Championship: Fiorentino into the Quarter-finals, Juvenes Dogana into the Preliminary Round

A place in the Preliminary Round and direct qualification for the quarter-finals are the main themes in the early fixtures of Matchday 29 of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese. The penultimate round of the regular season pits Pennarossa, San Giovanni and Juvenes Dogana against each other: for one of these sides, there will be no extension to the season beyond the final weekend of April.

In Domagnano, the Giallorossi of the same name need just 70 seconds to break the deadlock: Contadini threads the ball through the middle, where Bonetti gets the faintest of touches to send it into the path of Ferraro – elegant in his first touch and left-footed finish, struck from the heart of the box to beat Casadei. San Giovanni show signs of a reaction on 25 minutes, when Zanni curls a right-footed effort from medium range that fails to hit the target. A half short on clear-cut chances goes into the books with the brace from the league’s top scorer: Sopranzi wins the ball in midfield and launches the two-on-one that opens the door to 2-0 for Bonetti, who celebrates his 23rd goal in 29 matches. If San Giovanni’s deficit does not grow further at the start of the second half, it is only thanks to a great reflex stop from Casadei, who also stretches to keep out Contadini’s rocket in the 54th minute. A quarter of an hour later, Papi has to take a risk – racing well outside his area to challenge D’Angeli, who is halted just as he is about to pull the trigger. On 70 minutes, Zanni’s free-kick brings only the illusion of a goal, while – at the other end – Babboni lets Casadei off the hook, who instead must intervene to parry a thunderous strike from Amati. The midfielder is dangerous again with a header, crashing it against the woodwork in a finale that also sees a long-range attempt from Bianchi – tipped behind for a corner by Papi. There is nothing more in a contest that ends in defeat for San Giovanni – now caught in eleventh place by Pennarossa. At the moment it is the goal difference in the head-to-head meetings that favours the club from Borgo Maggiore, who face Tre Penne in the final round of the regular season. For Sandro Macerata’s side, there is no alternative but to pick up points against Tre Fiori in seven days’ time.

The direct showdown Pennarossa-Juvenes Dogana is approached with courage and attacking intent by both sides and the opening 45 minutes are missing only a goal. Tolomeo and Amadori go close to breaking the deadlock at opposite ends, while Tordella excels to palm away Gianmaria Borghini’s right-footed strike – and repeats the feat midway through the half on Amadori’s close-range effort. After a promising opening spell, in which Tolomeo and Benedetti both have a go, the second half quickly loses its spark. Things do not go any better for former Pennarossa player Luca Cecchetti or for Depaoli, both limited to ineffective attempts to break the deadlock – which is ultimately confirmed as a point apiece at the final whistle. The high tempo of the opening minutes makes way for a much flatter finale in terms of on-pitch intensity, with both teams well aware that a defeat would have brought greater risks than the potential benefits of chasing a win. Pennarossa will have one last chance at the end of the regular season, when even a draw could prove decisive, while Juvenes Dogana are now mathematically certain to take part in the Preliminary Round – even in the event of a three-way tie for tenth place.

It is an entertaining encounter in Montecchio, where Murata-Fiorentino serves up four first-half goals, after a stunning early crossbar strike from Abouzziane. The winger makes amends on 29 minutes in similar fashion, cutting in from the left before beating Bracconi at the far post. The lead for Costantini’s men is short-lived to say the least, as they are forced to concede the 1-1 equaliser exactly 60 seconds later. Luca Evaristi is caught napping, allowing Labas to get in behind and latch onto Isaraj’s ball over the top, lifting it delicately over Benedettini with very little room to execute the deft winning lob. The Rossoblù immediately set about restoring their advantage, doing so on 42 minutes through the Marco Terenzi–Ben Kacem combination: the Bianconeri backline is sliced open through the middle and there is nothing Bracconi can do. Deep into stoppage time, the Fiorentino forward wins a penalty after a foul by Baldazzi. The spot-kick is entrusted to Abouzziane, after a lively discussion with his strike partner: whether or not the decision came from the bench, it is fully vindicated by the goal that makes it 3-1. In the second half Murata try to get back into the game through Uva and Baldazzi, but former team-mate Benedettini is decisive – as he is on Tahiri’s subsequent effort. Despite their efforts, the Bianconeri cannot find a way back into the contest. In fact, after going close through Abouzziane and Marco Evaristi, Fiorentino complete the rout on 86 minutes through substitute Pesciarelli – on hand to tap in Abouzziane’s perfect assist.

This is the partial picture of Matchday 29 of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese, with all matches broadcast live on Titani.tv: