Futsal, judgement time: Folgore v Fiorentino is an early final

The time has finally come to pit Folgore and Fiorentino against each other. The two leaders with a perfect record, dominant in the most recent editions of San Marino’s futsal competitions, will face off in Dogana – in the late slot – tomorrow evening. Kick-off is at 21:45 for a clash that has all the makings of an early final: the squads coached by Spada and Michelotti are not only the best equipped in technical terms and experience, both domestically and internationally, but are also the ones that have underpinned the recent success of the two clubs, both of whom have appeared in the UEFA Futsal Champions League in past seasons. Level at the top on 33 points, courtesy of eleven straight wins, they will open the year with the most eagerly awaited match – a potential litmus test for the rest of a season that will very likely see Folgore and Fiorentino centre stage right through to the final act. Bugli’s Tre Fiori are looking to break into that duo, ten points back from the leading pair and about to take on San Giovanni (Fiorentino, 20:15). Gualtieri’s men are currently outside the play-off zone, which – in addition to the top four at the end of the regular season, who will enter at the quarter-final stage – will also include the next eight sides, who will face each other in a Preliminary Round. In other words, the bottom three in the table will not take part in the post-season. San Giovanni, like Murata, are just one point shy of the minimum threshold, currently held by Cosmos, who have a bye this matchday. Further adrift are bottom side Cailungo who, also in Fiorentino, will meet Virtus (21:45). The Rossoverdi snapped a run of ten consecutive defeats in their final outing of 2022, beating Libertas 3-2 in the Borgo Maggiore Castello derby. They will be up against an in-form side, who have collected 21 points from eleven games, making Pollini’s men the fourth force in the group alongside Domagnano. In short, a stern examination for a Cailungo side in search of consistency in results. As for Libertas: fresh from a 5-3 victory over Tre Penne, the Granata now take on a La Fiorita side that seems to have found its stride. San Marino’s runners-up are very much in the hunt to break into the top four and will travel to Dogana (20:15) targeting a third win in a row. Libertas, despite sitting in mid-table, will also need to keep an eye on what’s behind them: San Giovanni and Murata, three points back, could drag them closer to the drop zone. The two matches in Acquaviva are particularly intriguing, starting with Juvenes-Dogana v Faetano (20:15). Zonzini’s team, who have also reached the semi-finals of the Titano Futsal Cup where they will meet Folgore in a fiery double derby, are part of the quartet of sides who – barring an unlikely collapse by the two leaders – will battle it out for two of the top four positions in the group. The Serravalle club are keen to pick up where they left off before the draw with Domagnano (2-2) and the heavy defeat to Tre Fiori (2-7) that closed out 2022. Lining up against them is a mercurial Faetano side, who have suffered four of their seven defeats so far in their last five outings. Immediately afterwards it will be the turn of Pennarossa and Tre Penne (21:45). Casadei’s Biancorossi are determined not to lose touch with the quartet fighting for direct qualification to the play-off quarter-finals, while Tre Penne are aiming to close the gap on the teams above and extend their cushion over third from bottom. The club from Città come into this one on the back of defeat to Libertas, whereas Pennarossa have won four of their last five matches, losing only narrowly to Juvenes-Dogana.   The late fixture on Tuesday will see Murata and Domagnano take to the court (Dogana, 21:15). The Bianconeri are working to cover for the injury-enforced absence of their goalkeepers, which has significantly affected the team’s performances up until a few weeks ago, when Leonardo Palermino – dismissed on 28 December – was still in charge. Their aim will be to end a run of seven consecutive defeats, up against a compact and in-form side. Domagnano have in fact lost only one of their last five league matches, going down by the narrowest of margins to Fiorentino. If wins over Cosmos and Cailungo were to be expected, the draws with Juvenes-Dogana and Virtus underline the prevailing balance among the sides chasing the leading duo and vying for a place in the play-off quarter-finals. Here is the schedule for Matchday 13 of the league:

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