| Competition: | Campeonato Gaúcho |
| Season: | 1997 |
| Winners: | Internacional |
| Relegated: | 14 de Julho São Borja |
| Continentalcup1: | Copa do Brasil |
| Continentalcup1 Qualifiers: | Grêmio Internacional |
| Continentalcup2: | Série C |
| Continentalcup2 Qualifiers: | Brasil de Pelotas Caxias São José Internacional-SM 15 de Novembro |
| League Topscorer: | Marcus Vinícius (Guarani-VA) – 28 goals |
| Biggest Home Win: | Guarani-VA 7-1 Internacional-SM (March 2, 1997) |
| Biggest Away Win: | Brasil de Pelotas 0-4 Internacional-SM (March 9, 1997) 14 de Julho 0-4 15 de Novembro (March 19, 1997) 14 de Julho 0-4 São José (March 26, 1997) Grêmio Santanense 0-3 Internacional (April 16, 1997) |
| Highest Scoring: | Guarani-VA 6-4 Passo Fundo (February 2, 1997) |
| Matches: | 275 |
| Total Goals: | 808 |
| Longest Unbeaten: | 15 de Novembro Grêmio – 12 matches |
| Prevseason: | 1996 |
| Nextseason: | 1998 |
The 77th season of the Campeonato Gaúcho kicked off on February 2, 1997, and ended on June 29, 1997. Twenty-eight teams participated. Internacional beat holders Grêmio in the finals and won their 33rd title. 14 de Julho and São Borja were relegated.[1] [2]
Aimoré and Atlético de Carazinho withdrew before the start of the championship, and to replace them, São Borja and Farroupilha were promoted to the First level.[3]
| Club | Home location | Previous season |
|---|---|---|
| São Borja | ||
| Veranópolis | ||
The championship would have five stages:
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For the second semester, a state cup was held; the Copa Galego.
The twelve teams were divided into two groups of six, in which each team played the teams of its own group in a double round-robin format. The four best teams qualified into the Second phase, disputed under the same rules. The two best teams in each group won an automatic qualification into the Second phase of the 1998 championship, and the best teams in each group qualified to the Finals, disputed in two matches.[4]
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