BKN301 Championship: Folgore could decide the title race, Tre Penne on Wednesday

From one midweek round to the next, straddling the Easter break. Two fixtures are scheduled for Tuesday evening, with the remaining five to be played the following day – all kicking off at 21:15. The early games in Montecchio and Acquaviva are both crucial in the race for the post-season, especially Murata-Fiorentino. Tuesday’s clash at Fonte dell'Ovo takes on the contours of a genuine do-or-die encounter. Three points separate the two sides in the table, with the Bianconeri currently occupying the last available berth for the play-offs. Bottoni and Ferraro, both suspended, will not be able to help their respective teams. Pennarossa and Libertas, meanwhile, come into this round on the back of convincing wins. With their five-goal haul against Fiorentino last Thursday, the Biancorossi took full advantage of slip-ups by all the other rivals, overtaking Murata to move into tenth place. Given Stefanelli’s form this season, it is not at all far-fetched to think they can get a positive result even against the Granata – who, in the second half of the season, have shown on the pitch that they are worth a top spot, but have paid dearly for a sub-par first half of the campaign and a raft of draws (10 – no one has collected more "X" in the league). Bastos and Moretti are confirmed absentees for Libertas, while Pennarossa will be without Franchelli, sent off last time out. Maggioli will not be available again until the final matchday of the league season, having been handed a two-game ban following the red card he received early on in Cosmos-Tre Penne. Both sides will face Folgore between now and the end of the season, with the club from Falciano potentially acting as kingmaker in the title race. Should the verdict be postponed to the last day, Cosmos would face the toughest assignment – when they will be up against Tre Fiori. Taking it one game at a time, the Gialloverdi cannot afford – nor intend – to slip up against Cailungo, after which Berardi hopes his side will be back on top of the standings. The Cosmos coach must also deal with Loiodice’s suspension, which forces a reshuffle of the team’s spine. The match against Cailungo – fresh from a 5-2 comeback win over Faetano – will be played in Dogana. The Rossoverdi may be bottom of the table, but a surprise victory could sensationally thrust them back into contention for a place in the sun. The league leaders take to the field in Montecchio. Tre Penne will lock horns with Folgore, who have conceded two goals a game over their last five outings, winning only on the one occasion when they managed to score themselves (4-2 against Cailungo). It is not the best spell of form for the side from Falciano, who nevertheless remain a solid and compact opponent when they are in the mood. And facing the league leaders, as everyone knows, always provides extra motivation. Riccardo Tisselli, sent off in the midweek match against Cosmos, will be limited to supporting his team-mates from the stands. Tre Fiori return to action after their rest round, having slipped to fourth place behind La Fiorita, who will also sit out a fixture – in their case on the thirtieth and final matchday of the regular season. If Andy Selva’s men were to win all their remaining matches, including the clash with Cosmos at the end of the regular season, they would reach 62 points. Therefore, to revive their title hopes, they would need a significant slowdown from Tre Penne (59) and Cosmos (58), something which, at present, is hard to foresee. In the meantime, Wednesday’s showdown in Domagnano will put vital points on the line for Juvenes-Dogana as well, who have just tasted defeat again after collecting 10 points from four matches. The table does not give coach Amati’s side too much cause for concern, although a specific chain of results could rewrite the end of the season for those chasing a play-off berth. So too could a potential Faetano win over Virtus, who will be without suspended Tortori – one of the key figures in the 2-0 victory over Folgore. Girolomoni’s men are well aware they left a lot on the pitch in the game against Cailungo, which – also because of their own errors – has considerably complicated the Gialloblù’s push for the play-offs. They currently sit two points off eleventh place, with San Giovanni between them and that target. Without Angelini, Tognacci will try to replicate the performance that, in the reverse fixture, forced La Fiorita into a remarkable fightback to earn a draw. That was Lasagni’s last game in charge, the moment when Thomas Manfredini’s coaching career began to take shape. The reigning champions find themselves in the same situation as Tre Fiori, able to reach a maximum of 62 points in the two games still available to them. San Giovanni, who will have one more match to play, are currently out of the post-season by a single point, trailing Murata. That alone raises the stakes in a head-to-head that, in addition to Angelini, will also be missing Arapi and Greco – both suspended for one game. Here is the full schedule for Matchday 28 of the 2022-23 BKN301 Campionato Sammarinese:

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