2016 Campeonato Paulista

The 2016 Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1 was the 115th season of São Paulo's top professional football league.

Format

 * In the first stage the twenty teams are drawn, with seeding, into four groups of five teams each, with each team playing once against the fifteen clubs from the other three groups. After each team has played fifteen matches, the top two teams of each group qualify for the quarter-final stage.
 * After the completion of the first stage, the six clubs with the lowest number of points, regardless of the group, will be relegated to the Campeonato Paulista Série A2.
 * If the four clubs with the lowest number of points are from the same group, the best third-placed club from the other groups will qualify for the quarter-final stage.
 * Quarter-finals and semi-finals are played in a single match, with the best placed first stage team playing at home. The finals are played in a two-legged home and away fixture, with the best placed first stage team playing the second leg at home.
 * In case of a draw in any knockout stage, the match will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Tiebreakers
The teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings:
 * 1) Higher number of wins;
 * 2) Superior goal difference;
 * 3) Higher number of goals scored;
 * 4) Fewest red cards received;
 * 5) Fewest yellow cards received;
 * 6) Draw in the headquarters of the FPF.

Teams
Source: Futebol Paulista

First stage
Group winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals. Six bottom teams (independent of group) are relegated.

Bracket
Note: Semifinal bracket depend on general table: 1 vs 4 ; 2 vs 3

Team of the year
Source Globo Esporte Last updated: 9 May 2016

The Player of the Year was awarded to Lucas Lima.
 * Player of the Season

The Young Player of the Year was awarded to Tchê Tchê.
 * Young Player of the Season

The Countryside Best Player of the Year was awarded to Roger.
 * Countryside Best Player of the Season

The top scorer of the season was Roger, who scored 11 goals.
 * Top scorer of the Season