The opening weekend of the Promozione season brought a 2–0 home defeat for LB Trino against Olimpia Sant’Agabio, although the final score hardly reflected the balance of the afternoon at the Roberto Picco.

Cristian Spinoglio’s side stayed level with one of the division’s most highly rated teams for more than an hour and had chances of their own before Cestagalli broke the deadlock in the 68th minute. With Trino pushing for an equaliser, Merkaj added the second on the counter-attack six minutes from time. It was a difficult result, but also a performance that offered encouraging signs at the start of the new campaign.

There was better news for the Under 19s, who opened their play-in campaign with an impressive 3–1 away win against Livorno Ferraris Bianzè. Troplini, Massano and Benna were on target for Trino in a match played in demanding late-summer conditions.

The week ahead

It will be a particularly busy few days across the club.

The Under 19s return to action on Wednesday, 9 September at 8.30pm, when they host Crescentinese at the Picco in their second play-in fixture.

Twenty-four hours later the senior side faces another important night under the lights. Pro Palazzolo and Trino meet at the Roberto Picco on Thursday, 10 September at 8.30pm for the second leg of their Coppa Italia tie. The visitors hold a 1–0 advantage from the first game, decided by Federico Pasquali’s early goal, leaving qualification still very much open.

Saturday brings another Under 19 fixture, with Trino travelling to Vercelli to face Diavoletti at 2.30pm in the final match of the first half of the play-in group.

The same weekend will also see the Risò International Cup return to the Picco. Twenty-four Under-12 teams will compete across Saturday and Sunday, bringing together clubs from Italy and abroad. The group stage begins at 11am on Saturday, with play resuming at 9.30am on Sunday before the knockout rounds and the finals, scheduled for 5pm.

Finally, the first team returns to league action on Sunday, 13 September at 3.30pm, travelling to San Pietro Mosezzo to face Union Novara in the second round of the Promozione season. After the opening defeat, it will be the first away test of the new campaign.