BKN301 Coppa Titano: Virtus’ turn as the Neroverdi defend their crown

The first leg of the 2023-24 BKN301 Coppa Titano quarter-finals will kick off tomorrow evening. At this stage of the competition, Luigi Bizzotto’s Virtus will make their debut, having been exempted from the round of 16 by virtue of holding the trophy. Their opponents are very familiar: Domagnano – recently faced in the league, where Virtus edged a tightly balanced encounter by a single goal. The Wolves are enjoying a good spell of form and, after upsetting Murata in the previous round, they are in no mood to stop surprising. The first chapter of this two-legged tie is scheduled at the Stadio di Montecchio, tomorrow at 20:45. Currently scheduled to be played in Domagnano, Libertas-Tre Penne may be subject to a change of venue. The FSGC hopes to avoid this scenario, given the ongoing repair works on the damage caused by the violent gusts of wind in recent hours and with the weather forecast suggesting no rain tomorrow evening. Sperindio’s Granata will face the powerhouse from Città after an impressive performance in their double-header with Juvenes-Dogana, especially in the return leg where the Borgo Maggiore club ran out 5-0 winners. The only blot on that evening in Acquaviva was the booking shown to Santoni, which will rule the talented midfielder out of the first leg against the Biancazzurri. On the other side, Ceci’s team remain unbeaten in both league and cup and are determined to maintain their momentum as they pursue their stated goal of challenging to win both competitions. Meanwhile, Folgore-Tre Fiori will be played at the "Federico Crescentini" in Fiorentino. It is a difficult match to predict and will largely hinge on which version of the Falciano side turns up. While Andrea De Falco’s men have been highly impressive so far – losing only to Virtus in the opening chapter of a long season – Folgore are still searching for a stable identity. Whether they will be Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde, we will find out from 20:45 tomorrow. Lasagni will be hoping to see the exact opposite of the version that last appeared in Fiorentino, when they were swept aside by Faetano. All the more so because against this Tre Fiori side, who recently dismantled Juvenes-Dogana 5-1 in authoritative fashion, there is absolutely no room for any drop in intensity. Finally, the clash between La Fiorita and Fiorentino promises plenty of entertainment. While Manfredini’s side start as favourites on paper, the Rossoblù have shown they have the tools to trouble any defence, boasting a truly unique player in the Sammarinese football landscape in Aziz Niang. The Senegalese winger has repeatedly showcased his one-on-one qualities all over the pitch so far, deciding the outcome of Fiorentino’s most recent league match (a 3-2 win over San Marino Academy). La Fiorita’s squad, on the other hand, can match anyone – in terms of both quality and experience. The Gialloblù, who reached the end of last season’s league post-season but were knocked out of the Coppa Titano by Libertas at the quarter-final stage, are determined not to exit the competition prematurely for a second consecutive year. Here is the full schedule for the first leg of the 2023-24 BKN301 Coppa Titano quarter-finals, all* of which will be streamed live for free on Titani.tv (Italian commentary): *Any potential move of Libertas-Tre Penne to the Dogana ground would mean the match could not be streamed, due to renovation works on the changing rooms and the stand at the Stadio Ezio Conti.

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