Titano Futsal Cup: quarter-finals tomorrow, Fiorentino begin title defence

It’s time for the quarter-finals of the 2023-24 Titano Futsal Cup. Eight teams remain in the hunt for the trophy won last year by Fiorentino, who will therefore begin their title defence from this stage of the competition. Michelotti’s men face Domagnano over two legs, with the first match scheduled for tomorrow evening (20:15) on the artificial pitch next to the “Federico Crescentini” Stadium. There are no head-to-head meetings between the two sides this season, but it seems quite clear that the Rossoblù will start as favourites: they have a 100% record in the league, boasting the best defence and the third-best attack, and will be up against a Domagnano side sitting in mid-table after four wins and three defeats. Having reached the Titano Futsal Cup quarter-finals thanks to a double victory over San Giovanni, the Wolves know they face a mountain to climb. Keeping the tie alive ahead of the return leg, scheduled for 7 December, is the main objective for Fabio Gasperoni’s players – in excellent form of late, with three consecutive league wins. In effect, it is the same target set by Libertas, who are up against Folgore in tomorrow night’s second fixture in Dogana (21:45). Here too, there is a clear favourite in Claudio Zonzini’s side. The Giallorossoneri, coming off their first defeat of the season (0-2 against La Fiorita) and with just one win to their name in November, do not intend to squander any more opportunities. This is a repeat of the match that marked Libertas’ seasonal debut (0-2 in Dogana on 2 October – while Folgore had already played and won the Supercoppa), and it could prove decisive in the battle for qualification. Or not, as Penserini’s side will hope, having overcome Cailungo in the round of 16, where Cosmos bowed out against their Falciano neighbours. There are high expectations around the other two matches scheduled for tomorrow, both for the potential balance between the sides and for the technical quality that Juvenes-Dogana, La Fiorita, Tre Fiori and Murata have already shown over these first seven weeks of Sammarinese futsal. The Serravalle club will take on the Montegiardino Gialloblù in the second game in Fiorentino (tomorrow, 21:45). It will be a clash of styles between Levani and Galli: La Fiorita boast the second most prolific attack in the Sammarinese league, while Juvenes-Dogana are meticulously focused on what happens in their own half. On the eve of the match, the Gialloblù seem to have a slight edge: backing that up are their win over Folgore, which took them top of the league, and Juvenes-Dogana’s run of four games without victory for Cecchetti and his team-mates. Juvenes-Dogana, impressive against the lesser sides and less effective against the top teams, want to show they are worth more than the eighth place they currently occupy in the league, even considering they have drawn two of their seven games. No team has more draws. Dulcis in fundo, even if it is actually one of the evening’s opening fixtures (Dogana, 20:15), Tre Fiori v Murata. The Bianconeri, thanks to summer investment and the return from loan of key players, are enjoying a campaign in line with the expectations of a team aiming to return quickly to the top: five wins from eight games, with two acceptable setbacks against the leading sides and a third – against Domagnano – unexpected, though not undeserved. It is hard to find fault with Tre Fiori’s start to the season, with victory in every game bar the derby with Fiorentino – which explains the three-point gap to first place. While the days when these two clubs were sharing out Sammarinese futsal trophies may still seem some way off, their technical projects and ambitions bode well for the medium-term future of both. Even so, Bugli and Cellarosi will be hoping to capitalise on their efforts already this season, and putting one foot in the semi-finals is not an opportunity that comes along every day. Murata, however, face the frustration of heading into the first leg without two key men: Moretti and Felici will miss the opening match due to accumulated yellow cards in the two-legged round of 16 tie with Virtus. Here is the schedule for the first legs of the Titano Futsal Cup quarter-finals:

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