Championship: second half of the season kicks off, Tre Penne danger for La Fiorita

The second half of the Campionato Sammarinese season kicks off this weekend. Matchday 16 restarts proceedings after the midway point, with Virtus and La Fiorita ready to battle it out from a distance. Bizzotto’s Neroverdi, sitting top of the table, will open the round tomorrow at 15:00 in Fiorentino against San Giovanni. The Rossoneri have taken just one point from their last two, but Bizzotto and his men must not underestimate Tognacci’s side: in three of their four defeats, the Rossoneri have always lost by a single goal and they currently occupy a solid eighth place (just one point off the play-off spots). Virtus, for their part, lead the standings on the back of nine consecutive wins. Bizzotto will again be able to call on Golinucci, Battistini and Rinaldi (all three returning from suspension), while Rossonero Diego Fabbri will miss out after receiving a one-match ban from the Sports Judge. The aim is to keep on going also for Paolo Tarini’s Fiorentino, one of the surprise packages of the season. The Rossoblu are coming off three straight wins which have lifted them into third place on their own (six points off top spot). It is a side that does not score much but concedes even less (the second-best defence, even better than La Fiorita). Fiorentino will face Juvenes-Dogana tomorrow at 15:00 at the "Ezio Conti" Stadium in Dogana. It is not a bright spell for the side from the Castello di Serravalle, who are coming off three straight defeats and are some way off the post-season places. On the suspensions front: Fabbri will be without his captain Michele Cevoli, while Tarini will have to make do without Diagne. Cosmos also want to bounce back: back-to-back defeats against Fiorentino and Academy have led the Gialloverdi club to make a change in the dugout. During the week, Omar Lepri was dismissed and replaced by Andy Selva. The former San Marino national team striker is thus back at the helm of a club in the league after his spells with Pennarossa and Tre Fiori. While Cosmos are some way off the summit (eleven points behind Virtus) they sit in a fairly comfortable sixth place, whereas the waters in which Libertas are sailing are certainly rougher. The Granata are in 12th position – currently out of the post-season – and have not tasted victory since as far back as 6 October (1-0 over Murata). Coach Samuele Buda will also be without suspended Nicolas Lazzaretti. Kick-off is in Montecchio tomorrow at 15:00. A key fixture in terms of the post-season is the clash between Domagnano and San Marino Academy, kicking off at 15:00 in Domagnano. The Giallorossi – who will be without coach Paolo Rossi for the next two matchdays – currently occupy 11th place, the last position that gives hope of reaching the play-offs. However, Domagnano have collected just one point from their last three. The situation is very different for Cecchetti’s Academy, who have won two of their last three outings. A victory would see the Titani close the gap precisely on the Giallorossi – currently five points ahead – and seriously aim for a post-season berth. Cecchetti, however, cannot count on suspended Simone Gasperoni. The only 16th round fixture to be played at 18:00 is tomorrow’s meeting between Tre Fiori and Folgore. It is a high-profile, top-of-the-table clash: Lasagni’s side are fourth, with Girolomoni’s men just one point back. The form of the two sides is identical: ten points from the last five matches and both started the year with a win. Tre Fiori can field their heavy artillery in attack, Prandelli (top scorer with 11 goals) and Bernardi (9 goals), while Folgore boast the best defence (11 goals conceded, like Virtus) marshalled by Samuele Guddo – who has recorded seven clean sheets so far. Tre Fiori defender Simone Rea will miss the game through suspension. The standout fixture on Sunday afternoon is La Fiorita v Tre Penne. The big match – scheduled for 15:00 in Domagnano – is the clou encounter of Matchday 16. Ceci’s Gialloblu, still unbeaten, lie second behind Virtus, three points off the top. However, the Montegiardino side will have to be wary of Tre Penne’s resurgence: three wins on the bounce for the side from San Marino Città have reignited their season, lifting them to seventh place. It is, of course, the clash of the big former faces in the dugout: Stefano Ceci on the Gialloblu bench against Nicola Berardi, now in charge of Tre Penne and a coach who practically won everything with La Fiorita. Among the suspended players, there is only Giuseppe Massari in the Montegiardino side’s roster. Also kicking off at 15:00, but at the "Crescentini" in Fiorentino, are Faetano and Cailungo. It is not the best period for Ricchiuti’s side (just one win and four defeats) but they are looking for points to stay in touch with the post-season zone. Despite their second-from-bottom position, Sarti’s Cailungo are coming off two positive results (and have taken seven points from their last four). The only suspended player in this fixture is Faetano’s Kevin Zonzini. Both Murata and Pennarossa are still searching for their first win of the year, and they will cross swords at 15:00 in Montecchio. Just one point in the last five for Matteo Camillini’s side – the new coach since the start of 2025 – and the same tally for Filippo Dolci’s team, who find themselves bottom of the table. The Bianconeri, currently ninth, have not won since 24 November, while the Biancorossi have not celebrated three points since 18 October (their first and only joy of the season). As a reminder, all the matches on Matchday 16 of the Campionato Sammarinese will, as always, be broadcast live streaming and on-demand on the Titani.TV platform. Here is the full schedule:

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