2010 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A

Format

A new format for the 2010 season was announced by the Ecuadorian Football Federation on December 15, 2009. The season was divided into three stages. The First and Second Stages were identical stages with a double round-robin format. Each team played the others twice, once at home and once away. The winners of each stage qualified to play a two-legged tie in the Third Stage for the title. The two highest non-stage winners in the aggregate table of the First and Second Stages played each in another two-legged tie in a Third Stage playoff for third place. Had the same team won both stages, they would have been automatically be crowned the champion. In that case, a two-legged tie would have been held in the Third Stage between the two best-placed teams in the aggregate table to determine who is the runner-up and who finished in third place. The two teams at the bottom of the aggregate table of the first two stages were relegated to the Serie B for the following season.

International qualification

The two stage winners earned a berth to the 2011 Copa Libertadores. The berth Ecuador 1 went to the champion, Ecuador 2 went to the runner-up, and Ecuador 3 went to the third-place finisher. Teams also qualified to two Copa Sudamericanas. The top-three teams in the First Stage qualified to the 2010 Copa Sudamericana (except LDU Quito, who had a berth as the defending Copa Sudamericana champion). The winner of the Second Stage earned the Ecuador 1 berth for the 2011 Copa Sudamericana.

Teams

Twelve teams comepted in the 2010 Serie A season, ten of whom remained from the 2009 season. LDU Portoviejo and Técnico Universitario were relegated last season to the Serie B after accumulating the least amount of points in the First and Second Stage aggregate table. They were replaced by Independiente José Terán and Universidad Católica, the 2009 Serie B winner and runner-up, respectively. This was Universidad Católica's 27th season in the Serie A, having last played in the league in 2008. This was Independiente José Terán's first season in the Serie A.

One team used a different stadium this season. ESPOLI chose to move from Estadio La Cocha in Latacunga to Estadio Olímpico Municipal Etho Vega in Santo Domingo de Los Colorados.

Managerial changes

First stage

The First Stage (Spanish: Primera Etapa) began on February 7 and ended on July 4. Emelec won the stage and qualified to the championship playoff.

Standings

Source:
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd number of goals scored.
¹ LDU Quito was already qualified to the 2010 Copa Sudamericana as the defending champion.

Results

Source:
1 ^{^} The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
1. The match was played at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito because Barcelona was suspended from playing in their home stadium for one match.
2. The match was played at Estadio Bellavista in Ambato because Olmedo was suspended from playing in their home stadium for one match.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second stage

The Second Stage (Spanish: Segunda Etapa) began July 9 and ended on November 27. LDU Quito won the stage and qualified to the championship playoff.

Standings

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(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.

Results

Source:
1 ^{^} The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
1. The match was played at Estadio 7 de Octubre in Quevedo.
2. The match was played at Estadio Rumiñahui in Sangolquí because Universidad Católica played a home match at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa at the same date and time.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Aggregate table

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(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.

Third stage

The Third Stage began on December 4 and ended on December 12. Both ties in the Third Stage were determined by points. If there was a tie in points, the tie-breakers to be used in order were goal difference, away goals, and a penalty shoot-out.

Third-place playoff

Deportivo Quito and Barcelona qualified to the Third-place Playoff by being the two best non-stage winners in the aggregate table. The winner of the playoff earned the Ecuador 3 berth in the 2011 Copa Libertadores. By having the greater number of points in the aggregate table, Barcelona played the second leg as the home team.

Finals

Emelec and LDU Quito qualified to the Finals by being the First Stage and Second Stage winners, respectively. The winner was the Serie A champion and earned the Ecuador 1 berth in the 2011 Copa Libertadores. By having the greater number of points in the aggregate table, Emelec played the second leg as the home team.

Top goalscorers

Source:

Statistics

Awards

The awards were selected by the Asociación Ecuatoriana de Radiodifusión.