Italy · Tier 2 · 20 clubs
Serie B
In US-sports termsItaly's second tier, where storied clubs do penance after relegation — and where the promotion playoff is a made-for-TV knife fight.
What it is
The second division — 20 clubs, heavy with historic names cycling back toward the top flight.
How you get in
Relegated from Serie A or promoted from Serie C.
What it feeds
Top 2 promoted automatically; a multi-round playoff among the next six decides the third spot. Bottom clubs drop to Serie C.
Italian clubs have also been relegated by the courts, not the table — financial scandals have sent even Juventus down. The elevator has a trapdoor.