If you’re looking at the Ecuadorian Serie B standings right now, you aren't just looking at a list of football clubs. You’re looking at a survival map. In the high-altitude stadiums of the Andes and the humid coastal pitches of Guayaquil, the 2025 season just wrapped up its final, chaotic chapter, leaving us with a leaderboard that feels more like a battlefield.
Soccer here isn't polite.
It’s messy. Guayaquil City finally reclaimed their throne, finishing at the absolute summit of the promotion round with 58 points. They did it with a goal difference of $+22$ that essentially told the rest of the league to stay home. But honestly, the real story isn't just who came in first. It’s about the heartbreak of those who played the best football but were legally barred from moving up.
The 2025 Hierarchy: Who’s Moving Up?
Let’s talk about the promotion round. This is where the top six teams from the regular season went to settle their scores. Guayaquil City and Leones del Norte are the two names you’ll see in Serie A next year. Guayaquil City was a machine, losing only 6 games out of 32.
Leones del Norte trailed them with 54 points. They weren't quite as clinical, but they were stubborn. They drew 12 matches. That’s a lot of ties, but in a league this volatile, a point away from home is often worth its weight in gold.
🔗 Read more: Liverpool FC Chelsea FC: Why This Grudge Match Still Hits Different
- Guayaquil City: 58 Points (Promoted)
- Leones del Norte: 54 Points (Promoted)
- Independiente Juniors: 47 Points (Ineligible)
- 9 de Octubre: 46 Points
- Gualaceo: 45 Points
- San Antonio: 40 Points (Ineligible)
Here is the kicker: Independiente Juniors and San Antonio. If you just glance at the Ecuadorian Serie B standings, you’d think Independiente Juniors had a shot. They finished third! They have some of the brightest young talents in South America. But because they are a reserve team for Independiente del Valle, they can’t be promoted.
It’s a weird rule. It basically means they play the role of "spoiler" all season long. They can beat you, take your points, and ruin your season, but they can't take your spot in the top flight. San Antonio is in the same boat as a subsidiary of Universidad Católica. Imagine finishing in the top six and knowing on day one that you're staying put regardless of the result. That takes a specific kind of mental toughness.
Why 9 de Octubre Missed the Cut
You've gotta feel for 9 de Octubre. They finished with 46 points, just one point behind the "Junior" teams. If Independiente Juniors didn't exist, would "9" be back in the big leagues? Probably.
Their season was a roller coaster. They had 12 wins, which is actually more than some teams higher up the regular-season table earlier in the year, but their consistency in the final ten games of the promotion round evaporated. In the end, a 5-1 thrashing of Gualaceo in their final match was a bit like putting a band-aid on a broken leg—impressive, but too late.
💡 You might also like: NFL Football Teams in Order: Why Most Fans Get the Hierarchy Wrong
The Relegation Nightmare
While Guayaquil City was popping champagne, the bottom of the table was a disaster zone. The relegation round is where dreams go to die in Ecuadorian football. Imbabura and Chacaritas are the casualties this time.
It’s brutal.
Chacaritas only managed 4 wins the entire season. You can't stay up with that record. They finished with a goal difference of $-29$, which suggests their defense was essentially a revolving door. Meanwhile, Atlético Vinotinto dominated the relegation group, finishing with 45 points. It’s a strange quirk of the format—Vinotinto actually finished with as many points as Gualaceo (who was in the promotion hunt), but because of their early-season form, they were stuck fighting to stay alive instead of fighting to move up.
Key Stats from the 2025 Campaign
- Most Wins: Guayaquil City (16)
- Best Defense: Guayaquil City (22 goals conceded)
- The Draw Kings: Vargas Torres (16 draws in 32 matches)
- Goal Machine: José Lugo (The man was everywhere)
Vargas Torres is a fascinating case study. They drew half of their games. Half! If you’re betting on them, you’re basically betting on a 1-1 scoreline. They finished second in the relegation round, safe but uninspiring.
📖 Related: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
What This Means for 2026
The Ecuadorian Serie B standings are now wiped clean as we look toward the 2026 season. With Guayaquil City and Leones gone, the power vacuum is real. Will 9 de Octubre finally find the consistency to lead the pack? Can Gualaceo bounce back?
Keep an eye on the teams coming up from the Segunda Categoría. The regional tournaments in Ecuador produce some absolute wildcards. We also have to see which "B" teams from the big Serie A clubs get revamped.
Your Move: How to Follow the League
If you actually want to stay ahead of the curve on the 2026 season, don't just check the scores on Sunday night.
- Watch the Goal Difference: In Serie B, GD is usually a better predictor of future success than raw points. Teams like Guayaquil City showed that early.
- Ignore the "Junior" Teams for Promotion: When you're calculating who might move up, mentally skip over Independiente Juniors. It'll save you a lot of math-induced headaches.
- Follow the Esmeraldas Clubs: Teams like 22 de Julio and Vargas Torres bring a different level of physicality. Their home matches are notoriously difficult for the highland teams.
The 2025 season proved that the Ecuadorian Serie B standings are never settled until the final whistle in October. Whether it’s the weird promotion rules or the sheer volume of draws, this league remains one of the most unpredictable second tiers in the world. Get ready for 2026; it’s probably going to be even weirder.