Futsal: Virtus targeting leap up the table

Four matchdays remain in the regular season of the Campionato Sammarinese di futsal, at the end of which four teams will qualify directly for the Scudetto play-off quarter-finals, while the next eight in the standings will battle it out to join them. The positions are almost settled, aside from the twelfth and final participant in the postseason: Cailungo and Faetano, in that order and separated by just two points, are the contenders. On Faetano’s schedule is Libertas, bottom of the table, so the Rossoverdi – ahead in the head-to-head record – will be looking to pick up at least one more point in order to come out on top in the event of a tie. Venerucci’s side face the obstacle of Pennarossa (Dogana, 21:45), second in the standings and seemingly out of Cailungo’s reach. The Chiesanuova club are chasing points to cement second place in the regular season, a key objective to avoid crossing paths with Murata before a potential final. The Bianconeri are eyeing up an ideal passing of the torch in the clash in Fiorentino against the title-holding namesakes (Fiorentino, 20:15). The following match on the same court will see Faetano face Cosmos (Fiorentino, 21:45). The Gialloverdi come into it on the back of two straight defeats, one of which – against Tre Fiori – hurt in particular. Juvenes-Dogana are going through a very difficult spell, having lost four of their last five matches, and must now take on Virtus. The Neroverdi can’t and won’t ease off: with Tre Penne on their rest day, the match in Dogana (20:15) is a chance to reclaim fourth place outright. Monday’s schedule also includes Libertas-Folgore (Domagnano, 21:15): the Granata have won only once this season, almost four months ago. The runners-up of San Marino have no intention whatsoever of becoming the other team to drop points against the Borgo Maggiore club, especially as they need to secure their own postseason credentials and look to overtake their neighbours Juvenes-Dogana between now and the end. After all, the final round of the league will pit the two Serravalle clubs against each other. The only indoor fixture on Monday night in San Marino futsal, Tre Fiori-San Giovanni matters far more to Franchino’s boys – not yet condemned by the maths, sitting six points behind Cailungo with four games left of the regular season. The Multieventi will host the encounter, with kick-off at 21:45. The postponed fixture between La Fiorita and Domagnano will instead be played at the Acquaviva gym and, in terms of quality on show, is certainly the standout pairing of this fourth-from-last round. The Lupi have not given up on the idea of closing the gap to the teams above them, especially with head‑to‑head clashes with Virtus and Tre Penne to close out the regular season. To make those decisive, they will certainly need a helping hand from the two sides directly involved, but also a win on Tuesday night against La Fiorita. Over the course of the season, the Gialloblù have long been the main alternative to Murata and, having faltered to the benefit of Pennarossa, Traviglia’s team are determined to reassert their credentials for second place. It is an extremely tough task, despite having a game in hand on their direct rivals, who in turn can look forward to a run‑in theoretically worth nine points.