2021–22 Liga 3 (Portugal)

The 2021–22 Liga 3 was first season of Portuguese football's third-tier league, following the reorganization which saw the Campeonato de Portugal moving one level down in the Portuguese football league system. First season, a total of 24 teams competed in this division.^[1]

Liga 3

Season	2021–22
Champions	Torreense
Promoted	Torreense Oliveirense
Relegated	Cova da Piedade Lusitânia Lourosa Pevidém Oriental Dragon União de Santarém
2022–23 →

Format

This competition consists of a first stage with all the teams then proceed to a promotion or relegation series depending on their performance.^[2]

First Stage

In the first stage, the 24 clubs are divided in two series (Serie A and B) of 12 teams, according to geographic criteria. In each series, teams play against each other in a home-and-away double round-robin system. The four best-placed teams of the two series will advance to the promotion series and bottom 8 teams will proceed to the relegation series.

Promotion Stage

The eight qualified teams are divided in two series of 4 teams, playing against each other in a home-and-away double round-robin system. The winners of each series will be automatically promoted to Liga Portugal 2 and will face each other in a neutral venue to determine the champion. The second best placed teams will face each other in a playoff, whose winner will face the 16th placed of Liga Portugal 2 for the last spot in Liga Portugal 2. On this stage teams will be divided as follows.

Promotion Series

Serie 1	Serie 2
1st A	1st B
2nd B	2nd A
3rd B	3rd A
4th A	4th B

Relegation Stage

The bottom 8 teams are divided in four series of 4 teams, playing against each other in a home-and-away double round-robin system. To account for their performance in the first stage, teams will start with bonification points, with 5th placed teams starting with 8 points and 12th placed teams starting with 1. The bottom teams of each series will be relegated to Campeonato de Portugal.

Relegation Series

Serie 1	Serie 2	Serie 3	Serie 4
5th A	6th A	5th B	6th B
7th A	8th A	7th B	8th B
9th A	10th A	9th B	10th B
11th A	12th A	11th B	12th B

Teams

A total of 24 teams contested the league, including 2 teams relegated from the 2020–21 Liga Portugal 2, 6 teams that failed the promotion to 2021–22 Liga Portugal 2 and 16 teams qualified from the 2020–21 Campeonato de Portugal.^[3]

Cova da Piedade failed to produce valid licensing documentation to compete in the 2021–22 season of the Liga Portugal 2, so they had been relegated by the Portuguese Football Professional League to Liga 3.^[4]

Leça failed to produce valid licensing documentation to compete in the 2021–22 season of the Liga 3, so they had their promotion denied by the Portuguese Football Federation. As a result, Sanjoanense (3rd place in Promotion Serie 3) were invited to play in the third tier for the 2021–22 season.^[5]

Stadium and locations

Oliveirense

C. Piedade

U. Leiria

Braga B

Montalegre

Caldas

Alverca

U. Santarém

Sporting B

Oriental Dragon

Amora

Felgueiras

Oliveira do Hospital

Anadia

Torreense

V. Setúbal

Sanjoanense

Fafe

Canelas

Real

Guimarães

Santa Maria da Feira

Guimarães teams
Pevidém
Vitória de Guimarães B

Santa Maria
da Feira teams
Lusitânia Lourosa
São João de Ver

Location of teams in 2021-22 Liga 3

Team	Location	Stadium	Capacity	2020–21 finish
Cova da Piedade	Cova da Piedade	Estádio Municipal José Martins Vieira	2,230	11th (Liga Portugal 2)
Oliveirense	Oliveira de Azeméis	Estádio Carlos Osório	1,750	18th (Liga Portugal 2)
Anadia	Anadia	Estádio Municipal Eng.º Sílvio Henriques Cerveira	6,500	2nd L2 Promotion (North Serie)
Pevidém	Pevidém, Guimarães	Parque de Jogos Albano Martins Coelho Lima	4,555	3rd L2 Promotion (North Serie)
Braga B	Braga	Complexo Desportivo Clube de Futebol de Fão	724	4th L2 Promotion (North Serie)
Torreense	Torres Vedras	Estádio Manuel Marques	12,000	2nd L2 Promotion (South Serie)
Vitória de Setúbal	Setúbal	Estádio do Bonfim	15,497	3rd L2 Promotion (South Serie)
União de Leiria	Leiria	Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa	23,888	4th L2 Promotion (South Serie)
Montalegre	Montalegre	Estádio Dr. Diogo Alves Vaz Pereira	2,000	1st L3 Promotion (Serie 1)
Felgueiras	Felgueiras	Estádio Dr. Machado de Matos	7,540	2nd L3 Promotion (Serie 1)
Vitória de Guimarães B	Guimarães	Pista de Atletismo Gémeos Castro	1,200	1st L3 Promotion (Serie 2)
Fafe	Fafe	Parque Municipal dos Desportos de Fafe	4,000	2nd L3 Promotion (Serie 2)
São João de Ver	São João de Ver, Santa Maria da Feira	Estádio do SC São João de Ver	5,000	1st L3 Promotion (Serie 3)
Sanjoanense	São João da Madeira	Estádio Conde Dias Garcia	15,000	3rd L3 Promotion (Serie 3)
Canelas 2010	Canelas, Vila Nova de Gaia	Estádio do Canelas Gaia Futebol Clube	10,800	1st L3 Promotion (Serie 4)
Lusitânia Lourosa	Lourosa, Santa Maria da Feira	Estádio do Lusitânia FC Lourosa	8,000	2nd L3 Promotion (Serie 4)
Oliveira do Hospital	Oliveira do Hospital	Estádio Municipal de Tábua	3,500	1st L3 Promotion (Serie 5)
Caldas	Caldas da Rainha	Campo da Mata	9,600	2nd L3 Promotion (Serie 5)
Alverca	Alverca	Complexo Desportivo do FC Alverca	7,705	1st L3 Promotion (Serie 6)
União de Santarém	Santarém	Campo Chã das Padeiras	5,000	2nd L3 Promotion (Serie 6)
Oriental Dragon	Moita	Estádio Juncal Desportos	2,500	1st L3 Promotion (Serie 7)
Sporting B	Alcochete	Aurélio Pereira Stadium	1,180	2nd L3 Promotion (Serie 7)
Amora	Amora, Seixal	Estádio da Medideira	1,500	1st L3 Promotion (Serie 8)
Real SC	Massamá, Sintra	Estádio do Real SC	1,200	2nd L3 Promotion (Serie 8)

First stage

In the first stage, the 24 clubs were divided in two series (Serie A and B) of 12 teams, according to geographic criteria.

Serie North

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		FEL	OLI	BRA	VSC	CAN	SAN	LUS	SJV	ANA	MON	FAF	PEV
1	Felgueiras 1932	22	12	3	7	25	19	+6	39	Advance to Promotion Series			2–1	0–1	1–0	2–1	2–1	0–0	0–0	1–0	3–1	3–1	0–1
2	Oliveirense	22	11	5	6	39	31	+8	38			2–1		2–4	3–2	2–1	2–0	4–4	0–0	0–1	1–0	2–3	4–2
3	Braga B	22	10	7	5	37	29	+8	37			3–1	2–3		1–1	0–1	3–1	2–1	1–1	0–1	2–0	1–2	1–1
4	Vitória de Guimarães B	22	11	3	8	33	25	+8	36			0–1	2–1	2–0		1–0	3–3	2–0	2–1	1–0	3–1	2–0	2–1
5	Canelas 2010	22	10	6	6	28	25	+3	36	Advance to Relegation Series		1–0	2–2	2–2	2–1		1–1	1–0	1–5	2–0	1–2	3–2	1–0
6	Sanjoanense	22	10	4	8	36	27	+9	34			0–1	1–2	1–1	3–1	0–1		0–1	3–2	3–1	0–0	3–1	2–0
7	Lusitânia Lourosa	22	10	4	8	31	29	+2	34			2–0	0–1	2–3	2–0	1–1	1–3		2–1	3–2	2–1	3–1	1–0
8	São João de Ver	22	6	11	5	27	22	+5	29			1–1	1–1	3–4	1–0	1–1	1–0	2–0		1–0	1–1	1–1	0–0
9	Anadia	22	9	2	11	24	28	−4	29			0–1	0–3	1–2	0–0	1–1	0–2	2–1	2–1		0–2	2–0	4–2
10	Montalegre	22	6	6	10	25	33	−8	24			3–2	3–2	1–1	2–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	0–1	1–2		1–2	1–0
11	Fafe	22	6	5	11	28	41	−13	23			0–1	0–0	2–2	1–3	1–0	1–3	2–3	1–1	1–3	2–2		2–1
12	Pevidém	22	1	4	17	14	38	−24	7			0–2	0–1	0–1	1–4	1–2	1–3	0–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–2

Updated to match(es) played on 5 March 2022. Source: FPF.pt
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) head-to-head points, 3) head-to-head goal difference, 4) goal difference, 5) matches won, 6) goals scored

Serie South

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		UDL	ALV	TOR	VFC	AMO	REA	CAL	SPO	PIE	OLH	UDS	ORI
1	União de Leiria	22	14	6	2	41	18	+23	48	Advance to Promotion Series			3–0	1–0	2–0	3–0	1–0	1–1	3–1	4–0	2–2	2–1	2–0
2	Alverca	22	13	2	7	32	24	+8	41			1–0		3–1	0–3	2–3	2–1	0–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–0
3	Torreense	22	13	2	7	29	23	+6	41			1–1	1–2		0–1	0–1	1–0	1–0	4–3	2–1	2–1	1–0	3–1
4	Vitória de Setúbal	22	11	4	7	30	24	+6	37			0–2	1–0	1–2		1–0	1–1	2–1	2–1	1–1	5–2	3–1	2–0
5	Amora	22	11	3	8	29	21	+8	36	Advance to Relegation Series		3–0	1–2	0–1	1–0		1–1	2–0	3–0	2–0	0–1	2–0	0–1
6	Real SC	22	7	7	8	23	26	−3	28			3–4	1–1	1–2	2–1	1–2		1–0	0–0	1–0	0–0	0–2	0–0
7	Caldas	22	7	6	9	21	24	−3	27			2–3	1–0	2–0	2–1	2–1	0–1		0–0	0–2	3–1	1–0	1–1
8	Sporting B	22	7	5	10	25	28	−3	26			0–2	1–2	1–0	0–1	0–1	4–2	1–0		2–1	3–0	1–2	2–0
9	Cova da Piedade	22	6	4	12	24	35	−11	22			1–3	2–1	0–1	1–1	2–1	2–3	3–1	0–2		1–2	2–1	0–2
10	Oliveira do Hospital	22	3	11	8	24	34	−10	20			1–1	1–2	0–1	0–1	1–1	0–1	1–1	1–1	2–2		1–0	3–3
11	União de Santarém	22	4	6	12	23	35	−12	18			0–0	0–3	1–3	4–1	1–1	1–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1		2–2
12	Oriental Dragon	22	2	12	8	21	30	−9	18			1–1	0–1	2–2	1–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	0–0	1–1	1–1	1–2

Updated to match(es) played on 5 March 2022. Source: FPF.pt
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) head-to-head points, 3) head-to-head goal difference, 4) goal difference, 5) matches won, 6) goals scored

Second stage

In the second stage, the 24 clubs were divided in 2 promotion series (Serie 1 and 2) of 4 teams and 4 relegation series (Serie 1, 2, 3 and 4) of 4 teams.

Promotion series

Serie 1

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		TOR	ALV	FEL	VSC
1	Torreense (P)	6	4	0	2	10	6	+4	12	Promotion to Liga Portugal 2			2–0	2–1	3–0
2	Alverca	6	3	1	2	8	7	+1	10	Advance to Playoff		2–1		2–1	2–0
3	Felgueiras 1932	6	2	1	3	10	10	0	7			3–1	3–2		1–2
4	Vitória de Guimarães B	6	1	2	3	3	8	−5	5			0–1	0–0	1–1

Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2022. Source: FPF.pt
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) head-to-head points, 3) head-to-head goal difference, 4) goal difference, 5) matches won, 6) goals scored
(P) Promoted

Serie 2

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		OLI	UDL	BRA	VFC
1	Oliveirense (P)	6	3	3	0	11	6	+5	12	Promotion to Liga Portugal 2			0–0	1–1	2–1
2	União de Leiria	6	3	1	2	6	5	+1	10	Advance to Playoff		0–2		2–0	2–1
3	Braga B	6	1	3	2	8	10	−2	6			3–3	1–0		1–2
4	Vitória de Setúbal	6	1	1	4	8	12	−4	4			1–3	1–2	2–2

Updated to match(es) played on 1 May 2022. Source: FPF.pt
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) head-to-head points, 3) head-to-head goal difference, 4) goal difference, 5) matches won, 6) goals scored
(P) Promoted

Relegation series

Serie 3

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		FAF	ANA	CAN	LUS
1	Fafe	6	3	2	1	8	5	+3	13[a]				1–1	2–0	0–0
2	Anadia	6	2	3	1	7	4	+3	13[a]			3–0		0–1	1–1
3	Canelas 2010	6	1	2	3	3	7	−4	13[a]			1–3	1–1		0–0
4	Lusitânia Lourosa (R)	6	1	3	2	2	4	−2	12	Relegation to Campeonato de Portugal		0–2	0–1	1–0

Updated to match(es) played on 1 May 2022. Source: FPF.pt
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) head-to-head points, 3) head-to-head goal difference, 4) goal difference, 5) matches won, 6) goals scored
(R) Relegated
Notes:

1. Head-to-head points: Fafe 7, Anadia 5, Canelas 4

Serie 4

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		SAN	SJV	MON	PEV
1	Sanjoanense	6	3	2	1	11	5	+6	18				1–0	2–2	4–0
2	São João de Ver	6	3	1	2	8	7	+1	15			2–2		1–0	1–0
3	Montalegre	6	1	3	2	11	14	−3	9			1–3	3–2		2–2
4	Pevidém (R)	6	1	2	3	7	11	−4	6	Relegation to Campeonato de Portugal		1–1	1–2	3–1

Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2022. Source: FPF.pt
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) head-to-head points, 3) head-to-head goal difference, 4) goal difference, 5) matches won, 6) goals scored
(R) Relegated

Serie 5

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		AMO	PIE	CAL	UDS
1	Amora	6	2	1	3	7	7	0	15				1–2	0–1	0–1
2	Cova da Piedade (R)	6	2	3	1	7	5	+2	13	Relegation to District Championships[6]		0–1		1–1	2–0
3	Caldas	6	1	3	2	8	10	−2	12			1–3	1–1		2–3
4	União de Santarém (R)	6	2	3	1	9	9	0	11	Relegation to Campeonato de Portugal		2–2	1–1	2–2

Updated to match(es) played on 1 May 2022. Source: FPF.pt
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) head-to-head points, 3) head-to-head goal difference, 4) goal difference, 5) matches won, 6) goals scored
(R) Relegated

Serie 6

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		OLH	REA	SPO	ORI
1	Oliveira do Hospital	6	4	2	0	7	3	+4	17				1–0	1–0	2–1
2	Real SC	6	2	3	1	4	3	+1	16			1–1		1–0	1–0
3	Sporting B	6	1	2	3	6	8	−2	10			1–2	1–1		1–1
4	Oriental Dragon (R)	6	0	3	3	4	7	−3	4	Relegation to Campeonato de Portugal		0–0	0–0	2–3

Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2022. Source: FPF.pt
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) head-to-head points, 3) head-to-head goal difference, 4) goal difference, 5) matches won, 6) goals scored
(R) Relegated

Third stage

Third place playoff

First leg

Alverca	1–1	União de Leiria

7 May 2022

17:00

Complexo Desportivo FC Alverca, Alverca do Ribatejo

Second leg

União de Leiria	1–2	Alverca

15 May 2022

17:00

Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria

Alverca advances to Promotion play-offs.

Championship final

Torreense	1–1 (a.e.t.), (5–4 p)	Oliveirense

14 May 2022

18:00

Estádio Nacional, Jamor

Number of teams by district

Rank	District Football Associations	Number	Teams
1	Aveiro	5	Anadia, Lusitânia Lourosa, Oliveirense, Sanjoanense and São João de Ver
2	Braga	4	Braga B, Fafe, Pevidém and Vitória de Guimarães B
	Lisbon		Alverca, Real SC, Sporting B and Torreense
	Setúbal		Amora, Cova da Piedade, Oriental Dragon and Vitória de Setúbal
5	Leiria	2	Caldas and União de Leiria
	Porto		Canelas 2010 and Felgueiras
7	Coimbra	1	Oliveira do Hospital
	Santarém		União de Santarém
	Vila Real		Montalegre

References

1. "Aí está a Liga 3". FPF (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-05-29.
2. "Como vai funcionar a Liga 3? Eis a explicação". Zero Zero (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-05-29.
3. "Já são conhecidos os 24 clubes que vão estrear a Liga 3". Zero Zero (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-05-30.
4. "Inscrição do Cova da Piedade foi rejeitada pela Liga: Vilafranquense convidado para o seu lugar". zerozero.pt (in Portuguese). 21 June 2021.
5. "Leça falha licenciamento e é substituído pela Sanjoanense na Liga 3". zerozero.pt (in Portuguese). 22 June 2021.
6. "Cova da Piedade SAD relegated to the District Championships". A Bola (in Portuguese). 12 May 2022.