Roma try to book a playoff spot against a desperate Trentino

Emotions are running high in the final stretch of the 2023-2024 Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A Tigotà and things will continue to escalate this weekend, during the 11^th leg of the second round of the regular season, where each of the seven matches held will have an impact in the outcome of the Italian League, be it in relation to playoff qualification, seeding for the postseason or the battle to avoid relegation.

One match, in particular, has the potential to generate opposite reactions from the teams involved as while one could clinch a playoff spot, the other could end the encounter relegated – the duel between Roma Volley Club and Itas Trentino, scheduled for Sunday, at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).

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Currently sitting in eighth place with 32 points (ten wins), Roma are just one victory away from securing a spot in the playoffs of the Italian elite for the first time in club history. If they top Trentino 3-0 or 3-1, they will be guaranteed among the eight teams that will compete in the postseason in a few weeks.

The team from the Italian capital is back home after a long and challenging week, which saw them play on the road twice, but bring home four valuable points in their race to qualify. Now, they count on the support of their fans to seal the deal against Trentino.

“This last week was very stressful, with long trips and very difficult matches,” said setter Margherita Muzi. “But they also brought some important information in regards to where we need to improve. The match against Trentino will be challenging because we’re tired, but having the fans on our side will make things easier for us.”

If Roma could still secure the three points they need later if things go wrong on Sunday, Trentino have no more room for error. Sitting at the bottom of the standings with seven points (two wins), the team from Trento needs to will all their four remaining matches in three or four sets to at least have a chance of avoiding relegation.

Even if they get the job done on Sunday and collect all three points, Trentino could still end the weekend relegated – that will happen if 12th-placed Honda Olivero S. Bernardo Cuneo (18 points, seven wins) earn a point in their match against third-placed Allianz Vero Volley Milano (54 points, 19 wins), scheduled for Saturday, at 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT).

“The main things we have to focus on for these last four matches are the same we struggled the most during the first two months of the season: consistency and playing as a team,” Trentino’s coach Davide Mazzanti reflected. “We want to see all the effort we make during the week at the training court show during the matches.”

Pinerolo and Vallefoglia also close to qualification

Besides Roma, two other teams also have the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot this weekend - Wash4Green Pinerolo and Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia, who have 34 points (11 wins) and need each just one more to advance. If all three get the job done, the lineup for the postseason will be completed with two rounds yet to be played.

Lega Femminile - Match Schedule and Results

Vallefoglia will be the first of the two to get on the court and will be at home, on Saturday, at 20:30 local time (19:30 GMT), but they also have the most challenging opponent possible – defending champions and league leaders Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano (66 points, 23 wins).

Pinerolo will play on Sunday, at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT), and will meet the team that poses the main threat to their playoff aspirations, ninth-placed Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiori (25 points, eight wins).

Also on Saturday, Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri will host Il Bisonte Firenze at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT). Chieri (42 points, 13 wins) are already guaranteed in the playoffs and will secure fifth place ahead of the postseason with a win. Firenze (24 points, nine wins), on the other hand, currently rank tenth and need all three points to keep their playoff hopes alive potentially.

Competition for the second place will have a critical duel on Sunday, with fourth-placed Igor Gorgonzola Novara (53 points, 18 wins) welcoming second-placed Savino Del Bene Scandicci (55 points, 19 wins) at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).

At the same time, Volley Bergamo will face Uyba Volley Busto Arsizio in a match that could have big implications in the battle to avoid relegation. While Busto are relatively safe, but still threatened in 11^th place with 21 points (six wins), Bergamo rank 13^th with 15 points (four wins) and desperately need the three points to move up.

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