League campaign kicks off, everyone chasing Tre Fiori: Virtus-La Fiorita straight away

A new season of San Marino football is on the starting blocks. Fourteen teams will play their first official minutes of the campaign this coming weekend, with the exception of Tre Fiori and La Fiorita – who just two days ago contested the Super Cup, spending over 120 minutes on the pitch. Four matches are scheduled as early fixtures tomorrow evening, including San Marino Academy-Fiorentino. The Biancazzurrini, this year under the guidance of Nicola Cancelli, will lock horns with a Rossoblù side that has been heavily revamped both in its squad and its technical area, now led on the front line by Francesco Monaco – back at the club in a new role after previously representing it as a player. Kick-off is set for 21:15 tomorrow on the artificial turf at the “Federico Crescentini” Stadium in Fiorentino.

At the same time, three other matches will be played. Among them is Cailungo-Domagnano, scheduled at the Montecchio Stadium. Having come close to reaching the play-off final – and with it qualification for the UEFA Conference League – the Wolves will be looking to build on the excellent work done last season. The front line has been reshaped: following Bonetti’s departure, the Giallorossi have brought in, among others, Arlotti and Ambrosini. On the opposite side of the pitch will be a Cailungo significantly strengthened in every department, aiming to play the role of outsider. Folgore are targeting something more, and from this year are entrusted to Matteo Camillini. The Giallorossoneri’s opener is in Acquaviva, where they will face a Murata side largely overhauled during the summer transfer window. Juvenes Dogana have made fewer sweeping changes, but have bolstered their squad with experienced players of proven quality who know the Campionato Sammarinese very well: it will be interesting to follow the Biancorossazzurro debuts of Dormi, Lunadei and Montanari – among others – as they take on Faetano. There are also several new faces in the tactical set-up entrusted to Floriano Sperindio, confirmed at the helm of the Gialloblù. The season opener for both sides will be played at the “Ezio Conti” Stadium in Dogana, again at 21:15.

Saturday and Sunday’s schedule spreads the remaining four fixtures evenly over the two days. Cosmos-Libertas will be played in Acquaviva at 15:00 on Saturday. There are many new faces in the Gialloverde camp, starting from the dugout: Paolo Rossi, after his spell at Domagnano and a year away from San Marino’s grounds, returns to manage a club on the Titano. In the opposite technical area will be Achille Fabbri: Saturday marks his debut in charge of the Granata, following previous stints with Murata and Juvenes Dogana. Saturday’s programme also features San Giovanni-Tre Penne. The Biancazzurri, who produced a remarkable comeback last season, want to confirm themselves among the title contenders – fully aware of how crucial it is to start on the front foot in a league where, over the past three years, more than 70 points from 30 games have been needed to sustain title ambitions. The new era at San Giovanni begins with head coach Matteo Antonioli, making his debut as a manager in the Campionato Sammarinese. It will be up to him to revive the Rossoneri’s fortunes after they missed out on the postseason by just a single point last term.

The reigning champions Tre Fiori will begin their title defence at the Montecchio Stadium, where on Sunday – with kick-off at 15:00 – they will face Pennarossa. The Biancorossi from Chiesanuova want to raise the bar and, to do so, have turned to a coach of proven experience and quality in Fabrizio Costantini. Joining the former National Team Head Coach from Fiorentino are high-calibre players such as Belward, Abouzziane and the Evaristi brothers. Pennarossa’s squad is one to be discovered, and they will immediately be tested against a well-oiled side like Tre Fiori, who have added Ben Kacem to their attacking options and also reinforced their flanks with Mengucci – on target both in the Champions League and in the Super Cup. At the same time, but in Acquaviva, comes the match clou of the opening round: Virtus-La Fiorita. The teams that contested last season’s play-off final will meet again on Sunday. The Neroverdi have set in motion a major refresh of their squad, allowing some of the marquee names of recent, extraordinary years to move on. On the bench, Oscar Muratori will take over from Bizzotto, while the departure of Scappini has been offset by the signing of Imre Badalassi – a forward who needs no introduction to those familiar with football in San Marino. For their part, La Fiorita will immediately be seeking redemption after the bitter disappointment suffered on Tuesday in the Super Cup. Their dramatic fightback from 0-2 to 2-2 against Tre Fiori, followed by an hour played with ten men, ultimately brought no reward in the penalty shoot-out. The squad entrusted once again to Stefano Ceci has been strengthened by the additions of Matthias Bonetti – last season’s top scorer, who also found the net in the Super Cup – and the return of Errico to pull the strings in midfield. The most intriguing fixture of the opening weekend will also be broadcast on FIFA+, which from this year is part of the DAZN bouquet, where one match per round from both the Campionato Sammarinese and the Coppa Titano will be shown.

This is the schedule for Matchday 1 of the 2026-27 Campionato Sammarinese, with full coverage live and with Italian commentary on Titani.tv: