# 2023 Ecuadorian Serie A

The 2023 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A, known as the LigaPro BET593 2023 for sponsoring purposes, was the 65th season of the Serie A, Ecuador's top tier football league, and the fifth under the management of the Liga Profesional de Fútbol del Ecuador (or LigaPro). The season began on 24 February and ended on 17 December 2023, with the fixture for the season being unveiled on 24 January 2023.
LDU Quito were the champions, winning their twelfth domestic league title after beating Independiente del Valle on penalty kicks in the finals after a 1–1 draw on aggregate. Aucas were the defending champions.

## Teams

16 teams competed in the season. Macará and 9 de Octubre were relegated after finishing in the bottom two places of the aggregate table of the previous season, being replaced by the 2022 Serie B champions El Nacional and third place Libertad. El Nacional clinched promotion to the top flight with two matches to go after defeating Libertad 4–2 on 20 October 2022, whilst Libertad themselves ensured promotion in the last round played on 30 October 2022, with a 2–0 victory over Imbabura and a 1–1 draw for América de Quito against Independiente Juniors. Despite having finished in third place in Serie B, Libertad were promoted to the top flight since runners-up Independiente Juniors are Independiente del Valle's reserve team. El Nacional returned to Serie A after two seasons, and Libertad will compete in Serie A for the first time ever.

### Stadia and locations

| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity |
| Aucas | Quito | Cooprogreso Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda | 21,689 |
| Barcelona | Guayaquil | Monumental Banco Pichincha | 57,267 |
| Cumbayá | Quito | Olímpico Atahualpa | 35,258 |
| Delfín | Manta | Jocay | 17,834 |
| Deportivo Cuenca | Cuenca | Banco del Austro Alejandro Serrano Aguilar | 18,549 |
| El Nacional | Quito | Olímpico Atahualpa | 35,258 |
| Emelec | Guayaquil | George Capwell | 40,020 |
| Gualaceo | Azogues | Jorge Andrade Cantos | 14,000 |
| Guayaquil City | Guayaquil | Christian Benítez Betancourt | 10,152 |
| Independiente del Valle | Quito | Banco Guayaquil | 12,000 |
| LDU Quito | Quito | Rodrigo Paz Delgado | 41,575 |
| Libertad | Loja | Reina del Cisne | 14,935 |
| Mushuc Runa | Ambato | COAC Mushuc Runa | 8,200 |
| Orense | Machala | 9 de Mayo | 16,456 |
| Técnico Universitario | Ambato | Bellavista Universidad Indoamérica | 16,467 |
| Universidad Católica | Quito | Olímpico Atahualpa | 35,258 |

### Personnel and kits

| Team | Manager | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| Aucas | Santiago Escobar | Umbro | BET593 |
| Barcelona | Diego López | Marathon | Pilsener |
| Cumbayá | Leonardo Vanegas | Lotto | |
| Delfín | Guillermo Duró | Baldo's | La Esquina de Ales |
| Deportivo Cuenca | Carlos Ischia | Lotto | Ecuabet, Banco del Austro, Chubb Seguros |
| El Nacional | Ever Almeida | Lotto | ANDEC, Banco General Rumiñahui, Gana Play |
| Emelec | Hernán Torres | Adidas | Novibet |
| Gualaceo | Fabián Frías | Boman | Banco del Austro, Okibet |
| Guayaquil City | Pool Gavilánez | Astro | BET593, TC Televisión |
| Independiente del Valle | Martín Anselmi | Marathon | Ecuabet, Banco Guayaquil, Toyota |
| LDU Quito | Luis Zubeldía | Puma | Banco Pichincha |
| Libertad | Geovanny Cumbicus | Jasa | Banco de Loja, Grand Aviation |
| Mushuc Runa | Renato Salas | Boman | Cooperativa Mushuc Runa |
| Orense | Juan Carlos León | Elohim | Banco de Machala, IncarPalm |
| Técnico Universitario | Juan Pablo Buch | Kappa | Cooperativa San Francisco Ltda. |
| Universidad Católica | Igor Oca | Umbro | Banco Pichincha, Fundación Crisfe |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| First stage |||||||
| Universidad Católica | Miguel Rondelli | End of contract | 17 November 2022 | Pre-season | Igor Oca | 28 November 2022 |
| Deportivo Cuenca | Gabriel Schürrer | Resigned | 21 November 2022 | Pre-season | Gabriel del Valle and Juan Zubeldía | 12 December 2022 |
| Emelec | Ismael Rescalvo | Mutual agreement | 25 November 2022 | Pre-season | Miguel Rondelli | 29 November 2022 |
| Deportivo Cuenca | Gabriel del Valle and Juan Zubeldía | Mutual agreement | 3 May 2023 | 10th | Jerson Stacio | 3 May 2023 |
| Deportivo Cuenca | Jerson Stacio | End of caretaker spell | 12 May 2023 | 9th | Carlos Ischia | 12 May 2023 |
| Libertad | Paúl Vélez | Sacked | 24 May 2023 | 15th | Marcelo Robledo | 24 May 2023 |
| Mushuc Runa | Geovanny Cumbicus | Sacked | 29 May 2023 | 16th | Renato Salas | 29 May 2023 |
| Barcelona | Fabián Bustos | Resigned | 4 June 2023 | 3rd | Segundo Castillo | 4 June 2023 |
| Emelec | Miguel Rondelli | Mutual agreement | 7 June 2023 | 12th | Hernán Torres | 8 June 2023 |
| Aucas | César Farías | Sacked | 15 June 2023 | 8th | Nelson Videla | 15 June 2023 |
| Second stage |||||||
| Aucas | Nelson Videla | End of caretaker spell | 23 June 2023 | Pre-tournament | Santiago Escobar | 23 June 2023 |
| Barcelona | Segundo Castillo | End of caretaker spell | 12 July 2023 | Pre-tournament | Diego López | 12 July 2023 |
| Libertad | Marcelo Robledo | Resigned | 18 August 2023 | 15th | Geovanny Cumbicus | 18 August 2023 |
| Gualaceo | Leonardo Vanegas | Resigned | 18 September 2023 | 16th | Diego Idrovo | 19 September 2023 |
| Gualaceo | Diego Idrovo | End of caretaker spell | 23 September 2023 | 16th | Fabián Frías | 23 September 2023 |
| Cumbayá | Patricio Hurtado | Mutual agreement | 8 November 2023 | 14th | Leonardo Vanegas | 8 November 2023 |

#### Notes

* 1 2 3 4 Caretaker manager.
* ↑ Originally as caretaker manager, appointed on a permanent basis on 21 June 2023.

## First stage

The first stage began on 24 February and ended on 23 June 2023.

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Independiente del Valle | 15 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 31 | 15 | +16 | 34 | Advance to Finals and qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 2 | El Nacional | 15 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 32 | 25 | +7 | 30 | |
| 3 | LDU Quito | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 29 | 17 | +12 | 26 | |
| 4 | Barcelona | 15 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 30 | 20 | +10 | 26 | |
| 5 | Aucas | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 19 | −2 | 24 | |
| 6 | Universidad Católica | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 25 | −3 | 24 | |
| 7 | Delfín | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 23 | −5 | 24 | |
| 8 | Deportivo Cuenca | 15 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 24 | 21 | +3 | 21 | |
| 9 | Orense | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 21 | |
| 10 | Técnico Universitario | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 15 | +6 | 18 | |
| 11 | Gualaceo | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 23 | −6 | 18 | |
| 12 | Cumbayá | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 13 | −3 | 17 | |
| 13 | Emelec | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 20 | −2 | 14 | |
| 14 | Libertad | 15 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 20 | 26 | −6 | 13 | |
| 15 | Mushuc Runa | 15 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 25 | −11 | 13 | |
| 16 | Guayaquil City | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 29 | −12 | 12 | |

### Results

| Home \ Away | AUC | BSC | CUM | DEL | CUE | NAC | EME | GUA | GCY | IDV | LDQ | LIB | MUS | ORE | TEC | CAT |
| Aucas | — | — | 2–1 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | 2–0 | — | 4–1 |
| Barcelona | 5–1 | — | 4–1 | 5–0 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–2 |
| Cumbayá | — | — | — | 0–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | — | — | 0–1 |
| Delfín | 2–0 | — | — | — | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | — | — | — | 3–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 |
| Deportivo Cuenca | — | — | 1–0 | 4–0 | — | — | 3–2 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | — | 3–0 | — | — | — |
| El Nacional | — | 4–1 | — | — | 3–1 | — | — | — | — | — | 0–2 | 4–2 | — | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 |
| Emelec | — | — | — | — | — | 1–2 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | — | 1–0 | — |
| Gualaceo | — | 2–1 | — | — | — | 3–4 | — | — | 2–1 | 1–2 | — | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Guayaquil City | — | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | — | 3–1 | — | — | — | — | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | — | — | — |
| Independiente del Valle | 2–0 | 1–0 | — | 3–0 | — | 3–4 | — | — | 4–0 | — | 2–3 | — | 3–1 | — | 1–0 | — |
| LDU Quito | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | — | — | 6–1 | — | — | — | 4–2 | — | — | 2–1 | — |
| Libertad | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | — | 3–1 | — | — | — | — | 0–0 | — | — | — | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| Mushuc Runa | 0–0 | — | — | — | — | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | — | — | 2–2 | 2–1 | — | 3–1 | — | — |
| Orense | — | — | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | — | 2–1 | — | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | — | — | — | 2–1 | — |
| Técnico Universitario | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | — | — | — | 3–0 | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | — | 4–1 |
| Universidad Católica | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | 3–2 | — | 3–0 | 2–3 | 0–4 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | — | — |

### Attendances

| # | Club | Average attendance |
| 1 | Emelec | 11,945 |
| 2 | Barcelona | 7,273 |
| 3 | LDU Quito | 7,131 |
| 4 | Libertad | 5,342 |
| 5 | Técnico Universitario | 4,370 |
| 6 | El Nacional | 4,252 |
| 7 | Orense SC | 3,200 |
| 8 | SD Aucas | 2,814 |
| 9 | Deportivo Cuenca | 2,670 |
| 10 | Independiente del Valle | 2,586 |
| 11 | Universidad Católica del Ecuador | 1,221 |
| 12 | Gualaceo SC | 933 |
| 13 | Mushuc Runa | 637 |
| 14 | Cumbayá FC | 542 |
| 15 | Delfín SC | 528 |
| 16 | Guayaquil City | 432 |
Source: World Football

## Second stage

The second stage began on 4 August and ended on 3 December 2023.

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | LDU Quito | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 4 | +17 | 36 | Advance to Finals and qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 2 | Barcelona | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 15 | +9 | 32 | |
| 3 | Aucas | 15 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 22 | 15 | +7 | 25 | |
| 4 | Delfín | 15 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 19 | 12 | +7 | 24 | |
| 5 | El Nacional | 15 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 25 | 19 | +6 | 23 | |
| 6 | Emelec | 15 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 22 | |
| 7 | Universidad Católica | 15 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 15 | 12 | +3 | 22 | |
| 8 | Independiente del Valle | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 15 | +3 | 21 | |
| 9 | Técnico Universitario | 15 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 17 | +3 | 19 | |
| 10 | Mushuc Runa | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 19 | −5 | 19 | |
| 11 | Orense | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 16 | |
| 12 | Deportivo Cuenca | 15 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 16 | |
| 13 | Libertad | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 18 | −6 | 15 | |
| 14 | Guayaquil City | 15 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 18 | −13 | 10 | |
| 15 | Cumbayá | 15 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 26 | −12 | 9 | |
| 16 | Gualaceo | 15 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 30 | −21 | 7 | |

### Results

| Home \ Away | AUC | BSC | CUM | DEL | CUE | NAC | EME | GUA | GCY | IDV | LDQ | LIB | MUS | ORE | TEC | CAT |
| Aucas | — | 3–2 | — | 0–0 | — | — | — | — | — | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–4 | — |
| Barcelona | — | — | — | — | — | 3–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | — | — | 1–0 | — |
| Cumbayá | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | — | 1–1 | — | — | — | 2–2 | — | 1–2 | — | — | 0–1 | 0–1 | — |
| Delfín | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | — | 0–0 | — | — | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | — | — | — | 2–2 | — |
| Deportivo Cuenca | 0–0 | 1–2 | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | — | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
| El Nacional | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | — | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | — | — | 2–0 | — | — | — |
| Emelec | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3–1 | 0–0 | — | 2–1 |
| Gualaceo | 1–2 | — | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | — | — | — | 1–3 | — | 0–0 | — | — | — |
| Guayaquil City | 0–1 | — | — | — | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | — | — | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Independiente del Valle | — | — | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | — | 2–1 | 2–0 | — | — | — | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | — | 0–1 |
| LDU Quito | — | — | — | — | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | — | 3–1 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 |
| Libertad | — | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | — | 0–2 | — | 0–1 | — | — | — |
| Mushuc Runa | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | — | — | 3–0 | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | 0–2 |
| Orense | 1–2 | 2–3 | — | 0–0 | — | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | — | — | — | 3–0 | 1–0 | — | — | 1–2 |
| Técnico Universitario | — | — | — | — | — | 3–3 | 0–0 | 4–0 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | — | — |
| Universidad Católica | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | — | — | — | 0–0 | — | — | 0–0 | — |

## Finals

The finals (Third stage) were played by Independiente del Valle (first stage winners) and LDU Quito (second stage winners). The winners of this double-legged series were crowned as Serie A champions. By having the greater number of points in the aggregate table, LDU Quito played the second leg at home.
Tied 1–1 on aggregate, LDU Quito won on penalties.

## Aggregate table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | LDU Quito (C) | 30 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 50 | 21 | +29 | 62 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 2 | Barcelona | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 54 | 35 | +19 | 58 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 3 | Independiente del Valle | 30 | 17 | 4 | 9 | 49 | 30 | +19 | 55 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 4 | El Nacional | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 57 | 44 | +13 | 53 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores second stage |
| 5 | Aucas | 30 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 39 | 34 | +5 | 49 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores first stage |
| 6 | Delfín | 30 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 37 | 35 | +2 | 48 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 7 | Universidad Católica | 30 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 46 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 8 | Técnico Universitario | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 41 | 32 | +9 | 37 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 9 | Deportivo Cuenca | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 36 | 37 | −1 | 37 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 10 | Orense | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 32 | 36 | −4 | 37 | |
| 11 | Emelec | 30 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 32 | 28 | +4 | 36 | |
| 12 | Mushuc Runa | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 28 | 44 | −16 | 32 | |
| 13 | Libertad | 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 32 | 44 | −12 | 28 | |
| 14 | Cumbayá | 30 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 24 | 39 | −15 | 26 | |
| 15 | Gualaceo (R) | 30 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 26 | 53 | −27 | 25 | Relegation to Ecuadorian Serie B |
| 16 | Guayaquil City (R) | 30 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 22 | 47 | −25 | 22 | Relegation to Ecuadorian Serie B |
* ↑ LDU Quito qualified for the Copa Libertadores group stage by winning the 2023 Copa Sudamericana.

## Top scorers

| Rank | Name | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Miguel Parrales | Guayaquil City | 16 |
| 2 | Jean Carlos Blanco | Técnico Universitario | 13 |
| 3 | Francisco Fydriszewski | Barcelona | 12 |
| 3 | Michael Hoyos | Independiente del Valle | 12 |
| 5 | Jhon Cifuente | Aucas | 11 |
| 5 | Joaquín Vergés | Gualaceo | 11 |
| 7 | Alexander Alvarado | LDU Quito | 10 |
| 7 | Raúl Becerra | Deportivo Cuenca | 10 |
| 7 | Damián Díaz | Barcelona | 10 |
| 10 | Ronie Carrillo | El Nacional | 9 |
Source: Ecuagol