# 2019 Liga 3 (Georgia)

Тhe 2019 Liga 3 was the third season under its current name and 32nd third-tier season since Georgia formed independent football league system in 1990. It began on 4 March and ended with promotion play-off return legs on 10 December.

## Team changes

Following the previous season, the number of teams participating in Liga 3 was halved. With no club promoted from a lower league, the five relegated teams were among first members of the newly formed Liga 4.

### From Liga 3
#### Promoted to Liga 2

Zugdidi ● Guria Lanchkhuti

#### Relegated to Liga 4

Samegrelo Chkhorotsku ● Magaroeli Chiatura ● Varketili Tbilisi ● Algeti Marneuli ● Imereti Khoni

#### Relegated to Regionuli Liga

Mark Stars Tbilisi ● Gardabani ● Sulori Vani ● Samgurali Tskaltubo-2 ● Machakhela Khelvachauri

### To Liga 3
#### Relegated from Liga 2

Samgurali ● Merani

## Teams and stadiums

| Clubs | Position in 2018 | Location | Venue | Region |
| Aragvi | 6th | Dusheti | Olympic Centre | Mtskheta-Mtianeti |
| Bakhmaro | 2nd | Chokhatauri | Boris Paichadze stadium | Guria |
| Betlemi | 10th | Keda | Archil Partenadze Stadium | Adjara |
| Borjomi | 7th | Borjomi | Jemal Zeinklishvili Stadium | Samtskhe-Javakheti |
| Gori | 9th | Gori | Kartli | Shida Kartli |
| Kolkheti | 5th | Khobi | Paata Tatarashvili stadium | Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti |
| Merani | 10th in Liga 2 | Martvili | Murtaz Khurtsilava Stadium | Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti |
| Meshakhte | 8th | Tkibuli | Temur Maghradze Stadium | Imereti |
| Saburtalo-2 | 4th | Tbilisi | Bendela | Tbilisi |
| Samgurali | 8th in Liga 2 | Tskaltubo | 26 May stadium | Imereti |

## Review

Being considered primary favourites for promotion, Merani won the league with a large margin after an impressive performance during the entire season. They achieved their promotion goal well beforehand, with five matches still remaining. Samgurali managed to thrash their play-off rivals with an aggregate score 9-0 and return to Liga 2 after one-year absence. Aragvi also prevailed over their opponents, despite a home defeat in the first leg.
Five teams were involved in a bitter survival battle close to the end. Gori, a most expected candidate for relegation, secured two victories in the last two games to climb out of the drop zone. Three clubs reached the finish line with equal points, but head-to-head results proved unfavourable for Borjomi, who were relegated along with Betlemi.

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Merani (C, P) | 36 | 26 | 4 | 6 | 78 | 24 | +54 | 82 | Promotion to Erovnuli Liga 2 |
| 2 | Samgurali (P) | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 52 | 29 | +23 | 70 | Qualification for Promotion play-offs |
| 3 | Aragvi (P) | 36 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 58 | 41 | +17 | 61 | Qualification for Promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Bakhmaro | 36 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 50 | 47 | +3 | 54 | |
| 5 | Saburtalo-2 | 36 | 15 | 3 | 18 | 53 | 67 | −14 | 48 | |
| 6 | Kolkheti | 36 | 11 | 8 | 17 | 39 | 54 | −15 | 41 | |
| 7 | Gori | 36 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 45 | 52 | −7 | 39 | |
| 8 | Meshakhte | 36 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 43 | 55 | −12 | 39 | |
| 9 | Borjomi (R) | 36 | 12 | 3 | 21 | 30 | 57 | −27 | 39 | Relegation to the Liga 4 |
| 10 | Betlemi (R) | 36 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 40 | 62 | −22 | 38 | Relegation to the Liga 4 |

## Promotion play-offs

Aragvi Dusheti won 2–1 on aggregate.
Samgurali Tskaltubo won 9–0 on aggregate.