Championship: Virtus and Tre Fiori stride together, Folgore pull clear in pursuit

Virtus live up to expectations and move top of the table, piling the pressure onto the 18:15 Fiorentino derby in which Tre Fiori were called upon to respond. While in Montecchio Bizzotto’s side won by keeping the dangers to a minimum, the draw between Juvenes-Dogana and Tre Penne was anything but dull, with no fewer than three penalties awarded – two of them converted for the final 1-1 scoreline.

At the Acquaviva Stadium Filippo Berardi is not incisive from a set piece in the early stages, while Juvenes-Dogana win a penalty in the 9th minute, at the culmination of their first transition on the Benedetti-Lisi axis. The latter is brought down on the edge of the box by Barretta, who gives Aprea the chance to break the deadlock. The forward tries again with his right foot following a corner on 15 minutes, but finds Migani’s gloves. In similar fashion Tre Penne threaten with back-to-back headers from Palazzi and Casadio, before protesting over a coming together between Giacomo Borghini and Berardi – the San Marino forward is shown a yellow card, the referee deeming he simulated the foul. Two minutes later there is no doubt about a fresh clash in the box between the same two players and Tre Penne draw level from the spot through Imre Badalassi. In the build-up leading to the penalty, Colonna had produced a miraculous save on Peluso before being saved by the crossbar on Nigretti’s thunderous effort. Just before the interval, the Juvenes-Dogana keeper pulls off another decisive intervention, blocking Badalassi’s angled drive with his foot. After the restart Migani is called into action, having to stretch full length to deal with a deflection in the penalty area. Midway through the half Andruccioli awards the third penalty of the match, punishing Ghiggini’s challenge on Peluso: from the spot it is Badalassi again, but this time he has to bow to Davide Colonna’s intuition as the keeper saves. At the other end Juvenes-Dogana reply through the ever-dangerous Aprea, whose left-footed strike from the edge of the box – deflected – crashes against the junction of post and bar with Migani beaten. The final big chance comes in the first of nine minutes of added time: Pieri rises highest in the box, but Comuniello preserves the 1-1 scoreline with a goal-line clearance.

It is all fairly straightforward for Virtus, who in Montecchio threaten as early as the 12th minute with a Scappini header from a Buonocunto corner, Casadei’s reflexes proving decisive. San Giovanni set up to play on the counter and almost snatch the lead through Gakou shortly after the quarter-hour mark. Guddo is alert and reactive, already down low to his left. The defending champions break the deadlock after a tame left-footed effort from Scappini, doing so through Sabato, who bursts into the box to meet yet another Buonocunto corner. From there the game becomes more comfortable for the Neroverdi, who on 25 minutes are close to doubling their advantage after a pinball sequence in the area, while at the start of the second half Lombardi curls a right-footer just a whisker wide. The 2-0 is in the air and, after a couple of unsuccessful attempts, Virtus put the game to bed: Zenoni reaches the byline and drills a low cross into the middle, where Capicchioni slides in to fire past the San Giovanni keeper, after what appears to be a ricochet with his direct marker. The substance does not change and Bizzotto’s side – their coach having been awarded October 2025 Coach of the Month before kick-off – can manage their two-goal cushion, only really being threatened on 84 minutes by a Zanni effort that seriously tests Guddo. Before the final whistle there is also time for Piscaglia to hit the bar with a header from an Amati corner.

In the 18:15 fixtures, Folgore need less than a quarter of an hour to deal with Libertas and move into third place on their own. Augusto Garcia Rufer bags a brace in under two minutes, first arriving right on cue in the 5th minute to turn in Sartori’s cross, then, 108 seconds later, pouncing on a loose ball in the box to make it 2-0. On 12 minutes Pancotti adds a third, making the most of Ura’s run in behind: he rounds the keeper and cuts the ball back for the Sammarinese team-mate to finish. Shortly afterwards Ura again produces a piece of skill with a trivela to send Augusto Garcia Rufer through on Manzaroli, but the striker is overly generous with an extra pass to Daidola. His strike partner, who received his MVP of the Month award before the game, goes down in the box on 29 minutes under a challenge from Senja – deemed fair by the referee. At the end of the half De Angelis denies Libertas and Michelotti a goal, flying to the top corner to claw away a right-footed effort from close range. Garcia Rufer does not reappear after the break, making way for Aversario. The substitute plays a key role in the move that leads to the own goal for 4-0 credited to Senja, the unlucky player after the ball ricochets off Manzaroli. On the hour Daidola has a great chance to score before coming off, but wastes a sublime assist from Pancotti – who had played him in inside the box with the outside of his left boot. In the final part of the match the game loses its shape and Libertas pull one back through Baiardi’s sharp reactions in the area. Folgore – who score again via Ura’s finish on 88 minutes and Aversario’s goal on 90 – put themselves forward as the main challengers to the leading duo. Libertas, on the other hand, again show their defensive and disciplinary frailties, underlined by Maciel’s sending-off on 84 minutes.

The derby in Fiorentino starts in much more tactical fashion, with Tre Fiori’s central defenders both booked just over ten minutes in. It is Girolomoni’s side who take the lead nonetheless, striking through marksman Prandelli – a header from a Sami corner. The first half passes without further major incidents, aside from a Sirri free-kick that drifts just wide. After the break Fiorentino also come into the game, taking more risks: Nardi is decisive to deny Tosse, while Andrea Dolcini fires over from the heart of the area. Two minutes later Benedettini pulls off a stunning reflex save to keep out Prandelli’s close-range right-footer. The contest is now wide open and Abouzziane comes close to equalising on the hour, bending a right-footed effort just past the post. Having survived that scare, Tre Fiori move into safer waters through Bernardi: he cushions a cross-field ball from Prandelli inside the box and finds the bottom corner midway through the second half. The win is secure for the Gialloblù, who record a sixth clean sheet in eight league outings and match Virtus’ earlier victory – seeing out a match that was anything but straightforward.

This is the programme of the early fixtures on Matchday 8 of the Campionato Sammarinese, all broadcast live and free on Titani.tv: