League: La Fiorita resume against Folgore, Tre Fiori-Virtus promises fireworks

Even as a consequence of the postponed clash with Cailungo (to be played on Wednesday 8 February, ed.), La Fiorita find themselves in the position of having to chase in the table. And potentially having to do so from five points back. That’s because Cosmos – who in the meantime have moved top of the standings – will play early tomorrow, when in Acquaviva they will take on San Giovanni from 15:00. It is a game not to be taken lightly by Berardi’s men: Tognacci’s Rossoneri have proved to be a compact side and a tough opponent and – last but not least – are now getting the best once again out of the talent of Greppi, already decisive with the penalty that sealed the 1-1 draw with Pennarossa last Sunday. Also tomorrow at 15:00, but at the Domagnano ground, Juvenes-Dogana and Domagnano will go head to head. It is a match right on the edge of the play-off zone, from which the Serravalle club would currently be excluded. The Wolves, on the other hand, would be the last team to sneak in, if the league were to finish today. With just one point separating the two sides in the table, Amati’s men – with Girotti standing in on the bench due to suspension – will be hoping to flip the script. The same wish is held by Murata, who are hoping for anything but a Domagnano win. That would in fact push the bar for entry into the post-season even higher for the club currently sitting bottom of the table. Since Angelini’s appointment in the dugout, the Bianconeri have also been freshening up the squad: Gueye and Matteoni are the latest additions as they try to cut the six-point gap to the last play-off place. Ura and his team-mates face Pennarossa in Acquaviva from 18:00, in a match they cannot afford to slip up in. A win for former boss Massimo Gori’s side, meanwhile, would keep the Chiesanuova club at a safe distance. At the same time Tre Penne will also be in action, fresh from their first-leg victory in the Coppa Titano semi-finals – at the expense of Libertas (2-0). The runners-up of San Marino will meet a Cailungo side in good form, who were forced to sit out the last round due to the postponement of their match with La Fiorita. For the Biancazzurri from Città it is a fixture to be approached with caution, fully aware that the pace being set by all the teams at the top leaves no room for any dip in performance. Tre Penne are currently fifth in the table, four points off the leaders with a game in hand. That says a lot about the balance reigning among the leading quintet. Two big matches will light up Sunday’s schedule, including that of Titani.tv, which will once again provide free live coverage of all fixtures. It starts with La Fiorita-Folgore, a match that is never ordinary even in a year in which the Falciano club have seen more shadows than lights. The 3-0 defeat to Virtus in the Coppa Titano on Wednesday represents a turning point for Lepri’s men: either a clear reaction or a complete collapse. The calibre of the visiting side, driven by the hunger of those who have been overtaken in the table without the chance to respond on the pitch, tends to rule out the second option. Defending champions La Fiorita come into this on the back of two consecutive draws and are chasing their first win with Thomas Manfredini in the dugout. Kick-off is on Sunday in Domagnano at 15:00. Tre Fiori-Virtus, meanwhile, will be played in Dogana at 19:00. Selva’s and Bizzotto’s teams meet for the fourth time this season. The head-to-head record is perfectly balanced, with one win each and a draw. While the Gialloblù prevailed in the league reverse fixture – the only side so far to come from behind to beat Virtus – Bizzotto’s men booked their place in the Coppa Titano semi-finals by knocking out the holders. Added to this, the two teams, currently second and fourth in the league respectively, are fully in the title race. Nothing is missing to ensure that Sunday night’s clash at the Ezio Conti can be remembered for a long time, in a league unprecedented for balance and engagement. Libertas-Faetano will kick off half an hour before the top-of-the-table clash, at the Acquaviva Stadium. Sperindio’s Granata will be looking to shake off the after-effects of the Coppa Titano, confirming their golden spell in the league which sees them as the best-performing side over the last five games (four wins and a draw). The fixture list is far from insurmountable for the Borgo Maggiore club, who have nonetheless shown they can trouble the top sides – as evidenced by La Fiorita’s elimination in the quarter-finals of the cup. On Sunday they face a Faetano side in a results crisis, coming off four straight defeats, three of which against Virtus, Tre Penne and Tre Fiori. This is the schedule for the 17th matchday of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301, which will be available free of charge on TITANI.TV – streaming from every ground, with Italian commentary:

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