Futsal: another yellow-and-blue side on Folgore’s path, Cailungo face derby test

The upheavals of the last round add further significance to the match-ups of Matchday 26 in the Campionato Sammarinese di futsal. For example, the Borgo Maggiore derby could reveal more about Cailungo’s form and prospects, with the side having climbed off the bottom of the table on Monday and, thanks to two wins on the bounce, beginning to harbour realistic hopes of a post-season that for a long time seemed highly unlikely. That said, "cousins" Libertas will hardly want to be caught out for a second time (Cailungo won the reverse fixture), also because the Granata have not won for two rounds and still need to properly secure their safety, as the teams behind them may not be flying, but they are not asleep either. Another team that has had to partly rethink its outlook after what happened on Matchday 25 is Folgore. The draw with La Fiorita cost them their share of top spot with Fiorentino. As a result, Spada’s men have had to switch to a chaser’s mindset. The first step in this new mission is called Tre Fiori, another high-quality yellow-and-blue opponent and direct neighbour in the table for the Giallorossoneri who, truth be told, are not particularly vulnerable to attacks – they boast a nine-point cushion over third place – and are more focused on immediately rediscovering their lost – or rather, dented – momentum, also with an eye on a not-too-distant clash with Fiorentino that could potentially prove "remedial". The new outright leaders have, on paper, an easier assignment. Murata, the 11th-placed side in the group and without a win in three, face the unenviable task of trying to slow the irresistible march of the Rossoblù juggernaut, who are chasing victory number 23 and certainly would not mind unwrapping any gifts Tre Fiori might send their way. Matteo Michelotti will be without the suspended Moretti. On the other side, Albani is also suspended. La Fiorita, who became the second team after Fiorentino to take points off reigning champions Folgore, will face San Giovanni in a match that, from the yellow-and-blue perspective, will be mainly about defending fourth place – which gives direct access to the play-offs – given that the gap to third widened further after Tre Fiori’s win in Tuesday night’s late kick-off. Of course, Ghiotti’s side will also keep a very close eye on Tre Fiori v Folgore, hoping to claw back some ground, while San Giovanni are looking for a tough upset to breathe life into a table that has made grim reading for three matches, including the latest, in which the Rossoneri picked up a point against bottom side Faetano, who have a rest day this round. La Fiorita v San Giovanni also has a direct impact on Tre Penne and Virtus, who meet in the first game in Acquaviva. The Neroverdi kept Domagnano at bay by equalising late on in their head-to-head, before falling to defeat against leaders Fiorentino, who, after all, have dealt the same treatment to everyone, Folgore excepted. Now Virtus are determined to get going again to defend fifth place and keep the pressure on La Fiorita. Facing them is a side who, as things stand, sit top of the group of teams outside the play-off positions – Tre Penne are third from bottom, three points behind San Giovanni – and who must tackle the difficult task of finding a win that has eluded them since 6 December, exactly one full round of fixtures ago. Also well worth following is the mid-table head-to-head between Pennarossa and Cosmos, the former having got back up to speed (two wins and a draw) after a dip in form, and the latter, conversely, having lost the driving force that, before Matchday 24, had seen them string together five straight victories (plus two draws). The Gialloverdi, coming off two defeats, will be without the suspended Bologna. Another clash between sides level in the table will take place on Tuesday on the Multieventi court. Sixth-placed Domagnano face seventh-placed Juvenes-Dogana, the side who knocked the Wolves out of the Titano Futsal Cup earlier than expected. In the league, the reverse fixture ended in a draw. Domagnano are now hoping to rediscover a win that has been missing for three rounds (although they were idle last time out) in order to keep up their pursuit of La Fiorita and, above all, Virtus, who are three and one point ahead respectively, while Juvenes-Dogana are chasing the same outcome with the aim of at least putting into question the current position of their opponents, who currently enjoy a solid advantage. This is the Matchday 26 fixture list: Click here for the updated standings

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