Championship: the Scudetto will be decided between Virtus and La Fiorita

The long race in the BKN301 San Marino Championship is approaching the final bend. This weekend sees the thirtieth – and therefore last – round of the regular season, and all eyes are on the showdown between Virtus and La Fiorita with the title on the line. Out in front, Acquaviva’s Neroverdi are still in command, but the Gialloblu from Montegiardino are right behind them, just two points adrift. However, the battle could also be extended to next week: if Virtus draw and La Fiorita win, the title will be decided by a single-leg play-off at San Marino Stadium, scheduled for Thursday 25 April at 20:45. The two contenders will both play simultaneously on Saturday at 15:00. League leaders Virtus will be at home in their own Castello – in Acquaviva – for the clash with Tre Penne. Bizzotto’s men know that everything is in their own hands: if they beat the club from Città, they will be Champions of San Marino for the first time in their history. The Neroverdi’s form is outstanding: since the defeat on 10 February against Fiorentino, they have won eight of their last nine, including the head-to-head with La Fiorita. The same cannot be said of Tre Penne, who come into this one off the back of two straight defeats, even if Ceci’s side are already assured of third place and will enter the play-offs from the quarter-finals. For this crucial fixture, however, Virtus will be without two key players: both Benincasa and Pecci have been given a one-match ban by the sports judge. On the other hand, Bizzotto has an excellent Buonocunto back from injury and can also rely on Lombardi, who showed great things last time out against San Giovanni. There are no suspensions for reigning champions Tre Penne. La Fiorita, for their part, absolutely have to win and hope for a slip-up from Virtus. All the odds are on Manfredini’s side in Saturday’s match against Cailungo (Montecchio, 15:00). The Gialloblu are also flying, thanks to six wins in their last seven games. Bobo Sarti’s Rossoverdi, on the other hand, come into it on the back of four consecutive defeats and are already certain to finish the season in the penultimate place. It is almost a top-versus-bottom contest between the two sides. There will be three players suspended for this match: La Fiorita will be without Tommaso Guidi, while Cailungo will have to do without Quaranta and Liverani. The battle for fourth place is also wide open, a position that brings extra advantages in view of the play-offs. Currently Cosmos occupy it on 57 points: Berardi’s team will be in Dogana on Saturday to face a Faetano side playing their final match of the season but coming off a fine 3-1 win over Fiorentino. A victory would guarantee the Gialloverdi hold on to their position and prepare for the play-offs that offer a route into Europe. Please note that this match cannot be streamed live on Titani.TV due to maintenance work at the “Ezio Conti” stadium in Dogana. Right behind Cosmos are Murata and Tre Fiori, a single point back on 56. The Bianconeri are in good shape, having won three in a row. During the week, however, there was the somewhat surprising departure of head coach Giuseppe Angelini, who accepted a call from Gian Luca Bisoli – newly appointed boss of Modena in Serie B – to become his assistant coach at the Canarini. He will be replaced at Murata by Sergio Grassi. On Saturday at 15:00 the Bianconeri will face Fiorentino at the “Federico Crescentini”. It has been an up-and-down season for the Rossoblu, but they are now certain to face Folgore in the Preliminary Round – the opening chapter of the post-season, scheduled for Wednesday 24 April. As for suspensions, Grieco (Murata) and Gueye (Fiorentino) will both miss out. A similar situation applies to Tre Fiori and Domagnano, who meet on Saturday, again at 15:00, in Domagnano. On one side are De Falco’s Gialloblu, looking for a better seeding to take into the play-offs, while Paolo Rossi’s Giallorossi were the last team to book a place in the Preliminary Round thanks to their eleventh-place finish. Domagnano will be without suspended Michael Parma. Seventh place also remains to be settled, a valuable position because whoever finishes there goes straight into the quarter-finals and avoids the risk of the preliminary round. It will be a direct head-to-head between Juvenes-Dogana – currently seventh on 45 points – and San Giovanni, three points behind. Only a win will do for the Rossoneri: should the teams finish level on points, it would be Tognacci’s side who reach the play-off quarter-finals. Despite Juvenes-Dogana’s victory in the reverse fixture (3-2), even a one-goal win would be enough for the Rossoneri, as they boast a better overall goal difference. Pennarossa and Libertas will be looking to finish with their heads held high, in the other Sunday fixture at 15:00 (to be played in Fiorentino). For both clubs it has been a disappointing year, and Sunday’s match will be the last of the season for the two sides. The Granata, for their part, claimed a good win last time out against Cosmos – thanks to a goal from Francesco Pari and some excellent saves by Gennaro Del Prete – bringing an end to a long run without points. Dolci’s Biancorossi also did fairly well last time out, turning the game around against Folgore before eventually succumbing to Pancotti and his team-mates. A season to forget for Pennarossa, who are certain to finish in last place. As for the aforementioned Folgore, the Falciano side will close the thirtieth round with the only match scheduled for 18:15 on Sunday. Their opponents will be the San Marino Academy Under-22. In the Montecchio clash, a Folgore win would secure their current eighth place, which would be important in the event of a draw after 90 minutes in the Preliminary Round tie against Fiorentino. For Matteo Cecchetti’s team, meanwhile, it will be their last outing of the season, having been out of the play-off race for a few weeks but still keen to perform well. Finally, here is the fixture list for Matchday 30 of the BKN301 San Marino Championship, which will be broadcast live with Italian commentary on TITANI.TV: *matches played at the “Ezio Conti” stadium in Dogana will not be available via live streaming due to ongoing renovation work at the venue

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