Futsal: Murata face Virtus for outright leadership

Virtus’ recent double stumble, after a run made up exclusively of wins (7), has led to a pairing at the top of the futsal league table. But that pairing could already be broken up tomorrow. The schedule for Matchday 10 hinges entirely on the top-of-the-table clash between the Neroverdi and Murata, which in some ways feels like an early final and has therefore, quite fittingly, been scheduled at the usual theatre for the season’s key futsal showdowns: the Multieventi. Kick-off is tomorrow at 22:00. However, Monday night’s attention will not be monopolised solely by the meeting between the two class leaders. The battle for the third step of the podium also deserves an audience and will be enlivened by the head-to-head between the side currently occupying that spot – Tre Penne – and the one with it in their sights – La Fiorita – sitting just three points behind Penserini’s team, which, unlike Pietrangeli’s side, has already served its rest day. At stake is not only third place but potentially even more for Tre Penne, who would climb the table in the event of a win: how far they climb will depend on the result of the Multieventi blockbuster. It is not hard to imagine that the following calculation has already been made in the Biancazzurri camp: should Murata and Virtus draw, a Tre Penne victory would actually take them clear at the top. Such considerations are postponed until very late tomorrow evening, namely at the end of the top clash, while La Fiorita and Tre Penne will play earlier, at 20:15 on the Acquaviva court, the new location for the match given that the original venue, namely the facility in Fiorentino, is unplayable due to snow.

For the same reason, San Giovanni – Cosmos will also be played in Acquaviva. The former are going through an extremely delicate spell, but still see Faetano – the first of the sides currently projected to reach the post-season – as within striking distance. The latter have lost some shine in recent weeks (they come into this from one defeat followed by two draws) and sense an opportunity to move up the table, perhaps hoping for favourable results from the other courts. For instance from that of Folgore, who are called upon to face a Fiorentino side still stuck on a single league victory, now four matches ago. The Giallorossoneri lost to La Fiorita but remain in a very comfortable league position. They have to keep an eye on a small chasing pack (not on Libertas, who have a bye), but at the same time are tempted by the very narrow gap separating them from Domagnano, currently the sixth force in the Single Group. Folgore-Fiorentino will close the programme in Dogana, which will be opened by the all-yellow-and-blue clash between Faetano and Tre Fiori. It is a direct duel with significant repercussions (albeit not decisive, as is obvious) on the race for the post-season: Tre Fiori are currently part of the trio of teams outside the cut, all on 3 points, while Faetano are on 6 and therefore have the chance to pull away from the red zone, but at the same time also risk being sucked back into it. At this stage, even a draw would suit Selva’s side, who sit just behind a Cailungo team that returned to winning ways in the indoor match with Tre Fiori and will again be in action on the Acquaviva gym parquet in the first of the two Matchday 10 fixtures being played later. Venerucci’s men will face, on Tuesday evening, a Pennarossa side coming off their rest round and firmly intent on gaining whatever advantage they can from the two head-to-heads among the four teams currently above them in the standings.

Keep an eye, though, on Domagnano who, if Pennarossa were to lose, could catch them the following day at the end of the second and final postponed fixture. This match, exactly like Monday’s big game, will be played at the Multieventi, at the usual 22:00 kick-off time, which also applies to Pennarossa-Cailungo. The Wolves drew with Cosmos after coming from behind, following their narrow defeat to Tre Penne. They are therefore seeking a return to winning ways to relaunch themselves and their ambitions of breaking into the top four (currently seven points away) but, before that, to threaten or at least keep the pressure on Pennarossa. As for Juvenes-Dogana, the Biancorossoazzurri drew enormous psychological energy from their only outing last week: the draw (snatched at the death) against league leaders Virtus. That prestigious point, added to the wins in their two previous games, makes up a calling card of three positive results in a row. Enough to expect the best from this clash between sides that are fairly close in the table: if not in terms of positions (Juvenes-Dogana trail by four places), then at least in terms of points, which is what really matters. At present, there are 3 points between Gasperoni’s and Cellarosi’s teams.

Here is the schedule for Matchday 10 of the league: