League: Virtus face Cailungo, La Fiorita-Tre Penne "replay"

With the return legs of the cup semi-finals played midweek, the month of April has begun – a month that will be decisive in determining the winners of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301. This weekend sees the 28th round – the third from last in the regular season – with the usual head-to-head at the top between Virtus and La Fiorita. Both sides are coming off excellent wins on Wednesday which earned them a place in the BKN301 Coppa Titano final: now the Neroverdi and the Gialloblu will resume their league battle, also eyeing up a potential double. The leaders Virtus will be in action on Sunday in Domagnano at 15:00 against Cailungo. Bizzotto’s team are clearly favourites on paper, as the Rossoverdi are second from bottom and now out of the play-off race. However, the Neroverdi will be without the suspended Alessandro Golinucci and Montanari, although Bizzotto can welcome back his talisman Ivan Buonocunto, who returned in Wednesday’s cup tie and provided yet another assist. Sitting two points behind the Acquaviva side are La Fiorita. Manfredini’s men will also be on the pitch on Sunday at 15:00 on the Montecchio artificial surface against Tre Penne, effectively a “replay” of last Wednesday’s cup clash, which ended with celebrations for the Gialloblu. All three previous meetings this season have also gone the way of the Montegiardino club. Despite being seven points off the summit, the Biancoazzurri are not yet mathematically out of the title race (also bearing in mind there is a Virtus-Tre Penne on the final day), and with a win they could sensationally haul themselves back into contention. In terms of suspensions, Tre Penne will have to do without Lorenzo Gasperoni and Luca Righini for this big match. Sunday’s programme is rounded off by Libertas-Tre Fiori (Fiorentino, 15:00). De Falco’s side were knocked out in the Coppa Titano semi-finals this week and will now throw everything into the league play-offs: already certain of a quarter-final spot, the Gialloblu currently sit sixth alongside Murata and will be looking for points to secure a better seeding for the post-season. It is a different story for the Granata, who come into this one on the back of four straight defeats which have dropped them to third from bottom – effectively out of the running in all competitions. Away from the title race, there is also a real scrap for seventh place, which guarantees direct access to the play-offs without going through the preliminary round. At the moment that position belongs to Juvenes-Dogana, level on 39 points with San Giovanni but ahead thanks to their head-to-head record. The Dogana club will face Faetano tomorrow (Domagnano, 15:00): the Gialloblu have won just one of their last five and, for them too, the league campaign will end with the conclusion of the regular season. Faetano will also be without suspended duo Capriotti and Gueye. It looks a favourable – but not to be underestimated – fixture for San Giovanni, who tomorrow take on Pennarossa (Fiorentino, 15:00). The Rossoneri are in great form thanks to four consecutive wins, but the Biancorossi in the last round managed to claim their first victory of the season after a dramatic 4-3 against Faetano. One suspension apiece: Stefano Sartini for San Giovanni, Mattia Pintore for Pennarossa (who scored a brace in that last match). The clash between Cosmos and Murata promises goals and entertainment (Montecchio, 15:00). Both the Gialloverdi and the Bianconeri are already sure of a play-off berth and, after the regular season, will be among the main contenders for a European spot. Berardi’s side – who will be without the suspended D’Addario – are fourth on 57 points, with Angelini’s men seven points further back. In tomorrow’s afternoon slot, Domagnano and San Marino Academy are also in action (Acquaviva, 15:00). The Giallorossi, now sure of entering the preliminary play-off round, are stuck in 11th place after two straight defeats. Matteo Cecchetti’s side will also be aiming to bounce back: the Titani have not picked up any points in three rounds and they too are out of the post-season picture. A finely balanced contest is expected in tomorrow’s 18:15 kick-off between Fiorentino and Folgore, scheduled on the Acquaviva artificial pitch. The Rossoblu are ninth, just two points off the aforementioned and precious seventh place. The Giallorossoneri sit immediately below Camillini’s side and are only three points behind. Here is the Matchday 28 programme of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301, which will be broadcast in full live with Italian commentary on TITANI.TV:

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