Futsal: head‑to‑head in mid-table at the Multieventi

Now that they have reached the doorstep of the play-off zone, Tre Fiori are determined to step through it. To do so, the yellow-and-blues will have to get the better of Cailungo who, like them, are coming off a win (against Cosmos) and currently sit two places and six points above them. As things stand, the red-and-greens are keeping a closer eye on the rear-view mirror than on the windscreen, with Domagnano – the side in front of them – not out of reach but still at a fair distance. After Cailungo – Tre Fiori, the synthetic pitch in Fiorentino will host Juvenes Dogana and Virtus: the Neroverdi, having claimed second place outright, want to keep Tre Penne at arm’s length and pile the pressure on leaders Murata, who are four points ahead; the Biancorossoazzurri, up to 7th place, intend to ride the momentum of three consecutive victories to pull off a prestigious scalp and, even more, to overtake another local rival – Folgore – after their recent leapfrog of Cosmos.

Folgore, for their part, will not have an easy task. Zonzini’s men – who are in fine form (two wins on the bounce, the first against Pennarossa) – must now take on a Fiorita side coming off defeat to Virtus and therefore more determined than ever to bounce back. That said, there is no shortage of ambition in the giallorossoneri camp either: as well as needing to keep their pursuers at bay, Pennarossa’s rest day gives Falciano a real chance to close further in on fifth place. This will be the only fixture scheduled in Domagnano, kicking off at 21:00. In Dogana, leaders Murata face a Faetano side that can breathe again – thanks to their win over Fiorentino – after a very lean spell, but who will have to significantly raise their game to trouble the reigning champions. Dogana’s second match is a private affair between Libertas and Fiorentino, two of the least in-form teams in the league. Fiorentino come into it on the back of three defeats and have slumped to second from bottom, but they are still capable of getting back into the play-off battle, provided they do not squander opportunities like tomorrow’s. Indeed, Libertas – currently four points ahead of Fiorentino – are precisely the side that currently occupy the last spot in the group virtually qualified for the post season. Much the same considerations apply to Levani’s Granata, who are looking for a win that would not only relaunch their campaign but also discourage one of the teams who could drag them even deeper into a very unwelcome relegation scrap.

Turning to the indoor schedule, there are two fixtures on the programme. The first is tomorrow at the Multieventi. Cosmos and Domagnano meet in a direct showdown that could reshuffle the pack in mid-table. The Lupi have partially put the slip-up against San Giovanni behind them, but they have been waiting three rounds for another win. Should they rediscover that winning feeling tomorrow, they would draw level with their rivals in eighth place, and in practice move above them on the head-to-head record (the reverse fixture finished 1-1). On the other side of the barricade, Cosmos must react to the defeat suffered against Cailungo, keep a direct rival at a safe distance and also try to capitalise on the tough test awaiting Juvenes Dogana, namely the team that recently overtook them in the table and now sit two points ahead. The second indoor match will also be the only late fixture: it will be played at the Acquaviva Sports Hall on Thursday evening at 22:00. Facing off will be a Tre Penne side coming off two consecutive draws – results that cost Penserini’s men second place in the standings and contact with the summit – and a San Giovanni team who failed to build on their win over Domagnano, instead slipping to a heavy defeat in the direct clash with Tre Fiori.

Here is the programme for matchday 24:

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