Futsal: penultimate round to decide fourth place and play-off seedings

Pennarossa need three points to secure second place against a final assault from La Fiorita, who have two matches left to bridge the four-point gap that separates them from the runners-up spot. With the head-to-head record in favour of the Montegiardino club, the Biancorossi require a win to confirm their position behind Murata, who are on their bye week. Pennarossa will close out the Matchday 29 programme of the Campionato Sammarinese di futsal when they take to the court on Thursday 24 April at the Acquaviva sports hall (21:45) to face Cosmos – who are already guaranteed seventh place in the regular season.

The group of teams that will take part in the post-season is virtually defined, with Cailungo just one point away from achieving their season objective. Faetano, five points adrift, would need maximum points from the final 120 minutes of the regular season – a result within reach tomorrow night in Dogana (21:45), when they take on bottom side Libertas. It would be far more complicated to pick up a win on the final day against Murata, who will hardly want to end a season in which they remain unbeaten with a defeat.

Conversely, Cailungo would only need to pick up a single point from their upcoming games against Juvenes-Dogana (tomorrow in Domagnano, 21:15) and Fiorentino. The Serravalle club are involved, together with three other sides, in a sprint finish that will determine positions from eighth to eleventh, with all the consequences that will bring in terms of play-off pairings. Currently leading this mini-group are Tre Fiori, who on Wednesday will be up against Tre Penne at the Multieventi in what will be the Gialloblù’s last game of the regular season.

While Pollini’s men are scheduled for their bye in Matchday 30, their direct rivals – such as Fiorentino and Folgore, one and four points behind respectively – will each have one more match to play. The clash with San Giovanni is an opportunity for the reigning champions (Fiorentino, tomorrow at 21:45), while Folgore must deal with La Fiorita – who are still trying to keep the race for second place alive. Juvenes-Dogana, five points back from Tre Fiori, will – as mentioned – face Cailungo.

Domagnano will be the kingmakers in the battle that will decide fourth place in the regular season. The last spot that gives direct access to the play-off quarter-finals currently belongs to Virtus on 55 points, with Tre Penne (53) and Domagnano themselves (49) in pursuit. The Wolves will tomorrow face Virtus (in Fiorentino, 21:45), before ending the regular season against Tre Penne. A three-way tie is mathematically impossible, therefore the only hope for the Giallorossi to finish fourth rests on beating Virtus by more than five goals (Virtus won 4-0 in the reverse fixture and are out of reach on goal difference). It is a very tough task, but in futsal nothing is impossible.

Watching closely will be Tre Penne, who with a helping hand from Domagnano could move ahead of or draw level with Virtus – provided Penserini’s side beat Tre Fiori on Wednesday at the Multieventi (21:45). The Neroverdi have the upper hand in the head‑to‑head record and, with Libertas as their final opponents in the regular season, it is not unrealistic to imagine that Michelotti’s men may only need to avoid defeat against Domagnano to secure fourth place.

Here is the partial schedule for Matchday 29 of the Campionato Sammarinese di futsal: