Futsal, time for the Fab Four: Murata and Libertas face off in the quarter-finals just like in the cup

The start of the league quarter-finals coincides with the return to the stage of the Fab Four, namely the teams that finished the “league phase” from first to fourth place in the table. Leaders Murata, fresh from their Titano Futsal Cup triumph, take on the side with the worst league position among those who came through the Preliminary Round unscathed: Libertas. The maroon-clad team were also the only one to overturn the odds: they beat, twice, opponents who had finished above them in the table and therefore could potentially exploit the ranking bonus. But Juvenes Dogana never had the chance to use it: they had to surrender both in the first leg and the return, always by a 4-2 scoreline, and so saw their season come to an end. Libertas, on the other hand, march on and now challenge the reigning champions. Levani and Spada’s sides cross paths for the second time this season in a quarter-final tie. It also happened in the Futsal Cup, when the Bianconeri prevailed and went on to win the trophy. On Monday evening the two teams will open the programme in Domagnano, which will then host the first of the two clashes between Virtus and Domagnano. These are the teams that represented the last two hurdles for Murata on their triumphant Futsal Cup run. The Wolves gave the Bianconeri a real test in the semi-final, while the Neroverdi tried to wrest the title from them in the final. Virtus finished the regular season in second place, edging La Fiorita only on head-to-head results. In the two meetings this season between Michelotti’s and Gasperoni’s teams, Virtus have always come out on top, scoring five goals on both occasions, although in the second encounter they were forced to come from behind after going 2-0 down. Domagnano arrive at this stage off the back of two draws which allowed them to get past Cosmos: the Giallorossi were the only side in the Preliminary Round who had to “activate” the league position bonus.

Folgore did not, having been soundly beaten by Faetano in the first leg but then winning even more emphatically against Selva’s Gialloblù in the return fixture. Zonzini’s team booked their quarter-final place as the highest-ranked side among those who came through the first post-season hurdle: they therefore meet the team that finished fourth in the table, namely Tre Penne who – adding their absence from the cup Final Eight to the rest day observed on the final matchday of the regular season – have not played a competitive match since 16 April. Whether this month-long break is a help or a hindrance for Penserini’s Biancoazzurri will become clear in the second match on the Fiorentino card. The tie also comes with a very interesting backdrop: in the two meetings between them this season, the teams have shared one win apiece. The balance is positive for La Fiorita, instead, in their two matches with Pennarossa. Pietrangeli’s men won the first game and drew 0-0 in the second. In the Futsal Cup, Pennarossa went further, bowing out in the semi-finals against Virtus, the same side that had eliminated La Fiorita in the quarters. In the Preliminary Round, Pennarossa had relatively few problems against Cailungo and therefore approach the first leg of the quarter-finals with a good dose of positive energy. It is also true, however, that in terms of energy – not qualitatively but purely quantitatively – La Fiorita can boast more, having been able to rest for over a week longer than the opponents they will face in the first match in Fiorentino.

The second legs will be played on Thursday with venues and kick-off times reversed. Murata, Virtus, La Fiorita and Tre Penne all hold the advantage of their higher league position. Ergo, even at this stage of the competition there will be no extra time or penalties.

Here is the schedule for the first legs of the quarter-finals: