Regions’ Cup, all or nothing against Anenii Noi. Bizzotto: “I want a front‑foot team”

The opening match of the Intermediate Round of the 2026-27 UEFA Regions’ Cup against Ptuj left NAT San Marino with positive feelings – they managed to salvage a game played almost entirely with ten men, coming back from a penalty conceded amid the astonishment of the Titano delegation. The Biancazzurri are still in the running to book back-to-back places in the Final Tournament, which last year was staged in the Republic of San Marino. Alongside Bizzotto’s team, only Dolnośląski (POL) and Vojvodina (SRB) can still dream of another shot at the trophy. As fate would have it, NAT San Marino and Vojvodina share the same group in the ongoing Slovenian campaign and, if everything goes as Bizzotto’s men hope, a head-to-head decider could loom on the final matchday. That scenario would see the biggest prize on the line – namely, qualification for the showpiece event. For that to be possible, the Titani must beat the Moldovan regional selection Anenii Noi tomorrow, who are coming off a heavy defeat in their opener against Vojvodina (0-5). A potential draw could shut the door on both sides’ qualification hopes – only the group winners advance at this stage of the tournament – if the Serbians were to prevail in the Ptuj-Vojvodina fixture (kicking off 30 minutes after NAT San Marino’s match).

“I expect Anenii Noi to be far more aggressive than they were last Thursday. They will come out extremely fired up to make amends for the 5-0 defeat in their first game. From the footage we have been able to analyse, we believe we have identified some weaknesses we’ll try to exploit – building on what we do best on the pitch,” commented Luigi Bizzotto, NAT San Marino head coach. “Even though a draw could knock both of us out and a defeat would certainly do so, I still expect Anenii Noi to adopt a cautious approach, just as they did against Vojvodina. If instead the game opens up and becomes more end-to-end, I hope we’ll be ready to take advantage of that scenario.”

Luigi Bizzotto and his staff must also factor in the issue of players one booking away from suspension – six in the San Marino squad: Perazzini, Merli, Costantini, Sartini, Bottoni and Fabbri. “Of all the variables we’ll consider when choosing the starting eleven and our game plan, the risk of suspension due to yellow-card accumulation is not something that will influence us. As I’ve always done, I want to give responsibility to the players – making them aware of the difficulties they could face if they pick up another booking. However, this must not determine my selection, nor condition their performance: I will pick the team that, in my opinion, can start the game in the best possible way, bearing in mind that in a tournament like this, the players coming off the bench can and must make the difference too. Belward’s impact and determination two days ago is a clear example of that,” the head coach underlined. “Aside from Imre Badalassi, who will definitely miss out tomorrow through suspension – and we hope not beyond that – we’ve had a few minor issues with Ciacci and Buda, but based on today’s final training session, I consider both of them available for the next match.”

Bizzotto has a very clear idea of the tactical set-up he wants for NAT San Marino: “We want to approach the match in a positive, attacking manner, trying to make the most of our strengths. Among these, we can rely on wingers who are very good in one‑v‑one situations and at creating overloads, so the aim is to isolate them and benefit from their dribbling ability and – hopefully – reap the rewards of that work through midfield runs and the movement of our central striker. That was exactly what we wanted to do in the first game with Ptuj as well, but we were unable to because of Badalassi’s red card.”

NAT San Marino-Anenii Noi will be played tomorrow, once again at the Mestni Stadium in Ptuj – in Slovenia – kicking off at 15:00. There will be no live coverage of the match or of the tournament as a whole provided by the local organisers.