League: possible turning point in the race for the play-offs

On the weekend of International Women’s Day, which the Football Federation will celebrate across the eight matches of the Campionato Sammarinese with a dedicated initiative in collaboration with San Marino United Artists (click here for more information), a host of intriguing fixtures are on the card – with particular relevance to the battle for play-off spots, whether direct qualification or via the Preliminary Round.

Saturday’s clash in Montecchio is nothing short of compelling, with Pennarossa and Libertas going head to head for hugely important points. This pivotal fixture in the race for the final play-off places will be broadcast both on Titani.tv and on FIFA+. Currently level on points with San Giovanni and coming off the dismissal of Adrian Ricchiuti, the club from Chiesanuova would as things stand be the first side to miss out on the postseason because of an unfavourable head-to-head record with the team they share their league position with. A win over the Granata from Borgo Maggiore, on the other hand, would completely reopen the contest – dragging Buda’s team fully back into the mix as well. All the more so because San Giovanni, at the same time (Fiorentino, 15:00), will face Murata as clear favourites: seven points taken from the last three matchdays have restored calm in Tognacci’s dressing room, which now aims to confirm its presence in the play-offs after having halted leaders Virtus. Just behind the San Giovanni-Pennarossa pairing in the table are Faetano: Sperindio’s men, after three straight defeats, will meet a San Marino Academy side (Domagnano, 15:00) that has lost only once in its last four outings. While the idea of getting back into the play-off race seems a mirage for Roberto Di Maio’s light blue-and-whites, cutting the gap to their next opponents is no less enticing.

Fighting for direct access to the quarter-finals instead are Cosmos and Fiorentino – who will face each other in Acquaviva (Saturday, 15:00). The Gialloverdi currently occupy seventh place in the standings, the final position that allows them to avoid the tricky Preliminary Round which – if the league ended at the time of writing – would involve Fiorentino. Costantini’s men are two points shy of the minimum required and are not hiding their ambition to overtake a side in excellent form such as this current Cosmos team.

Sunday’s programme features the leading pair. Tre Fiori and Virtus will be in action in Acquaviva and Montecchio respectively (both at 15:00), having met as recently as Wednesday evening in the first leg of the Coppa Titano semi-finals. On paper, it is a more accessible assignment for the Gialloblù – who take on Cailungo, second-bottom in the table. Benedetti’s team will have the advantage of not having spent physical and mental energy in midweek, although the mountain they have to climb remains a steep one. Bizzotto’s Neroverdi will have to be wary of Juvenes Dogana, who in the other semi-final came within a whisker of beating La Fiorita – offering a glimpse of the sparkle that, at the start of the season, many believed could take Boldrini’s side to far more ambitious heights. Now seven points adrift of seventh place, Boldrini’s team is nevertheless determined to leave nothing to chance.

No less challenging is the test awaiting Tre Penne, who on Sunday will face Domagnano at the latter’s home ground. The Giallorossi have rediscovered consistency of results after a dip in form and, in terms of confirming their credentials, Bonini’s team is probably the toughest opponent currently around. Having forced their way back into the title race, just three points off the leading duo with a head-to-head against Virtus still to come, Tre Penne are not ready to give up on a comeback for the history books. The round is completed by the meeting between the fourth and fifth-placed sides in the league, and also between two of the division’s best attacks: Folgore-La Fiorita promises entertainment and goals, given the quality of the squads available to Lasagni and Ceci and the attacking mindset of both coaches and players. As always, the entire Campionato Sammarinese schedule will be available live via free streaming with Italian commentary on Titani.tv.

Below is the partial schedule for the 24th matchday of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese: