Futsal: final matchday of the first half with key clashes in the race for fourth place

In a round of fixtures that would otherwise offer up ties with largely predictable outcomes – given the differing seasonal ambitions and current league positions – the City derby between Tre Penne and Murata, and even more so Juvenes-Dogana vs Domagnano instead put important points on the line for the sides directly involved, all potentially in the hunt for fourth place, which would grant access to the Main Draw without having to go through the preliminary round. In Fiorentino it will be the Biancorossazzurri to open the Monday schedule, taking on Domagnano. The Wolves hold a two-point lead over their next opponents and come into the game on the back of three encouraging victories – interrupted only by defeat to Fiorentino, the benchmark side of the league. Four and six points respectively off fourth place, currently occupied by La Fiorita, it is reasonable for them to set their sights on that target. In between, however, are also Murata and Virtus. The Bianconeri are waiting for the intra-castle derby, scheduled in Domagnano at 20:15. Unbeaten in four matches, they have cut six points off La Fiorita’s advantage over the last three outings. Backing that up against Tre Penne, who are themselves enjoying a good campaign with 18 points collected and the post-season more or less already secured, would give a different dimension to the second half of the season for the revamped technical project entrusted to Cellarosi. The former San Marino national team goalkeeper will have to do without El Attar, suspended by the sports judge. The leaders should not encounter major problems: Fiorentino will play Pennarossa on Wednesday at the Multieventi. The parquet in Serravalle is a surface they know well, having trodden it in the last three finals. It is hard to imagine an upset against a Fiorentino side that so far has only recorded wins and now faces a team clearly struggling. The same can be said for Faetano and Cailungo, both facing uphill battles. For the Rossoverdi, kick-off is at 20:15 in Dogana against Folgore – who are fresh from their rest week, which this time falls to Cosmos. On the Cailungo front, Sabatino will be absent through suspension. No less daunting is the task for the Gialloblù: the league’s least prolific attack will have to face a Tre Fiori side that has won only two of its last five matches – in part due to a demanding run of fixtures including Murata, Folgore and Juvenes-Dogana. La Fiorita must not underestimate their own assignment, even though they will go in as clear favourites in their clash with Libertas. The Granata have picked up ten of their fourteen points in the last five matchdays, during which only Murata – at the end of an incredible contest (6-5) – managed to beat them. By contrast, La Fiorita have added just a single point to their tally over the last three rounds and are coming off defeat to Virtus, which has fully reopened the race for fourth place, now stretching as far as Domagnano and potentially Juvenes-Dogana. Securing a tenth win in the first half of the season is therefore essential for the Montegiardino club. That match will be of direct interest to Virtus, three points back in the table and arriving with three consecutive victories at their final fixture of the first half of the season against San Giovanni. The Rossoneri have recently halted a five-game losing streak by drawing with Cosmos (3-3), and Virtus will provide a genuine test of their progress for Gualtieri’s side – who at least will not have to worry about Thomas Paolini, suspended. Here is the Matchday 15 schedule: Click here for the updated standings

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