# 2008 Campeonato Gaúcho

The 88th season of the Campeonato Gaúcho kicked off on January 19, 2008. The competition began with 16 clubs divided into two groups. Even before the end of first stage, Guarany and 15 de Novembro were already relegated. Holders Grêmio had an early exit after being defeated by Juventude at homeground. Once again, the two biggest clubs of Rio Grande do Sul would not meet at the final. Internacional set a new record: the highest score in a final match, after beating Juventude 8–1 at Beira-Rio Stadium. That was the 38th title in the history of the club.
The tournament qualified both finalists to the Copa do Brasil (Brazil Cup) - Grêmio is also qualified based on CBF ranking criteria. As Internacional will play Série A and Juventude, Série B this season, the semifinal losers, Internacional of Santa Maria and Caxias qualified for the Série C (3rd level of National championship).

## Teams

| Club | City | Position in 2007 | Number of titles (until 2007) |
| Internacional | Porto Alegre | 7th | 37 |
| Grêmio | Porto Alegre | Champions | 35 |
| São José | Porto Alegre | 12th | - |
| Caxias | Caxias do Sul | 6th | 1 |
| Juventude | Caxias do Sul | Runners-up | 1 |
| Brasil | Pelotas | 10th | 1 |
| Esportivo | Bento Gonçalves | 5th | - |
| Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz do Sul | 13th | - |
| Veranópolis | Veranópolis | 4th | - |
| São Luiz | Ijuí | 14th | - |
| Novo Hamburgo | Novo Hamburgo | 9th | - |
| 15 de Novembro | Campo Bom | 11th | - |
| Guarany | Bagé | 8th | 2 |
| Ulbra | Canoas | 3rd | - |
| Sapucaiense | Sapucaia do Sul | Champions (2nd Division) | - |
| Internacional (SM) | Santa Maria | Runners-up (2nd Division) | - |

## System

* Group Stage: The 16 teams were divided in 2 groups of 8 teams each. They played against each other inside their groups in home-and-away system. After 14 rounds, the top 4 teams qualified to the Quarterfinals and the bottom team from each group were relegated to play 2nd Division in 2009.
* Quarterfinals: Considering Group Stage positions, the 8 qualified teams were placed in 4 groups of 2 teams each which played in home-and-away system.
* Semifinals: Quarterfinals winners were divided in 2 groups of 2 teams each and they played in home-and-away system. Teams with best overall record played second leg at home
* Finals: Semifinals winners played in home-and-away to define Champions. Team with best overall record played second leg at home.

## Group stage
### Group 1

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Grêmio | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 28 | 8 | +20 | 36 | Advance to Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Caxias | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 18 | 9 | +9 | 24 | Advance to Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Sapucaiense | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 20 | +3 | 22 | Advance to Quarterfinals |
| 4 | Ulbra | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 24 | −4 | 21 | Advance to Quarterfinals |
| 5 | Esportivo | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 18 | −1 | 20 | |
| 6 | Novo Hamburgo | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 24 | −1 | 17 | |
| 7 | Santa Cruz | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 16 | 23 | −7 | 13 | |
| 8 | 15 de Novembro | 14 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 30 | −19 | 4 | Second Division 2009 |

#### Fixtures

| Date | Match | Match | Match | Venue |
| 2008 Jan 19 | Grêmio | 3-0 | 15 de Novembro | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Jan 19 | Caxias | 2-0 | Santa Cruz | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Jan 20 | Novo Hamburgo | 1-2 | Esportivo | Novo Hamburgo |
| 2008 Jan 20 | Ulbra | 3-2 | Sapucaiense | Canoas |
| 2008 Jan 22 | 15 de Novembro | 0-1 | Caxias | Campo Bom |
| 2008 Jan 23 | Sapucaiense | 1-1 | Grêmio | São Leopoldo |
| 2008 Jan 23 | Santa Cruz | 2-0 | Novo Hamburgo | Santa Cruz do Sul |
| 2008 Jan 23 | Esportivo | 2-1 | Ulbra | Bento Gonçalves |
| 2008 Jan 26 | Grêmio | 1-0 | Santa Cruz | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Jan 26 | Novo Hamburgo | 0-0 | Caxias | Novo Hamburgo |
| 2008 Jan 26 | Ulbra | 3-2 | 15 de Novembro | Canoas |
| 2008 Jan 27 | Sapucaiense | 0-0 | Esportivo | São Leopoldo |
| 2008 Jan 30 | 15 de Novembro | 1-3 | Esportivo | Campo Bom |
| 2008 Feb 1 | Santa Cruz | 2-2 | Ulbra | Santa Cruz do Sul |
| 2008 Feb 2 | Novo Hamburgo | 1-3 | Sapucaiense | Novo Hamburgo |
| 2008 Feb 2 | Caxias | 2-2 | Grêmio | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Feb 6 | Caxias | 0-0 | Ulbra | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Feb 9 | Grêmio | 2-0 | Novo Hamburgo | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Feb 10 | Esportivo | 1-0 | Santa Cruz | Bento Gonçalves |
| 2008 Feb 10 | Sapucaiense | 1-0 | 15 de Novembro | São Leopoldo |
| 2008 Feb 13 | 15 de Novembro | 0-3 | Novo Hamburgo | Campo Bom |
| 2008 Jan 17 | Ulbra | 0-1 | Grêmio | Canoas |
| 2008 Feb 17 | Esportivo | 0-1 | Caxias | Bento Gonçalves |
| 2008 Feb 17 | Sapucaiense | 0-1 | Santa Cruz | São Leopoldo |
| 2008 Feb 20 | Caxias | 2-2 | Sapucaiense | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Feb 20 | Novo Hamburgo | 1-2 | Ulbra | Novo Hamburgo |
| 2008 Feb 21 | Santa Cruz | 1-0 | 15 de Novembro | Santa Cruz do Sul |
| 2008 Feb 21 | Grêmio | 2-1 | Esportivo | Porto Alegre |
| Date | Match | Match | Match | Venue |
| 2008 Feb 23 | Sapucaiense | 1-1 | Caxias | São Leopoldo |
| 2008 Feb 24 | Ulbra | 2-5 | Novo Hamburgo | Canoas |
| 2008 Feb 24 | Esportivo | 1-2 | Grêmio | Bento Gonçalves |
| 2008 Feb 25 | 15 de Novembro | 3-1 | Santa Cruz | Campo Bom |
| 2008 Feb 25 | Novo Hamburgo | 1-1 | 15 de Novembro | Novo Hamburgo |
| 2008 Mar 1 | Grêmio | 4-0 | Ulbra | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Mar 1 | Caxias | 2-0 | Esportivo | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Mar 3 | Santa Cruz | 2-5 | Sapucaiense | Santa Cruz do Sul |
| 2008 Mar 6 | 15 de Novembro | 1-2 | Sapucaiense | Campo Bom |
| 2008 Mar 8 | Santa Cruz | 1-2 | Esportivo | Santa Cruz do Sul |
| 2008 Mar 9 | Ulbra | 1-0 | Caxias | Canoas |
| 2008 Mar 9 | Novo Hamburgo | 0-1 | Grêmio | Novo Hamburgo |
| 2008 Mar 12 | Ulbra | 1-0 | Santa Cruz | Canoas |
| 2008 Mar 12 | Esportivo | 1-0 | 15 de Novembro | Bento Gonçalves |
| 2008 Mar 12 | Sapucaiense | 1-4 | Novo Hamburgo | São Leopoldo |
| 2008 Mar 13 | Grêmio | 0-0 | Caxias | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Mar 15 | Esportivo | 1-3 | Sapucaiense | Bento Gonçalves |
| 2008 Mar 16 | 15 de Novembro | 2-3 | Ulbra | Campo Bom |
| 2008 Mar 16 | Santa Cruz | 2-3 | Grêmio | Santa Cruz do Sul |
| 2008 Mar 16 | Caxias | 4-1 | Novo Hamburgo | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Mar 20 | Grêmio | 2-0 | Sapucaiense | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Mar 22 | Caxias | 3-0 | 15 de Novembro | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Mar 22 | Ulbra | 1-1 | Esportivo | Canoas |
| 2008 Mar 22 | Novo Hamburgo | 3-2 | Santa Cruz | Novo Hamburgo |
| 2008 Mar 26 | Sapucaiense | 2-1 | Ulbra | São Leopoldo |
| 2008 Mar 26 | Santa Cruz | 2-0 | Caxias | Santa Cruz do Sul |
| 2008 Mar 26 | Esportivo | 2-3 | Novo Hamburgo | Bento Gonçalves |
| 2008 Mar 26 | 15 de Novembro | 1-4 | Grêmio | Campo Bom |

### Group 2

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Internacional | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 9 | +25 | 32 | Advance to Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Internacional (SM) | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 26 | Advance to Quarterfinals |
| 3 | São José | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 20 | −1 | 22 | Advance to Quarterfinals |
| 4 | Juventude | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 15 | +2 | 20 | Advance to Quarterfinals |
| 5 | São Luiz | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 22 | 18 | +4 | 20 | |
| 6 | Veranópolis | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 23 | −2 | 18 | |
| 7 | Brasil | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 22 | 26 | −4 | 16 | |
| 8 | Guarany | 14 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 12 | 41 | −29 | 3 | Second Division 2009 |

#### Fixtures

| Date | Match | Match | Match | Venue |
| 2008 Jan 20 | São Luiz | 3-1 | Brasil | Ijuí |
| 2008 Jan 20 | São José | 2-0 | Juventude | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Jan 20 | Internacional (SM) | 2-2 | Internacional | Santa Maria |
| 2008 Jan 20 | Veranópolis | 4-1 | Guarany | Veranópolis |
| 2008 Jan 23 | Brasil | 4-1 | São José | Pelotas |
| 2008 Jan 24 | Internacional | 2-0 | Veranópolis | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Jan 24 | Juventude | 2-2 | Internacional (SM) | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Jan 24 | Guarany | 1-3 | São Luiz | Bagé |
| 2008 Jan 27 | São José | 1-4 | Internacional | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Jan 27 | Internacional (SM) | 3-2 | Guarany | Santa Maria |
| 2008 Jan 27 | Juventude | 2-1 | Brasil | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Jan 28 | São Luiz | 1-0 | Veranópolis | Ijuí |
| 2008 Jan 30 | Guarany | 1-3 | São José | Bagé |
| 2008 Feb 1 | Veranópolis | 2-1 | Brasil | Veranópolis |
| 2008 Feb 1 | Internacional (SM) | 1-0 | São Luiz | Santa Maria |
| 2008 Feb 1 | Internacional | 0-1 | Juventude | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Feb 8 | Guarany | 1-0 | Juventude | Bagé |
| 2008 Feb 10 | Brasil | 0-5 | Internacional | Pelotas |
| 2008 Feb 10 | Veranópolis | 2-3 | Internacional (SM) | Veranópolis |
| 2008 Feb 11 | São Luiz | 0-0 | São José | Ijuí |
| 2008 Feb 16 | Internacional | 2-0 | Guarany | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Feb 16 | Juventude | 2-0 | São Luiz | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Feb 16 | São José | 1-1 | Veranópolis | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Feb 17 | Brasil | 2-3 | Internacional (SM) | Pelotas |
| 2008 Feb 19 | Veranópolis | 2-1 | Juventude | Veranópolis |
| 2008 Feb 20 | Guarany | 0-3 | Brasil | Bagé |
| 2008 Feb 20 | São Luiz | 1-1 | Internacional | Ijuí |
| 2008 Feb 21 | Internacional (SM) | 1-0 | São José | Santa Maria |
| Date | Match | Match | Match | Venue |
| 2008 Feb 22 | Juventude | 2-0 | Veranópolis | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Feb 23 | Internacional | 3-0 | São Luiz | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Feb 24 | Brasil | 2-0 | Guarany | Pelotas |
| 2008 Feb 25 | São José | 1-0 | Internacional (SM) | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Feb 29 | Internacional (SM) | 3-2 | Brasil | Santa Maria |
| 2008 Mar 2 | Veranópolis | 2-2 | São José | Veranópolis |
| 2008 Mar 2 | Guarany | 0-6 | Internacional | Bagé |
| 2008 Mar 2 | São Luiz | 4-0 | Juventude | Ijuí |
| 2008 Mar 6 | Internacional (SM) | 1-1 | Veranópolis | Santa Maria |
| 2008 Mar 8 | Internacional | 2-0 | Brasil | Veranópolis |
| 2008 Mar 8 | Juventude | 2-0 | Guarany | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Mar 8 | São José | 1-1 | São Luiz | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Mar 12 | São Luiz | 2-2 | Internacional (SM) | Ijuí |
| 2008 Mar 12 | São José | 3-2 | Guarany | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Mar 12 | Juventude | 3-0 | Internacional | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Mar 13 | Brasil | 2-1 | Veranópolis | Pelotas |
| 2008 Mar 15 | Internacional | 2-0 | São José | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Mar 15 | Guarany | 1-3 | Internacional (SM) | Bagé |
| 2008 Mar 16 | Brasil | 1-0 | Juventude | Pelotas |
| 2008 Mar 18 | Veranópolis | 3-1 | São Luiz | Veranópolis |
| 2008 Mar 21 | São José | 2-1 | Brasil | Porto Alegre |
| 2008 Mar 22 | Internacional (SM) | 1-1 | Juventude | Santa Maria |
| 2008 Mar 23 | São Luiz | 4-1 | Guarany | Ijuí |
| 2008 Mar 23 | Veranópolis | 1-3 | Internacional | Veranópolis |
| 2008 Mar 27 | Guarany | 2-3 | Veranópolis | Bagé |
| 2008 Mar 27 | Juventude | 1-2 | São José | Caxias do Sul |
| 2008 Mar 27 | Brasil | 2-2 | São Luiz | Pelotas |
| 2008 Mar 27 | Internacional | 2-0 | Internacional (SM) | Porto Alegre |

## Quarterfinals

First Leg: 29 and 30 March
Second Leg: 5 and 6 April
Team 1 plays the second leg at home
| Team 1 | Total | Team 2 | First | Second |
| Grêmio | 5-5* | Juventude | 2-1 | 2-3 |
| Internacional | 7-3 | Ulbra | 4-1 | 3-2 |
| Internacional (SM) | 3-2 | Sapucaiense | 1-2 | 2-0 |
| Caxias | 2-1 | São José | 1-1 | 1-0 |
Juventude won on away goals rule.

## Semifinals

First Leg: 13 and 15 April
Second Leg: 20 April
Team 1 plays the second leg at home
| Team 1 | Total | Team 2 | First | Second |
| Internacional (SM) | 3-4 | Juventude | 1-0 | 2-4 |
| Internacional | 3-1 | Caxias | 1-0 | 2-1 |

## Final

First Leg: 27 April
Second Leg: 4 May
Team 1 plays the second leg at home
| Team 1 | Total | Team 2 | First | Second |
| Internacional | 8-2 | Juventude | 0-1 | 8-1 |

## Goals
### Top Goal scorers

| Scorer | Goals | Team |
| Mendes | 13 | Juventude |
| Alex | 13 | Internacional |
| Ronaldo Capixaba | 9 | São Luiz |
| Júnior Paulista | 7 | São José |
| Iarley | 7 | Internacional |