Fixtures: Cosmos-Virtus straight away in the cup and Tre Penne-La Fiorita in the league

The Sammarinese football season will kick off with a bang. During the fixtures draw, held at San Marino Stadium at the end of Calcio Estate 2024, one pairing in particular stood out: Cosmos versus Virtus at the round of 16 stage of the Coppa Titano. It’s a clash that returns in the opening round of the competition just as it did two years ago, when the Neroverdi prevailed after extra time in the second leg, launching a run that culminated in victory in the final against Tre Penne. These are the other ties in the first round, bearing in mind that La Fiorita – the holders – will make their debut in the quarter-finals against the winners of the two-legged tie between Juvenes-Dogana and Fiorentino: La Fiorita / BYE v. Juvenes-Dogana/Fiorentino Faetano/Pennarossa v. Cosmos/Virtus Tre Fiori/Libertas v. Domagnano/San Giovanni Folgore/Murata v. Cailungo/Tre Penne   Barring unforeseen changes, the home and away legs of the Coppa Titano round of 16 will be played on 25 September and 23 October 2024. Catching the eye on the opening matchday of the 2024-25 Campionato Sammarinese, which kicks off on the final weekend of August, is undoubtedly Tre Penne-La Fiorita. Two title contenders will be battling for crucial points in just over a month’s time, facing each other after a summer of European competition. The fixtures Libertas-Cosmos and Folgore-Tre Fiori also look attractive, with clubs whose ambitions are, as usual, considerable. There will be plenty of interest in gauging Murata’s competitiveness as they look to rein in Pennarossa’s desire to bounce back after seasons of contrasting fortunes. Fiorentino and Juvenes-Dogana will meet immediately on opening day, while Cailungo and Faetano, after campaigns that fell short of expectations, will clash in a bid to set a different tone for the new season. The San Marino Academy Under 22, meanwhile, will embark on their second Campionato Sammarinese away to Domagnano. Title holders Virtus, after their exertions in European competitions and the Sammarinese Super Cup on 28 August, will be up against San Giovanni.

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