On a beautifully warm and sunshiny Saturday we headed east from our hotel in Bologna, in the Fiat Panda hire car, to San Marino. On the way we stopped by the former home of the San Marino Grand Prix - Imola. Whilst there we looked around the small museum which contained numerous bikes, including Barry Sheene's bike of 1976, and a Red Bull F1 car from 2013. As we viewed the exhibits we could hear the roar of cars on the circuit itself and we decided to find a vantage point to see some motorsport action. We actually managed to get into the grandstand and witnessed a track day. Ferraris and Porsches and a variety of other privately owned cars thundered by beneath us and across the famous finishing line.
We then headed off to San Marino itself along the autostrada. In San Marino we enjoyed a cup of coffee and crepe by the castle which afforded some spectacular views, which included that of the national stadium and its training pitch, our 3pm target.
We parked up on the road next to 'Serravalle B' and wandered over to the main stadium. Sneaking in, we witnessed a lovely little multipurpose stadium, which had previously hosted the England national football team, being used by trainee pole-vaulters.
Returning to Serravalle B we made our way to the 'main stand' and settled down to await the afternoon's entertainment of La Fiorita versus San Giovanni in the San Marino Campionato.
I wanted to see this game in particular as it was 1) close to the national stadium and 2) it was between the champions of 2013/14 and league leaders and a struggling team. I state league leaders but actually the San Marino FA has two parallel leagues running simultaneously with the top 3 from each going forward to a final stage of matches to decide the eventual champions.
On the metal framed stand we were joined by 20 or so fellow spectators that appeared to be mainly fellow team mates, girlfriends, mates and a couple of old 'tiffosi'.
Soon after kick-off it became apparent the league table wasn't lying. La Fiorita were obviously superior. Although SG kept the scoreline 0:0 for most of the first half it was obvious that their resolve would break and they would be unable to rely on breaks and the holdup play and shots by their number 9.
It was La Fiorita's number 9, Selva, that was the star of the game though. A trip on the right hand side of the SG box allowed Selva to curve a beautiful free kick around the wall and past the stranded keeper after 43 minutes. A minute later a right wing cross found a midfielder with lots of room in the box to simply put the ball past the keeper. 2:0 was a fair reflection of the half and we wondered how many La Fiorita would win by. While bemoaning the lack of catering facilities, and while noting that the toilet facilities were behind some shrubs slightly up the hillside, we pondered the actual standard of the teams. We considered La Fiorita to be of tier 8/9 English standard whereas SG were tier 11. La Fiorita had a solid centrehalf who SG were unable to get past and their attacking frontline would have had enough about them to worry an English semi-pro side.
Shortly after kick off in the second half a pair of girls returned to the stand, from somewhere, bearing sustenance for their friends. We felt quite jealous of the chap now downing a cool bottle of Corona.
Shortly after, another free kick was awarded on the edge of the SG box. Selva nonchalantly lifted the ball over the wall and into the top corner. 3:0.
The shockingly dry and bobbly pitch now played its part in the game. As the ball spat up from the surface in the penalty box it stuck a defender's arm and a penalty was awarded. A calmly placed kick to the keepers right made it 4:0.
SG were rattled now and a coming together in the SG box resulted in a controversial penalty, a second yellow card and a sending off for the SG defender. The SG manager, incensed by the decision, also received his marching orders, for dissent. Selva was given the opportunity to get his hat trick and make it 5:0 and he kindly obliged.
Truly rattled now a SG midfielder kicked out at a La Fiorita opponent and SG were down to 9.
At the final whistle, as we made our way to the car, an elderly tiffosi took the opportunity to bang on the wall on the referee's dressing room wall and shout some abuse in response to some of the decisions made by him.
2 hours later we were back at the hotel.
Sunday morning saw us head south on the autostrada which passed through snaking tunnels bored through the hills. Arriving early in Florence we parked on a quiet road two hundred yards or so from the stadium. We bought our tickets from 'Fiorentina Point' and the did a half circuit of the ground.
Adjacent to the ground was a tidy rugby facility and we decided to spend a few moments sat in the main stand watching a juniors' game. We then wandered into the centre on Florence and took in the sites of the beautiful old town. Heading back towards the stadium we noticed that a bar was showing the Manchester derby. We went in, had a beer and watched the first half. A bar regular asked my companion which team he followed and then kept him updated on his team's (Spurs) progress against Bournemouth.
Near to and around the ground we were greeted by a purple army who were awaiting the Serie A game of the weekend, leaders Fiorentina hosting third placed Roma. After getting our jackets out of the car and buying a scarf we made our way to the corner of the stadium indicated by our tickets.
Inside the ground we admired the 1930s architecture and watched the crowd build. The legendary Italian 'calcio' atmosphere was something to behold. The Roma fans were roundly booed and whistled at as they arrived in their corner of the stadium. The Roma fans returned the abuse in equal measure and with flag waving and various gesticulations.
Prior to the teams coming onto the pitch the PA blared some classic rock to enhance the atmosphere and this included some Status Quo. The team was welcomed onto the pitch by the singing by the fans of the club song, which was like an old oompah band tune.
The atmosphere flattened, for the home fans, after 6 minutes. A curling shot from the edge of the box by Roma's Salah found the back of the net. The Romans were now in full voice and it was at this point we noticed one of the Roma banners which read 'No Totti, No Party', a banner in obvious support of an icon of a player, but it tickled us nonetheless.
As Fiorentina pressed at a corner they were left exposed to a break. A defender cleared the ball forward to his colleague Gervinho, who, from within his own half, raced half the length of the pitch to slot the ball passed the keeper to make it 2:0.
Fiorentina had most of the possession and created a few chances but were unable to get back into the game; not even with the support of the wall of noise and waving flags behind them, at the opposite end of the ground to us. Only with minutes to go, and after a Roma player had received his 2nd yellow for dissent, did the game really come alive for the home team. But the home team could only get a consolation with the last kick of the match thanks to a nice finish by Babacar from the edge of the box. Too little too late.
The game itself was very enjoyable with three high quality goals and quality play throughout. It was great to witness the Italian 'tiffosi' with their devotion and stereotypical exuberant gesticulations.
We were in close proximity to the away fans at the end of the game, separated only by a steel sheet wall. From either side of the barrier the respective fans goaded each other. As my companion exited the toilets, adjacent to the barrier, he was shoved onwards by the police who were very eager to keep the peace.
In an attempt to avoid the traffic in the centre of town we decided to take a country route back to the autostrada. This resulted in us having to drive up very narrow country lanes which were more like private driveways. We got back to the hotel at 10:30 and were very tired after such a great day.
