Futsal: Virtus idle, three ready to take advantage

In practice, Virtus’ Christmas break started about a week early. The Neroverdi’s rest day on Matchday 13 of the league offers big opportunities to their nearest rivals in the table. For example to Murata who, with a fourth consecutive win, would give themselves a Christmas as sole league leaders. It looks a very achievable mission for Spada’s men, who have slipped up only twice so far – and never heavily, as they remain unbeaten – and who tomorrow night are up against a Fiorentino side still stuck in the lower reaches of the table, despite having recently got moving again thanks to a draw against near neighbours San Giovanni. This will be the second match played at the Fiorentino venue, after the clash between Folgore and Cailungo, two sides separated by eight points and both coming off positive results. A win – a big one – in the case of the Giallorossoneri, now up to seventh; a draw instead for the Rossoverdi, who were already savouring a move up to tenth but for now have to settle for eleventh. Both sides, however, have the opportunity to improve their position before Christmas: Folgore have Cosmos within touching distance, while Cailungo, with a win and a bit of luck elsewhere, could even pull off a double move, overtaking Libertas and drawing level with Domagnano.

There are, of course, also teams pushing up from behind. Such as Tre Fiori, coming off two defeats in a row and facing a Juvenes Dogana side wounded by the derby defeat to Cosmos, which ended a long unbeaten run and cost Cellarosi’s men their place ahead of Folgore. Before the Gialloblù and the Biancorossoazzurri, the Dogana venue will host the meeting between Domagnano and Pennarossa, both seeking redemption. Of the two, the side going through the trickier spell is undoubtedly the Giallorossi, who have lost three on the bounce (and in general have not won for five matchdays) and have dropped a long way down the table, slipping below the halfway line. On the other hand, Pennarossa have recently fallen after a period of good results and have lost touch with the leading group of four, a place among which can only be one of the Biancorossi’s minimum targets for the season. Pennarossa also have to keep an eye on Cosmos, two points behind and involved in the second and final late fixture of Matchday 13, scheduled for Thursday on the court of the Acquaviva Sports Hall. Up against Franchino’s ambitious side is a Faetano team that very recently trod that same court, having to settle for a point in the direct clash with Cailungo. That point moved Selva’s men a little further away from the danger zone, but also gave them a lift after two straight defeats.

Alongside the opportunity opening up for leaders Murata, there are at least two other teams who could gain a great deal from Virtus’ rest day (and from any possible slip by Murata). They are the two sides currently joint third, just a point behind the Neroverdi of Acquaviva. We are talking about La Fiorita and Tre Penne, both playing indoors but on different nights. Tomorrow at the Multieventi, Penserini’s Tre Penne will be aiming for a third consecutive victory and for further improvement to an already sparkling league position. They will face a side whose coach he previously managed, Libertas, who need to halt a two-game losing run but are also up against one of the form teams of the moment in a tough test. La Fiorita are chasing the same goal as Tre Penne but, unlike Città, come into it with a longer winning streak – four matches – to be extended on Tuesday night, at the Acquaviva Sports Hall, against a San Giovanni side that has recently shown signs of life again after their only win of the season, achieved on the opening day, but that is still heavily embroiled in the relegation battle. This match, like the other two indoor fixtures of the final round before Christmas, will kick off at 22:00.

Below is the schedule for Matchday 13 of the league:

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