FC Obermais has completed its first training session at the Combi Stadium.

In Bolzano and Merano: Training begins on both sides of the border.

For the first time in recent memory, a Serie D derby between South Tyrol's two largest cities will take place this autumn. Virtus Bozen and FC Obermais began training this week.

July 23, 2026

From: cst

The two South Tyrolean fourth-division teams have about a month and a half to prepare for the upcoming season. Their opponents are not yet known. The group assignments for the Serie D leagues are also still pending.

Both clubs have been active in the transfer market in recent weeks. While neither Obermais nor Virtus Bozen are at full strength, the majority of their squads are now complete. Elis Kaptina, the championship-winning coach of the provincial capital club, has added players such as Filippo Vinciguerra, Alessandro Rossi (both from Rovereto), the young Salurn native Jacopo Mandaglio, and goalkeeper Jakob Tschöll (U19 Lecco). Virtus Bozen began training on Monday at their home ground, the Internorm Arena.

Virtus Bozen has been training hard at the Internorm Arena on the Talfer meadows since Monday. © VB33 / Screenshot

FC Obermais took three extra days to prepare. Performance diagnostics were on the agenda at the beginning of the week. The first training session finally took place on Thursday at the Combi Stadium in Merano. New additions to the Merano squad include Noah Schweizer (Partschins), Thomas Mair (Naturns), Julian Pircher (Virtus Bozen), and Marco Moras (Vigasio).