson JulioLDU Quito12

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