League season kicks off with two big matches and the historic debut of San Marino Academy

The wait is over: the curtain finally rises on the 38th edition of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301, available in full and free of charge live via streaming with Italian commentary on TITANI.TV. The title will be defended by Tre Penne, led again by Stefano Ceci, who take the field tomorrow evening in one of the three opening fixtures of Matchday 1 (Montecchio, 21:15). While it will not be an absolute seasonal debut for the club from Città – they played the San Marino Supercup two weeks ago – Juvenes-Dogana are instead ready to launch their new campaign. There are many confirmations at the club chaired by Zavatta, who will be able to rely on ten San Marino players in a squad built in close cooperation with coach Amati. If, as last year, the head-to-head battle with Cosmos again dominates the headlines, it will also begin with both sides playing at the same time. Nicola Berardi’s men, who can also count on namesake Filippo – a 26-year-old San Marino international forward with recent professional experience – are determined to finally get their hands on a trophy after ending last season empty-handed. Their high-quality squad will immediately be tested by a rebuilding Domagnano, who tomorrow evening (Domagnano, 21:15) will try to spring a surprise on the Gialloverdi. Ready for his debut on the bench in San Marino competitions, Paolo Rossi will be aiming to get off on the right foot. On paper, the most balanced clash is between Pennarossa and Fiorentino, kicking off at 21:15 in Acquaviva tomorrow night. Both clubs have renewed their technical projects: Salvatore Nobile has been entrusted with the Chiesanuova side, while Michele Camillini takes charge of the Rossoblù. It will be a debut against their former club for Simone Benedettini and Stefanelli, who joined Fiorentino after previously wearing the Biancorosso shirt. Still on the San Marino front, there is also great anticipation for the full-time return to action of Davide Simoncini, signed from neighbours Tre Fiori. The Gialloblù, meanwhile, take the field on Saturday afternoon (15:00) in a match that will immediately put Scudetto-race points on the line. Their opponents in Acquaviva will be Virtus, winners of two of the last three trophies contested and fresh from beating Tre Penne in the San Marino Supercup (2-0). The Neroverdi squad, already very competitive, has been further strengthened over the summer. And while at Virtus Luigi Bizzotto begins his fifth consecutive season on the bench, Tre Fiori’s dugout will see the absolute debut of Andrea De Falco (a midfielder and captain up until last May), whose registration in his new professional role is in the final stages. The first big match of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301 will be broadcast live on San Marino RTV (CH. 831 DTT) as well as on TITANI.TV. The San Marino FA’s streaming platform will host every match from the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301 and Coppa Titano BKN301, except for those that, due to necessity, are played at the Ezio Conti in Dogana – a venue currently undergoing renovation. Saturday will also see Murata and Faetano in action, facing off in Domagnano (15:00). Giuseppe Angelini remains on the Bianconeri bench, having arrived in San Marino last January after significant experience in the professional game. The team has been largely revamped and has recorded some encouraging pre-season results. On the Faetano side, they restart with a new coach: Pellegrino has taken over from Girolomoni, but the playing staff has been heavily overhauled. It is a tough match to read, where the motivations of many debutants will almost certainly make for an open and lively contest. Cailungo-Folgore rounds off the advance fixtures. Both sides are looking to bounce back after a season in which they fell short of their objectives. There are new head coaches for both: Denis Iencinella will lead the Rossoverdi, while Oscar Lasagni has returned to Falciano. There are several new faces in both squads, with Folgore set to rely heavily on San Marino player Samuel Pancotti. Cailungo, for their part, have welcomed back powerful forward Mattia Urbinati after a year spent precisely at Folgore. The Matchday 1 schedule of the 2023-24 Campionato Sammarinese BKN301 will conclude with two games on Sunday at 15:00. There is naturally huge anticipation for the official debut of San Marino Academy U22, who will write a new chapter in the history of San Marino football. Never before has a youth team taken part with full rights in the Campionato Sammarinese and been eligible to compete for the Scudetto. Created as part of a federation-led project aimed at providing a solution to the limited playing time given to San Marino players of Under-21 age, as well as reducing the drop-out rate at the end of the youth pathway, San Marino Academy will start this campaign away from the spotlight – fully aware of the much broader significance of the project. As repeatedly announced, the side will be coached by Matteo Cecchetti, current head coach of San Marino Under-21. Like all their fourteen opponents, San Giovanni will not be offering any favours to San Marino Academy: Sunday in Montecchio (15:00) marks the beginning of the third chapter under coach Marco Tognacci, with the aim of rejoining the group of teams capable of playing their cards beyond the regular season cut. Last but not least, there is another major showdown in the title race. La Fiorita-Libertas promises fireworks and quality football. Revitalised by the arrival of Sperindio during last season, the club from Borgo Maggiore want to return to playing a leading role in San Marino competitions. In this respect, the signings of Bara, Benedettini and Torsani show the ambition and planning of the Granata, who have said goodbye to important players such as Bucci and Olcese, while keeping a key figure like Sapori. Coming off a trophyless campaign, something that had not happened for some time, La Fiorita are determined to react immediately: the signing of 36-year-old Alex Ambrosini, who scored 16 goals in last season’s Eccellenza, and of Emiliano Olcese leaves little room for a different interpretation. With Tommaso Guidi returning after a year at Cosmos, Manfredini can count on a top-level attacking department, completed by San Marino players Vitaioli, Danilo Rinaldi – once he has fully recovered from the injury suffered at the end of last season – and Castellazzi. Staying on the San Marino theme, this season will also mark the return to action of Grandoni. Here is the full programme for the first matchday of the 2023-24 Campionato Sammarinese BKN301, available free of charge on TITANI.TV – streaming from every ground, with Italian commentary.

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