Ahrntal has had plenty to celebrate at home this season. So far, they haven't suffered a single defeat.

Regional league cracker: “Naturns can come”

It's crunch time in the regional league on Sunday. Ahrntal and Naturns meet in St. Johann. SportNews has captured the mood in both camps ahead of the top match.

04 April 2025

From: cst

Four teams are vying for the championship title in the regional league. Two of them, Ahrntal and Naturns, will face off in a direct duel on Sunday. The situation promises to be extremely exciting, as the "Teldra" lead the regional league table by two points over Naturns and Val Gardena. This is one of the reasons why Ahrntal can approach the top match with a bit more composure.

"They have to win the game if they want to hold the cards in their own hands in the title race. A draw would be enough for us. We just can't lose," says Thomas Ritsch. The Ahrntal coach sent his team to the sauna at the start of the week to "sweat out the busy week," as he puts it. On Wednesday, the entire squad trained for the first time all season. "The signs are good. We've never lost at home and only drawn once; Naturns can come," says a combative Ritsch.

Full stands & sporting excitement

The blockbuster match is also eagerly awaited in Naturno. The Lower Vinschgau team is the best away team in the regional league and travels to St. Johann with a correspondingly high level of confidence. "Perhaps they're the slight favorite because they're playing at home. We plan to play a good game and give them everything," says coach Patrick Fliri.

Naturns coach Patrick Fliri and his team are still undefeated this season. © Sarah Mitterer

Like Ritsch, Fliri is determined to avoid defeat at all costs. "A draw would be okay, but we always play to win. I don't want to make any predictions here, though. It will definitely be an exciting game," Fliri concluded. His counterpart, Ritsch, echoed the same sentiment: "It will be a real football festival for the Ahrntal Valley. There are few home games in the Pustertal Valley on Sunday, so the stands will be packed. You can only look forward to a game like this."

Top game also in the Oberliga

Virtus Bozen's last-chance game in the Oberliga is at hand. The regional capital team will face FC Obermais at home on Sunday (15.30:10 p.m.). The league leaders are XNUMX points ahead of Virtus Bozen, who – unlike Partschins – have Serie D aspirations. If Elis Kaptina and Co. want to have even a small chance of winning the title in the final stages of the season, they need a win on Sunday.

State league: 24th matchday

Tscherms Marling – Salurn (Saturday, 16 p.m.)
Riffian Kuens – Terlano
Ahrntal – Naturns (Sunday, 15.30:XNUMX p.m.)
Latsch – Bruneck
Latzfons Verdings – Val Gardena
Laives – Chienes
Wine Route South – Lana
Gitschberg Jochtal – Schenna (16 p.m.)

Oberliga: 26th matchday

Benacense – Bozner FC (Sunday, 15.30:XNUMX p.m.)
Partschins – Levico
Vipo Trento – Brixen
Comano – Tramin
Stegen-Mori
Rovereto – St. Georgen
Virtus Bozen – Obermais
St. Paul's - Anaune