1988 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A

Overview

It was performed by 24 teams, and Bahia won the championship. The four worst-placed teams, which were Bangu, Santa Cruz, Criciúma, and América-RJ, were relegated to the following year's second level.

Competition format

;First Phase: The 24 clubs were divided in two groups of 12 teams each. In the first stage all teams played against the ones of the opposite group. At the second stage, all teams played against the ones of their same group. A penalty shootout was played after the games that ended in a draw, the penalty shootout winner earned two points while the loser earned one point. The two best-placed clubs of each group in the first stage plus the two best-placed clubs of each group in the second stage qualified to the Second Phase.

;Second Phase: This phase was divided in Quarterfinals, Semifinals and the Final. Each round was played in two legs. An extra time match should happen after the second match in case of draw at goal difference. Teams with superior score on the First Phase had the benefit of qualifying or being the champions in case of a persisting draw after extra time. The penalty shootout rule was no longer applied on this phase at all.

Participating clubs

Group A

• Atlético Mineiro
• Atlético Paranaense
• Bangu
• Flamengo
• Fluminense
• Goiás
• Internacional
• Palmeiras
• Portuguesa
• São Paulo
• Sport
• Vitória

Group B

• América-RJ
• Bahia
• Botafogo
• Corinthians
• Coritiba
• Criciúma
• Cruzeiro
• Grêmio
• Guarani
• Santa Cruz
• Santos
• Vasco da Gama

Standings

First phase

First stage

;Group A

;Group B

Second stage

;Group A

;Group B

Second phase

| RD1-team1 = Vasco da Gama | RD1-team2 = Fluminense* | RD1-score1-1 = 0 | RD1-score2-1 = 1 | RD1-score1-2 = 2 | RD1-score2-2 = 1 | RD1-team3 = Bahia* | RD1-team4 = Sport | RD1-score3-1 = 1 | RD1-score4-1 = 1 | RD1-score3-2 = 0 | RD1-score4-2 = 0 | RD1-team5 = Flamengo | RD1-team6 = Grêmio | RD1-score5-1 = 0 | RD1-score6-1 = 0 | RD1-score5-2 = 0 | RD1-score6-2 = 1 | RD1-team7 = Internacional | RD1-team8 = Cruzeiro | RD1-score7-1 = 0 | RD1-score8-1 = 0 | RD1-score7-2 = 2 | RD1-score8-2 = 0 | RD2-team1 = Fluminense | RD2-team2 = Bahia | RD2-score1-1 = 0 | RD2-score2-1 = 0 | RD2-score1-2 = 1 | RD2-score2-2 = 2 | RD2-team3 = Grêmio | RD2-team4 = Internacional | RD2-score3-1 = 0 | RD2-score4-1 = 0 | RD2-score3-2 = 1 | RD2-score4-2 = 2 | RD3-team1 = Bahia | RD3-team2 = Internacional | RD3-score1-1 = 2 | RD3-score2-1 = 1 | RD3-score1-2 = 0 | RD3-score2-2 = 0

*Fluminense defeated Vasco da Gama on Extra Time by 2-0.

*Bahia defeated Sport after two draws for having a superior score point on the first phase. Extra time was 0-0.

The final

Bahia: Ronaldo; Tarantini, João Marcelo, Claudir and Edinho; Paulo Rodrigues, Zé Carlos and Bobô; Osmar, Charles (Sandro) and Marquinhos. Head coach: Evaristo de Macedo.

Internacional: Taffarel; Luiz Carlos Winck (Diego Aguirre), Aguirregaray, Nenê and João Luís; Norberto, Luís Carlos Martins and Leomir; Maurício (Hélder), Nílson and Edu. Head coach: Abel Braga.

Internacional: Taffarel; Luiz Carlos Winck, Aguirregaray, Norton and Casemiro; Norberto, Luís Fernando and Luís Carlos Martins, Maurício (Hélder), Nílson and Edu. Head coach: Abel Braga.

Bahia: Ronaldo; Tarantini, João Marcelo, Claudir (Newmar) and Paulo Róbson; Paulo Rodrigues, Zé Carlos and Bobô (Osmar); Gil, Charles and Marquinhos. Head coach: Evaristo de Macedo.

Final standings

References

References

1. "Campeonato Brasileiro 1988". Bola na Área.