Serie C1

The Italian Serie C1 is the third highest football division in Italy. It is officially known as the Lega Pro Prima Divisione.

Before the 1978-1979 season, there was only Serie C. Then in 1978 the Serie C was divided into Serie C1 and Serie C2. The Lega Pro Prima Divisione currently features 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions of 18 teams each.

Each club plays each club twice a season, once at home and once away from home. In each division, two teams are promoted to Serie B, and three teams are relegated to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. In total, four teams are promoted to the Serie B and 6 teams are relegated to the Seconda Divisione.

The team finishing first in the regular season is directly promoted to Serie B, while teams placing 2nd to 5th are entered into a play-off semi-final for the chance of gaining the second promotional spot for that particular division.

In the play-off phase that takes place after the regular season is completed, in each division the team placed 2nd will play the team placed 5th, and the team placed 3rd will play the team placed 4th in two double-leg promotional semi-final series with the higher classified team having home field advantage in the second leg.

In case of an aggregate tie score, the away goals rule is not used, and the higher classified team is declared the winner without extra time being played nor penalty kicks being taken. The winning teams advance to the final in another double-leg series with similar rules with one difference which is if an aggregate tie exists at the end of the second match, extra time is played. If the tie persists, again the higher classified team is declared the winner and no penalty kicks are taken. The winner becomes the second team promoted for that particular division to Serie B.

The team finishing last in the regular season is directly relegated to Seconda Divisione, while teams placing 14th to 17th are entered into a relegation playoff phase called play-out. There is only one round in the play-outs. In each division the team placed 14th will play the team placed 17th, and the team placed 15th will play the team placed 16th in a double-leg series with the higher classified team having home field advantage in the second leg. In case of an aggregate tie score, the rules are exactly the same as those for the promotional semi-finals. The two winning teams remain in Prima Divisione while the two losing teams become the second and third teams relegated for that particular division.