Futsal: first leg of the Quarter-finals tomorrow

With the Preliminary Round now consigned to the archives, it is time to dive into the real play-offs of the 2022-23 Campionato Sammarinese di futsal. Tomorrow the top four teams from the regular season also enter the fray. They occupy the seeded positions in the post-season bracket which, in the event of perfect parity in the aggregate score over the two legs, would see them advance at the expense of their opponents. It is an extra lifeline that Fiorentino, Folgore, Tre Fiori and La Fiorita – all set to make their debut in the league play-offs that will crown the champions of San Marino and determine the club that will take part in the next UEFA Futsal Champions League – will look to make the most of. There is therefore great anticipation in seeing Fiorentino and Folgore back on court after their recent clash at the Multieventi in a spectacular Titano Futsal Cup final, with the trophy returning to the Rossoblù’s cabinet after a thrilling 4-3 victory. Busignani and his team-mates will be in action tomorrow evening in Domagnano, where they face Libertas from 21:30. The odds are heavily stacked in favour of Michelotti’s men, who in the regular season prevailed 7-0 and 10-0. The Granata, however, are keen to test their progress even against the Rossoblù juggernaut, having already eliminated Pennarossa in the Preliminary Round (5-3, 4-2). The same motivation drives Juvenes-Dogana, set for their fifth derby of the season with Folgore. Spada’s men return to the court after the disappointment of the Titano Futsal Cup outcome and will be eager to send out a clear signal of their reaction. The previous meetings in the league (4-2, 4-1) and cup (8-1, 4-1) are clearly in Folgore’s favour, but the Biancorossazzurri have no intention of playing the role of sacrificial lambs. In the double-header with Cosmos in the Preliminary Round, Zonzini’s side showcased an enviable defensive phase, which allowed them to come through the first post-season derby without conceding a goal (1-0, 2-0). It will take total focus to contain the likes of Bernardi, Chezzi and Pellegrini, and Juvenes-Dogana are fully aware of this. The first leg is scheduled for tomorrow evening in Dogana, kicking off at 21:30. On paper, the other ties look more finely balanced, which is no coincidence given they involve teams that finished closer together in the regular season table. That is certainly the case for La Fiorita and Virtus, respectively the fourth- and fifth-placed sides in our league. The two matches already played this season favour the Neroverdi (1-0, 2-0), even if both were tight affairs. An own goal decided the Round 4 match, while two late goals in the last four minutes settled the return. It is reasonable to expect a clash on level terms, with La Fiorita starting slightly ahead in terms of expectations – despite the negative head-to-head record. Ghiotti’s men shifted up a gear towards the end of the regular season and were spared the interruption of the Preliminary Round. In that double engagement, Virtus authoritatively eliminated Tre Penne (3-0, 5-1). Tomorrow’s match, to be played in Fiorentino from 21:45, will be a real test of the ambitions of both sides. The first-leg Quarter-final slate is completed by the meeting between Domagnano and Tre Fiori. Mussoni’s Giallorossi come into this tie having knocked out Murata in the Preliminary Round, despite a harmless defeat in the return leg (4-0, 2-4). From 20:15 tomorrow in Fiorentino, the Lupi will encounter a decidedly tougher opponent: Bugli’s men finished the regular season in third place, stringing together eleven straight wins and recording a statement victory over Folgore – beaten 2-1 on 3 April, albeit with Folgore depleted. Placed in the section of the bracket that also features the Falciano club, the Gialloblù are targeting a return to the final, six years on from their last appearance.

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