Titano Futsal Cup: first legs of the quarter-finals tomorrow in Dogana and Fiorentino

Matchday eight of the league has yet to be completed but for some clubs the cup is already very much on their minds. This does not apply, of course, to Faetano and Fiorentino, who are in action this evening at the Multieventi. It does, however, concern Juvenes-Dogana, Murata, La Fiorita, Pennarossa, San Giovanni, Virtus and Cosmos, in other words the sides who came through their two-legged Round of 16 ties in the Titano Futsal Cup. They are joined by Folgore, who skipped the first round of the competition by right as reigning champions. It will be the team from Falciano who will open tomorrow night’s programme on the Fiorentino court. This particular quarter-final will be a derby: their opponents, the Giallorossoneri, face that Juvenes-Dogana side who overcame Cailungo in the Round of 16 and are staking much of their chips on the cup – at least at this stage of the season – having not yet managed to take off in the league. Levani’s men slipped to defeat on Monday evening, and the same is true for Folgore who, however, had previously managed to climb the table thanks to two consecutive victories. There is plenty at stake, but not yet everything, in the tie that sits on the same side of the draw as Murata-La Fiorita, also scheduled in Fiorentino. The Bianconeri are the only unbeaten side this season and have recently not only claimed – and then immediately consolidated – top spot in the league, but have also produced repeated displays of strength combined with notable defensive solidity (no goals conceded in their last three games, with 17 scored). In short, it does not look like the best possible time to be facing Max Spada’s team, even if La Fiorita will go for it by bringing all their qualities to the court – and there are many – and also drawing on the lessons from the only previous meeting this season, namely the recent league clash in which Murata ran out 3-0 winners. Just as on that occasion, Murata will again be without Andrea Ercolani, this time through suspension. In Dogana, Pennarossa will be looking to confirm their excellent form, which in recent weeks has allowed Novembrini’s men to string together five straight league wins and climb to second place in the table. They are therefore a more than awkward opponent for San Giovanni, who reached the quarter-finals thanks to what so far is their only victory of the season, the first leg of the Round of 16 against Libertas, while in the league the Rossoneri are struggling in the lower reaches of the standings with just a single point to their name. Cosmos, by contrast, are in a very different moment, coming into this one on the back of three consecutive league victories, to which can be added, in terms of motivation and adrenaline, the comeback in the second leg of the Round of 16 that allowed Muccioli’s men to eliminate Fiorentino, who had won the first leg. Virtus, Cosmos’ opponents, are instead going through a rough patch: Michelotti’s side come into the tie after two defeats which cost them not only top spot but also second place in the league. Right now Acquaviva are pinning their hopes of a reaction on the cup, looking back to the earlier meeting this season on Matchday 4, when Cosmos lost 2-1 – but only in added time. No first leg of the quarter-final for the Gialloverdi’s Bacciocchi and the Neroverdi’s Di Maio, both sent off in the second leg of the Round of 16. Here is the quarter-final schedule:

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