League: direct clashes looming in the battle for the play-offs

After the midweek round that has reopened the title race – with Virtus moving back to within three points of leaders Tre Fiori and Tre Penne stretching their winning streak to eight – it is time to return to the pitch for Matchday 21 of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese.

The top-of-the-table clashes are scheduled in Sunday’s late kick-offs, along with the delicate head-to-head right on the threshold of the Preliminary Round between Libertas and Faetano. Starting from there, the Granata hold a two-point lead over their next opponents, who as it stands would be the first side to miss out on the post-season – to the benefit of Pennarossa, currently a point ahead of them. The fixture will be played in Acquaviva at 15:00. The scramble for the final two slots that give access to the Preliminary Round also involves Pennarossa, as mentioned, and San Giovanni. Again in Acquaviva, those two will face each other on Saturday from 15:00. It is a game of fundamental importance for Tognacci’s men, who trail the Chiesanuova club by six points.

Only a few hours ago Pennarossa held leaders Tre Fiori to their first draw, ending a run of eight straight wins. Girolomoni’s Gialloblù remain out in front on their own in the table and on Sunday in Domagnano they will take on Folgore. Lasagni’s side are enjoying an excellent spell of form, having strung together four consecutive victories that have allowed them to move just behind the trio battling for the title. The summit is too far away for them, but not for Tre Penne, who will take the field in Montecchio – also on Sunday – against Cosmos. Bonini’s team have won eight in a row and have no choice but to keep going down this road if they want to fuel hopes of an incredible comeback. They currently sit six points off top spot, with all their direct clashes still to play. Halfway between them is Virtus: the reigning champions have closed the gap and are now three points behind the leaders. At the “Federico Crescentini” in Fiorentino, Bizzotto’s men will face the Rossoblù side of the same name, who managed to floor La Fiorita in the midweek round.

The Gialloblù from Montegiardino, long since out of the Scudetto picture, will be in action on Saturday afternoon at the “Ezio Conti” Stadium in Dogana to take on Cailungo. Benedetti’s team avoided defeat in the direct clash with San Marino Academy thanks to Bua, but the nine-point gap to twelfth place still left the bitter aftertaste of a half-defeat – given that none of the sides ahead of Cailungo managed to win. The aforementioned Biancoazzurrini will instead face bottom side Murata in Montecchio, again on Saturday. With a victory, Mancini’s team would finally move off negative points, but San Marino Academy are firmly intent on getting back to winning ways. Completing the day’s programme is Juvenes Dogana-Domagnano: two of the main outsiders of the season, together with Fiorentino, are part of a group of four sides separated by just two points. Half of them will qualify directly for the quarter-finals of the play-offs, while the others will be forced to go through the extra hurdle of the Preliminary Round. This also outlines the contours of a clash that looks finely balanced on paper and is extremely important in terms of achieving the season’s targets. This match, scheduled in Fiorentino, will also be broadcast on FIFA+. As always, all eight fixtures of Campionato Sammarinese matchday will be streamed live and free of charge on Titani.tv.

Below is the Matchday 21 schedule for the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese:

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