# 2023–24 Serie C

The 2023–24 Serie C, officially known as Serie C NOW for sponsorship, was the tenth season of the unified Serie C division, the third tier of the Italian football league system.

## Changes

The league comprises 60 teams, geographically divided into three different groups. The Serie C league committee decided and formalized the group composition between July and August 2023.
The following teams have changed divisions since the 2022–23 season:

### To Serie C

Relegated from Serie B
* Benevento
* Perugia
* SPAL
Promoted from Serie D
* Sestri Levante (Group A winners)
* Lumezzane (Group B winners)
* Legnago (Group C winners)
* Giana Erminio (Group D winners)
* Arezzo (Group E winners)
* Pineto (Group F winners)
* Sorrento (Group G winners)
* Brindisi (Group H winners)
* Catania (Group I winners)
* Casertana (Repechage)

### From Serie C

Promoted to Serie B
* Feralpisalò
* Reggiana
* Catanzaro
* Lecco
Relegated to Serie D
* Sangiuliano City
* Piacenza
* San Donato Tavarnelle
* Imolese
* Montevarchi
* Gelbison
* Viterbese
* Fidelis Andria
* Pordenone (expelled)

### Exclusions and readmissions

In early June 2023, the Italian Football Federation announced the rules to determine readmissions in the Serie C league.
Vacancies arising from clubs going bankrupt or not applying for a Serie C licence were filled by the league considering applications from teams relegated from Serie C, reserve teams of Serie A clubs, and Serie D playoff winners, in this order.
On 16 June 2023, Pordenone announced their intention to renounce their Serie C spot due to financial issues. On 24 July, the Federation replaced Pordenone with Mantova.
Siena and Reggina have been excluded from their leagues. FIGC admitted Atalanta Under-23 to replace Siena. Brescia was readmitted to Serie B in place of Reggina. The remaining vacancy in Serie C was filled by Casertana.

## Group A (North)
### Stadia and locations

9 teams from Lombardy, 5 teams from Veneto, 3 teams from Piedmont, 1 team from Emilia-Romagna, 1 team from Friuli-Venezia Giulia and 1 team from Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
| Club | City | Stadium | Capacity |
| AlbinoLeffe | Albino and Leffe | AlbinoLeffe Stadium (Zanica) | 1,791 |
| Alessandria | Alessandria | Giuseppe Moccagatta | 5,926 |
| Arzignano Valchiampo | Arzignano | Dal Molin | 1,690 |
| Atalanta U23 | Bergamo | Comunale di Caravaggio (Caravaggio) | 2,180 |
| Fiorenzuola | Fiorenzuola d'Arda | Comunale di Fiorenzuola d'Arda | 4,000 |
| Giana Erminio | Gorgonzola | Città di Gorgonzola | 3,766 |
| Legnago | Legnago | Mario Sandrini | 2,152 |
| Lumezzane | Lumezzane | Tullio Saleri | 4,150 |
| Mantova | Mantua | Danilo Martelli | 6,066 |
| Novara | Novara | Silvio Piola (Novara) | 17,875 |
| Padova | Padua | Euganeo | 32,420 |
| Pergolettese | Crema | Giuseppe Voltini | 4,095 |
| Pro Patria | Busto Arsizio | Carlo Speroni | 5,000 |
| Pro Sesto | Sesto San Giovanni | Breda | 3,523 |
| Pro Vercelli | Vercelli | Silvio Piola (Vercelli) | 5,526 |
| Renate | Renate | Città di Meda (Meda) | 2,500 |
| Trento | Trento | Briamasco | 3,000 |
| Triestina | Trieste | Nereo Rocco | 26,566 |
| Vicenza | Vicenza | Romeo Menti | 17,163 |
| Virtus Verona | Verona | Mario Gavagnin-Sinibaldo Nocini | 1,500 |

### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Mantova (C, P) | 38 | 24 | 8 | 6 | 72 | 31 | +41 | 80 | Promotion to Serie B Qualification for the Supercoppa di Serie C |
| 2 | Padova | 38 | 21 | 14 | 3 | 55 | 28 | +27 | 77 | Qualification for the national play-offs second round |
| 3 | Vicenza | 38 | 20 | 11 | 7 | 52 | 30 | +22 | 71 | Qualification for the national play-offs first round |
| 4 | Triestina | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 61 | 44 | +17 | 64 | Qualification for the group play-offs second round |
| 5 | Atalanta U23 | 38 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 43 | 36 | +7 | 59 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 6 | Legnago | 38 | 13 | 17 | 8 | 46 | 39 | +7 | 56 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 7 | Giana Erminio | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 46 | 44 | +2 | 53 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 8 | Pro Vercelli | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 50 | 47 | +3 | 53 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 9 | Lumezzane | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 49 | 48 | +1 | 53 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 10 | Trento | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 34 | 37 | −3 | 51 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 11 | Virtus Verona | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 35 | 43 | −8 | 47 | |
| 12 | Pro Patria | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 37 | 51 | −14 | 46 | |
| 13 | AlbinoLeffe | 38 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 34 | 37 | −3 | 45 | |
| 14 | Pergolettese | 38 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 44 | 50 | −6 | 45 | |
| 15 | Renate | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 35 | 46 | −11 | 45 | |
| 16 | Arzignano | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 32 | 37 | −5 | 44 | |
| 17 | Novara (O) | 38 | 8 | 19 | 11 | 39 | 49 | −10 | 43 | Qualification for the relegation play-outs |
| 18 | Fiorenzuola (R) | 38 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 38 | 62 | −24 | 38 | Qualification for the relegation play-outs |
| 19 | Pro Sesto (R) | 38 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 25 | 40 | −15 | 35 | Relegation to Serie D |
| 20 | Alessandria (R) | 38 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 20 | 48 | −28 | 20 | Relegation to Serie D |
* 1 2 3 Giana Erminio and Pro Vercelli are ahead of Lumezzane on head-to-head points: Giana Erminio 9, Pro Vercelli 9, Lumezzane 0. Giana Erminio are ahead of Pro Vercelli on head-to-head goal difference: Giana Erminio +2, Pro Vercelli -2.
* 1 2 3 Albinoleffe are ahead of Renate on head-to-head points: Albinoleffe 8, Pergolettese 5, Renate 2.
* ↑ Automatically relegated for having more than eight points of distance from 16th-placed team Arzignano.
* ↑ 3 points deducted due to irregularities in the June 2023 salary payments and due to further administrative irregularities

## Group B (Centre)
### Stadia and locations

4 teams from Marche, 4 teams from Tuscany, 3 teams from Emilia-Romagna, 2 teams from Abruzzo, 2 teams from Liguria, 2 teams from Sardinia, 2 teams from Umbria and 1 team from Piedmont.
| Club | City | Stadium | Capacity |
| Ancona | Ancona | Del Conero | 23,976 |
| Arezzo | Arezzo | Città di Arezzo | 13,128 |
| Carrarese | Carrara | Stadio dei Marmi | 9,500 |
| Cesena | Cesena | Orogel Stadium-Dino Manuzzi | 20,194 |
| Fermana | Fermo | Bruno Recchioni | 8,920 |
| Gubbio | Gubbio | Pietro Barbetti | 4,939 |
| Juventus Next Gen | Turin | Giuseppe Moccagatta (Alessandria) | 5,926 |
| Lucchese | Lucca | Porta Elisa | 12,800 |
| Olbia | Olbia | Bruno Nespoli | 4,000 |
| Perugia | Perugia | Renato Curi | 23,625 |
| Pescara | Pescara | Adriatico – Giovanni Cornacchia | 20,515 |
| Pineto | Pineto | Adriatico – Giovanni Cornacchia (Pescara) | 20,515 |
| Pontedera | Pontedera | Ettore Mannucci | 2,700 |
| Recanatese | Recanati | Nicola Tubaldi | 1,500 |
| Rimini | Rimini | Romeo Neri | 9,768 |
| Sestri Levante | Sestri Levante | Dei Marmi (Carrara) | 9,500 |
| SPAL | Ferrara | Paolo Mazza | 16,134 |
| Torres | Sassari | Vanni Sanna | 7,480 |
| Virtus Entella | Chiavari | Comunale di Chiavari | 5,587 |
| Vis Pesaro | Pesaro | Tonino Benelli | 4,898 |

### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Cesena (C, P) | 38 | 30 | 6 | 2 | 80 | 19 | +61 | 96 | Promotion to Serie B Qualification for the Supercoppa di Serie C |
| 2 | Torres | 38 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 56 | 38 | +18 | 75 | Qualification for the national play-offs second round |
| 3 | Carrarese (P, O) | 38 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 54 | 30 | +24 | 73 | Qualification for the national play-offs first round |
| 4 | Perugia | 38 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 44 | 35 | +9 | 63 | Qualification for the group play-offs second round |
| 5 | Gubbio | 38 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 50 | 38 | +12 | 59 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 6 | Pescara | 38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 60 | 55 | +5 | 55 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 7 | Juventus Next Gen | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 50 | 44 | +6 | 54 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 8 | Arezzo | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 46 | 44 | +2 | 53 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 9 | Pontedera | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 53 | 54 | −1 | 52 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 10 | Rimini | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 52 | 54 | −2 | 50 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 11 | SPAL | 38 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 41 | 40 | +1 | 49 | |
| 12 | Lucchese | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 34 | 43 | −9 | 45 | |
| 13 | Virtus Entella | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 33 | 35 | −2 | 45 | |
| 14 | Pineto | 38 | 9 | 18 | 11 | 38 | 42 | −4 | 45 | |
| 15 | Sestri Levante | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 42 | 55 | −13 | 44 | |
| 16 | Ancona | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 41 | 51 | −10 | 42 | |
| 17 | Vis Pesaro (O) | 38 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 39 | 47 | −8 | 39 | Qualification for the relegation play-outs |
| 18 | Recanatese (R) | 38 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 47 | 65 | −18 | 38 | Qualification for the relegation play-outs |
| 19 | Fermana (R) | 38 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 30 | 59 | −29 | 31 | Relegation to Serie D |
| 20 | Olbia (R) | 38 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 25 | 67 | −42 | 26 | Relegation to Serie D |
* 1 2 3 Lucchese are ahead of Virtus Entella and Pineto on head-to-head points: Lucchese 7, Virtus Entella 3, Pineto 3. Virtus Entella are ahead of Pineto on overall goal difference: Virtus Entella -2, Pineto -4.
* ↑ Automatically relegated for having more than eight points of distance from 16th-placed team Ancona.

## Group C (South)
### Stadia and locations

7 teams from Campania, 6 teams from Apulia, 2 teams from Basilicata, 2 teams from Lazio, 2 teams from Sicily and 1 team from Calabria.
| Club | City | Stadium | Capacity |
| Audace Cerignola | Cerignola | Domenico Monterisi | 7,453 |
| Avellino | Avellino | Partenio-Adriano Lombardi | 26,000 |
| Benevento | Benevento | Ciro Vigorito | 16,867 |
| Brindisi | Brindisi | Franco Fanuzzi | 7,462 |
| Casertana | Caserta | Alberto Pinto | 12,000 |
| Catania | Catania | Angelo Massimino | 20,204 |
| Crotone | Crotone | Ezio Scida | 16,640 |
| Foggia | Foggia | Pino Zaccheria | 25,085 |
| Giugliano | Giugliano in Campania | Alberto De Cristofaro | 6,044 |
| Juve Stabia | Castellammare di Stabia | Romeo Menti | 7,642 |
| Latina | Latina | Domenico Francioni | 9,310 |
| Messina | Messina | San Filippo-Franco Scoglio | 38,722 |
| Monopoli | Monopoli | Vito Simone Veneziani | 6,880 |
| Monterosi Tuscia | Monterosi | Gaetano Bonolis (Teramo) | 7,498 |
| Picerno | Picerno | Donato Curcio | 1,500 |
| Potenza | Potenza | Alfredo Viviani | 4,977 |
| Sorrento | Sorrento | Italia | 3,600 |
| Taranto | Taranto | Erasmo Iacovone | 27,584 |
| Turris | Torre del Greco | Amerigo Liguori | 3,566 |
| Virtus Francavilla | Francavilla Fontana | Nuovarredo Arena | 3,360 |

### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Juve Stabia (C, P) | 38 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 57 | 24 | +33 | 79 | Promotion to Serie B Qualification for the Supercoppa di Serie C |
| 2 | Avellino | 38 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 62 | 29 | +33 | 69 | Qualification for the national play-offs second round |
| 3 | Benevento | 38 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 45 | 33 | +12 | 66 | Qualification for the national play-offs first round |
| 4 | Casertana | 38 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 51 | 38 | +13 | 65 | Qualification for the group play-offs second round |
| 5 | Taranto | 38 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 46 | 31 | +15 | 65 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 6 | Picerno | 38 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 53 | 40 | +13 | 58 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 7 | Audace Cerignola | 38 | 12 | 17 | 9 | 54 | 46 | +8 | 53 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 8 | Giugliano | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 44 | 47 | −3 | 53 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 9 | Crotone | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 54 | 47 | +7 | 52 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 10 | Latina | 38 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 44 | 51 | −7 | 51 | Qualification for the group play-offs first round |
| 11 | Foggia | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 40 | 44 | −4 | 48 | |
| 12 | Sorrento | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 39 | 47 | −8 | 48 | |
| 13 | Catania | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 39 | 38 | +1 | 45 | Qualification for the national play-offs first round |
| 14 | Messina | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 41 | 49 | −8 | 45 | |
| 15 | Turris | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 46 | 57 | −11 | 44 | |
| 16 | Potenza (O) | 38 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 38 | 47 | −9 | 43 | Qualification for the relegation play-outs |
| 17 | Monopoli (O) | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 41 | 51 | −10 | 42 | Qualification for the relegation play-outs |
| 18 | Virtus Francavilla (R) | 38 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 50 | −20 | 35 | Qualification for the relegation play-outs |
| 19 | Monterosi (R) | 38 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 43 | 62 | −19 | 35 | Qualification for the relegation play-outs |
| 20 | Brindisi (R) | 38 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 28 | 64 | −36 | 25 | Relegation to Serie D |
* 1 2 Casertana are ahead of Taranto on head-to-head points: Casertana 6, Taranto 0.
* ↑ 4 points deducted due to administrative irregularities.
* 1 2 Audace Cerignola are ahead of Giugliano on head-to-head points: Audace Cerignola 6, Giugliano 0.
* 1 2 Foggia are ahead of Sorrento on overall goal difference: Foggia -4, Sorrento -8.
* 1 2 Catania are ahead of Messina on overall goal difference: Catania +1, Messina -8.
* ↑ Catania qualify for the national play-offs first round by winning the Coppa Italia Serie C.
* 1 2 Virtus Francavilla are ahead of Monterosi on head-to-head goal difference: Virtus Francavilla +1, Monterosi -1.
* ↑ 4 points deducted due to administrative irregularities.

## Promotion play-offs

Rules and dates were confirmed on March 14, 2024. Because of an appeal by Taranto against a 4-point deduction, without which the final positions in Group C would change, all play-off rounds were postponed, with the new dates announced on 29 April.

### Group phase
#### First round

In each group, the 5th-placed team plays the 10th-placed team, the 6th-placed team plays the 9th-placed team and the 7th-placed team plays the 8th-placed team. In case of a draw, the highest-placed team qualifies.
Matches were played on May 7.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Atalanta U23 | 3–1 | Trento |
| Legnago | 1–0 | Lumezzane |
| Giana Erminio | 3–0 | Pro Vercelli |
| Gubbio | 0–1 | Rimini |
| Pescara | 2–2 | Pontedera |
| Juventus Next Gen | 2–0 | Arezzo |
| Taranto | 0–0 | Latina |
| Picerno | 2–0 | Crotone |
| Audace Cerignola | 1–1 | Giugliano |

#### Second round

In each group, the 4th-placed team plays the worst-placed winner from the first round, and the best-placed winner from the first round plays the second-best winner. In case of a draw, the highest-placed team qualifies.
Matches were played on May 11.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Triestina | 1–1 | Giana Erminio |
| Atalanta U23 | 1–1 | Legnago |
| Perugia | 0–0 | Rimini |
| Pescara | 1–3 | Juventus Next Gen |
| Casertana | 0–0 | Audace Cerignola |
| Taranto | 0–0 | Picerno |

### National phase
#### First round

The three 3rd-placed teams, the winner of Coppa Italia Serie C and the best winner from the group phase are seeded. In case of an aggregate draw, the seeded team qualifies.
The first legs were played on May 14, and the second legs on May 18.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Taranto | 0–1 | Vicenza | 0–1 | 0–0 |
| Perugia | 2–3 | Carrarese | 0–2 | 2–1 |
| Triestina | 2–3 | Benevento | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Atalanta U23 | 1–1 | Catania | 0–1 | 1–0 |
| Juventus Next Gen | 3–2 | Casertana | 0–1 | 3–1 |

#### Second round

The three 2nd-placed teams and the best winner from the previous round are seeded. In case of an aggregate draw, the seeded team qualifies.
The first legs were played on May 21, and the second legs on May 25. The game between Vicenza and Padova, originally scheduled for May 21, was postponed to May 22 due to bad weather.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Vicenza | 3–0 | Padova | 2–0 | 1–0 |
| Benevento | 1–0 | Torres | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Catania | 2–2 | Avellino | 1–0 | 1–2 |
| Juventus Next Gen | 3–3 | Carrarese | 1–1 | 2–2 |

### Final four

Pairings and teams hosting the second leg are drawn randomly. If the match ends in an aggregate draw, extra time is played, followed by penalties if necessary.

#### Semi-finals

The first legs were played on May 28, and the second legs on June 2.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Avellino | 1–2 | Vicenza | 0–0 | 1–2 |
| Carrarese | 3–2 | Benevento | 1–0 | 2–2 |

#### Final

The first leg was played on June 5, and the second leg on June 9.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Vicenza | 0–1 | Carrarese | 0–0 | 0–1 |

## Relegation play-outs

Rules and dates were confirmed on March 14, 2024.
The losers of each tie are relegated to Serie D. In case of an aggregate draw, the best-placed team avoids relegation. If the two teams involved in a tie are separated by more than 8 points, the matches are not played and the worst-placed team is automatically relegated.
The first legs were played on May 12 and the second legs on May 19.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Fiorenzuola | 2–5 | Novara | 1–3 | 1–2 |
| Recanatese | 4–4 | Vis Pesaro | 1–0 | 3–4 |
| Monterosi | 1–2 | Potenza | 0–1 | 1–1 |
| Virtus Francavilla | 2–2 | Monopoli | 1–1 | 1–1 |

## Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Cosimo Patierno$^1$ | Avellino | 21 |
| 2 | Jacopo Murano | Picerno | 20 |
| 2 | Cristian Shpendi | Cesena | 20 |
| 4 | Claudio Morra | Rimini | 19 |
| 5 | Simone Guerra$^2$ | Juventus Next Gen | 17 |
| 5 | Davide Merola | Pescara | 17 |
| 7 | Alessio Curcio$^1$ | Casertana | 16 |
| 7 | Filippo D'Andrea$^1$ | Audace Cerignola | 16 |
| 7 | Maguette Fall$^3$ | Giana Erminio | 16 |
| 7 | Franco Ferrari$^3$ | Vicenza | 16 |
| 7 | Facundo Lescano | Triestina | 16 |

### Note

$^1$ Player scored 1 goal in the play-offs. $^2$ Player scored 2 goals in the play-offs. $^3$ Player scored 3 goals in the play-offs.