2012–13 Serie B
The 2012–13 Serie B (known as the Serie bwin for sponsorship reasons) is the 81st season since its establishment in 1929. A total of 22 teams will contest the league: 16 of which returning from the 2011–12 season, 4 of which promoted from Lega Pro Prima Divisione, and two relegated from Serie A. Puma replaced Nike as manufacturer of the official Serie B match ball, a relationship that continues today.
| Season | 2012–13 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Sassuolo (1st title) |
| Promoted | Sassuolo Hellas Verona Livorno (by Play-off) |
| Relegated | Vicenza Ascoli Pro Vercelli Grosseto |
| Matches played | 451 |
| Goals scored | 1,149 (2.55 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Daniele Cacia (24 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Brescia 5–0 Crotone Sassuolo 5–0 Cesena |
| Biggest away win | Spezia 0–6 Novara |
| Highest scoring | Cittadella 2–6 Novara |
| Longest winning run | 5 games Livorno Sassuolo |
| Longest unbeaten run | 12 games Livorno |
| Longest winless run | 9 games Empoli Spezia |
| Longest losing run | 6 games Novara |
← 2011–12 2013–14 → | |
The league featured two clubs relegated from Serie A: Novara returned to the second division after only a single season in the top flight, whereas Cesena were relegated after a two-year stint.
Four teams were promoted from Lega Pro Prima Divisione, one of them returning to Serie B after a significant absence and one of them will play Serie B for the first time in their history, Pro Vercelli after 64 years, Ternana after 6 years, while Spezia will take part to Serie B after 4 years. The fourth promoted team, Virtus Lanciano will make debut in Serie B.
Grosseto and Lecce were provisionally, not yet enforceable, condemned to relegation to Lega Pro Prima Divisione, due to a large match fixing scandal involving Italian football; both clubs appealed the decision to the Italian Football Federation's Court of Justice. In appeal, Grosseto was acquitted from all charges and readmitted to Serie B, whereas Lecce's relegation was confirmed. Lecce already announced its intention to appeal the decision at the TNAS (National Sports Arbitration Court, at the Italian Olympic Committee level), but not blocking the relegation being immediately enforceable. On 23 August 2012, FIGC officially communicated that Vicenza were to replace Lecce, and there has been a possibility of extending the transfer window as regards Grosseto and Vicenza.