Futsal: top two clash at the Multieventi

A six-point cushion over the chasing pack may not quite amount to a breakaway yet, but it’s not far off. Should Murata win the head-to-head with Virtus tomorrow night, and Tre Penne drop points against La Fiorita, then there would be no more doubts: it would be a full-on escape. The Monday fixtures of Matchday 25 promise a lot because they pit the top four against each other. Murata, already holding a healthy lead, could open up a real gap. Virtus, who have slowed a little of late but are nevertheless on a long and very impressive unbeaten run, could instead close the distance and blow the race for top spot wide open again. The two rivals will play their cards in one of the two indoor matches of the evening, the one hosted at the Multieventi in Serravalle. As for Tre Penne and La Fiorita, the former have returned to winning ways and remain glued to Virtus, who are ahead only thanks to the head-to-head record. Knowing that, in any case, Virtus and Murata will take points off each other, a possible victory over La Fiorita would give Penserini’s side a huge advantage in the table. But beware also of the motivation – as well as the quality, of course – of Montegiardino’s team, who have recently started flirting with victory again and who, with a full haul, would halve exactly their deficit from third place.

This clash will open the evening at Dogana. Afterwards comes another direct showdown with potentially heavy consequences – not at the very top, but in the play-off positions. Faetano are currently the last side in the post-season places and are being closely tracked by their opponents on the night, Tre Fiori, three points back and therefore more than determined to latch onto Selva’s team, with the aim of overtaking them in the remaining matchdays – which, truth be told, are not that many. Should Faetano win, they would certainly move above Libertas – who have a bye – and grab a big breath of fresh air in a phase of the season which – the win over Fiorentino aside – has not been among the brightest for the Gialloblù. The aforementioned Fiorentino have lost ground after beating Cailungo and desperately need to halt their run of consecutive defeats – four – if they are to have any hope of re-entering the play-off race. Today Screti’s side are six points off the coveted zone and the test awaiting them is anything but simple. At the Acquaviva Sports Hall tomorrow night, the Rossoblù will face a Folgore side who have lost a bit of momentum after two wins on the spin, but who remain in a very “sunny” – and also crowded – area of the table. In fact, hot on the heels of the Giallorossoneri are Juvenes Dogana, who on Thursday, in the only rearranged fixture of Matchday 25, will take on a Domagnano side smiling again after three games (and now up to eighth place) and who see the Biancorossoazzurri well within striking distance. The Wolves will also be driven by the desire to “avenge” the defeat in the reverse fixture, which was indoor just like Thursday’s game, again staged at the Acquaviva Sports Hall.

Turning to the programme at the Fiorentino venue, Cailungo and Pennarossa will face off in the late game with diametrically opposed moods, just as the calling cards of the sides from Borgo Maggiore and Chiesanuova could hardly be more different. Cailungo come into it on the back of two victories that have very likely shored up their play-off qualification; conversely, the Biancorossi – coming off their rest round – must bounce back from a mini-run of two defeats which have once again pushed Chiesanuova away from the cosy lounge of the top four. Whether it is Cailungo’s light-heartedness or Pennarossa’s hunger for redemption that prevails will only become clear late tomorrow evening. In the early game, meanwhile – also in Fiorentino – Cosmos and San Giovanni will meet, both hurting but with completely different prospects in the standings. What unites Palermino’s and Franchino’s sides is that they both come into it after two defeats in a row. The Rossoneri look increasingly unlikely to extend their season beyond Matchday 30, but they have a duty to fight to the very end for the slim chances that remain. They will therefore have to call on (among other things) their pride in a clash in which Cosmos in turn intend to get going again, given that their recent run has seen the Gialloverdi slip below the midway line of the table and lose touch – though not by much – with sixth place, currently occupied by Folgore.

Here is the schedule for Matchday 25 of the league:

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