Season 2008–09 Average goals/game 2.49 | Champions League WIT Georgia Goals scored 411 | |
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Champions WIT Georgia
2nd Georgian title Europa League Dinamo Tbilisi
Olimpi Rustavi
Zestaponi Top goalscorer Nikoloz Gelashvili (20) Relegated FC Meskheti Akhaltsikhe, FC Borjomi People also search for 2008–09 Primera Divisió | ||
Umaglesi Liga 2008–09 was the twentieth season of top-tier football in Georgia. It was scheduled to begin in August 2008, but the start of the league was delayed due to the 2008 South Ossetia war. The first round of games finally took place on 13 and 14 September 2008. The season ended with the 33rd round played on 23 May 2009. Dinamo Tbilisi were the defending champions.
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The league was reduced from 14 to 12 teams prior to this season. However, Ameri Tbilisi voluntarily withdrew from the competition in mid-July because of financial reasons. As no replacement team was announced, the league featured only 11 teams.
Promotion and relegation
Merani Tbilisi, Dinamo Batumi and Dila Gori were relegated at the end of the previous season due to finishing 12th through 14th, respectively. Spartaki Tskhinvali, who finished the previous season in 11th place, retained their spot in Umaglesi Liga after defeating Pirveli Liga runners-up Gagra by 1–0.
Due to the reduction of league size, only Pirveli Liga champions Chiatura were promoted. However, they did not want to compete in 2008–09 Umaglesi Liga because of unknown reasons, so Gagra took their spot.
League table
Source: soccerway.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
1Dinamo Tbilisi won the Georgian Cup 2008–09 and thereby qualified for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. Since they also finished second in the league, fourth-placed Zestaponi qualified for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.
2Ameri Tbilisi voluntarily withdrew their participation before the start of the season due to financial reasons.
3Meskheti withdrew from the league after the season concluded due to financial reasons. Therefore, Gagra and Spartaki Tskhinvali, who originally were to be demoted, were spared from relegation and play in the 2009–10 season of Umaglesi Liga.
4Mglebi withdrew from the league. The club was merged with FC Baia Zugdidi.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
First and second round
Source: soccerway.com
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Third round
Source: soccerway.com
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.