Championship: Tre Penne target leap up the table as the Serravalle derby ignites the playoff race

The Campionato Sammarinese enters its final phase this last weekend of March with Matchday 26, featuring several key fixtures in the race for the play-offs. The teams are gearing up for a weekend of head-to-head clashes, with games that could reshape the standings.

Saturday’s early kick-offs get underway at 15:00. One of them sees La Fiorita take on San Marino Academy (at the “Crescentini” in Fiorentino). Ceci’s side, currently second in the table and the only unbeaten team in the league, face the Titani in a significant match for both teams. The Gialloblu want to keep pace with leaders Virtus, targeting three precious points to stay in the title fight. On the other side, Cecchetti’s men are called to a display of character to pick up points that could improve their league position, and they will need a focused, concrete performance to contain the attacking power of the Montegiardino outfit. That attacking power, however, will be without Vitaioli who, in addition to picking up an injury on international duty, is also suspended.

Also at 15:00 but in Montecchio, Murata and Fiorentino meet in a key clash for direct play-off qualification between two sides close to each other in the table. The Rossoblu, currently eighth, need to reverse a negative run that has seen them go seven games without a win. The Bianconeri, fresh from victory in the last round, want to build on that to climb the standings. At the Domagnano sports ground, again at 15:00, Tre Penne face San Giovanni. The Biancoazzurri are looking to bounce back after an up-and-down spell and are aiming for all three points to overtake the Rossoneri in the table. Tognacci’s men, meanwhile, want to cement their place among the top seven and protect their position from the attempts to leapfrog them by direct rivals, including Tre Penne themselves.

At the “Ezio Conti” Stadium in Dogana at 18:00, league leaders Virtus take on Libertas. Bizzotto’s side must preserve their advantage over La Fiorita in this final sprint of the regular season. On the other bench, the Granata will try to trouble the pacesetters as they chase crucial points to latch onto the play-off places. Lombardi, coming off a brace against Cailungo, will miss out due to a suspension picked up in that match against the Rossoverdi.

The other 18:00 fixture pits Faetano against Tre Fiori on the artificial pitch in Montecchio. Girolomoni’s men have shown excellent form in recent weeks and are looking to hold their position to secure direct access to the post-season. Ricchiuti’s side, on the other hand, need points to improve their league standing and will have to give everything to stand up to one of the most competitive teams in the league. The clash between Faetano and Tre Fiori will also be broadcast on the FIFA+ streaming platform.

As for Sunday, all three matches will kick off at 15:00. Domagnano and Pennarossa will meet in Domagnano in a match that promises to be balanced between two sides coming off a patchy run of form. The Wolves, who have lost their last two games, need a reaction to hold on to the last spot that grants access to the post-season. The Chiesanuova outfit, meanwhile, are in urgent need of points to climb away from the lower reaches of the table and will have to leave nothing out there in pursuit of a win that has eluded them for three matches.

The headline fixture of the round is the Serravalle derby between Cosmos and Folgore, to be played at the Montecchio Stadium. Both teams are fully embroiled in the fight for direct play-off qualification, and a positive result could prove decisive in the run-in. The Gialloverdi need to consolidate their place in the top seven, while the Giallorossoneri, currently just behind Tre Fiori, are aiming to overtake the Gialloblu and move up to third place in the standings.

Cailungo and Juvenes-Dogana will face off at the “Federico Crescentini” Stadium in Fiorentino, also on Sunday. It is a hard-to-call encounter between two teams separated by just two points in the table. The Rossoverdi need a win to bounce back from defeat in the last round. The Biancorossoblu, meanwhile, come into the game on the back of a positive result and will look to continue on that path to edge closer to the play-off zone. 

Here is the schedule for Matchday 26 of the Campionato Sammarinese, which will be broadcast live in full – and completely free of charge – on the Titani.tv platform.