1996 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B Explained

League Topscorer:	Maurício (Santa Cruz) - 13 goals
Biggest Home Win:	Volta Redonda 5-0 Londrina (August 28, 1996)
Biggest Away Win:	Ponte Preta 0-4 Mogi Mirim (August 18, 1996)
Highest Scoring:	Joinville 5-3 Atlético-GO (September 22, 1996) Mogi Mirim 5-3 Ponte Preta (September 8, 1996)
Nextseason:	Série B 1997

The football (soccer) Campeonato Brasileiro Série B 1996, the second level of Brazilian National League, was played from August 8 to December 8, 1996. The competition had 25 clubs and two of them were promoted to Série A and three were to be relegated to Série C. The competition was won by União São João.

União São João finished the final phase group with the most points, and was declared 1996 Brazilian Série B champions, claiming the promotion to the 1997 Série A along with América-RN, the runners-up. The three worst ranked teams (Goiatuba, Sergipe and Central) were originally relegated to play Série C in 1997. However, with the cancellation of the relegations of Fluminense and Bragantino in the Série A, the three teams were kept in the Série B for 1997.

Teams

Team	City	Stadium	1995 Season
			5th in Série C^[1]
			did not participate^[2]
			16th in Série B
			12th in Série B
			4th in Série C^[3]
			7th in Série B
			4th in Série B
			20th in Série B
			10th in Série B
			3rd in Série C^[4]
			11th in Série B
			6th in Série C^[5]
			13th in Série B
			3rd in Série B
			17th in Série B
			19th in Série B
			23rd in Série A
			23rd in Série B^[6]
			5th in Série B
			9th in Série B
			14th in Série B
			6th in Série B
			24th in Série A
			2nd in Série C
			1st in Série C

First phase

Group E

Second phase

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Quarterfinals

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Sources

• Web site: Brazil Second Level 1996. rsssf.com. 2014-03-29.

Notes and References

1. ABC was promoted after Novorizontino, 15th in the 1995 Série B, withdrew from the 1996 championship due to financial issues.
2. After appealing in the common courts to reverse its relegation in the 1993 Série A, América-MG was suspended from all national competitions for two years, and was reintegrated to the Série B in 1996.
3. Atlético Goianiense was promoted after América-SP, 18th in the 1995 Série B, withdrew from the 1996 championship due to financial issues.
4. Gama was promoted after Ferroviária, 21st in the 1995 Série B, withdrew from the 1996 championship due to financial issues.
5. Joinville was promoted after Bangu, 8th in the 1995 Série B, withdrew from the 1996 championship due to financial issues.
6. Ponte Preta originally was relegated to the Série C in 1995, but was placed again in the Série B after Barra do Garças, 22nd in the 1995 Série B, withdrew from the competition due to financial issues.