Futsal: Quarter-finals kick off tomorrow

The race for the San Marino futsal Scudetto moves into its decisive phase after the conclusion of the Preliminary Round of the play-offs, from which Fiorentino, Domagnano, Cosmos and Tre Penne all advanced. They now join the four sides that finished in the top positions in the regular season, earning the right to enter at the Quarter-final stage and – crucially – to benefit from their league placing should the two-legged tie end in complete parity. That scenario is less common in futsal than in 11-a-side football, but it has already been used to the advantage of Fiorentino in the derby of the namesake Castello a few days ago. 

The Rossoblù, reigning champions, will face the best-equipped side for overall victory this season. That is Murata, fresh from winning the Titano Futsal Cup and the dominant force of the regular season. Tomorrow in Dogana (kick-off 20:15) they play the first of two matches that will decide a semi-final place against the winner of Virtus-Tre Penne. The latter is perhaps the most intriguing pairing in terms of the quality on show and, not by chance, pits against each other the sides that finished closest in the table. While Virtus have clearly won three of the four meetings this season, it is also true that the most recent clash ended in a draw, raising expectations for the two-legged tie that gets underway tomorrow in Fiorentino (21:45).

 Despite four defeats in as many encounters this season, Domagnano can approach the test posed by La Fiorita with cautious optimism. The Montegiardino club have only edged the Wolves by the narrowest of margins on three occasions, settling those contests in their favour only in the final minutes. That provides a platform on which to build two major games for Fabio Gasperoni, who will have to do without the suspended Santarini tomorrow evening (Fiorentino, 20:15). Whoever comes through will face the winner of the tie between Pennarossa and Cosmos. The Biancorossi carry the weight of favouritism, having recently played the Titano Futsal Cup final and with their sights also set on the final step of the Scudetto path. Muccioli’s side will look above all to Molinas – who netted a hat-trick in the most recent meeting – to try to turn expectations on their head. That match is scheduled in Dogana tomorrow at 21:45.

Here is the full line-up for the Quarter-finals: