Champions, Champions! Spartak Milano Wins Again the 2024/25 A2 Finals
- Alessio Casamassima
- 2 days ago
- 9 min read
We fell for it again. A year later, the masters (or, due to our age, we should probably say the fathers) of Italian floorball are still us. In a weekend full of emotions, crutches and distant rankings, Spartak Milano conquers the title of Italian Champion for the A2 series for the second time in its history.
In the two-day playoff in Bolzano, the 6 best Italian floorball teams in the A2 category faced each other: from the Northern Group, in addition to Spartak Milano, the other three qualified teams Atlavir Torino, Geas Unihockey Sesto and the hosts SSV Diamante; from the Central South, the 2023/24 finalists, Black Lions and the Evergreen Alligators.
Last year, Spartak Milano had reached the finals with the lightheartedness of those who were at the beginning of a journey of refoundation: this positive attitude, combined with a mix of experience and great talent, led to a victory celebrated "in slippers", not obvious, but almost natural. This year in Bolzano, however, the white and blues of Milan instead of flip-flops were forced to wear less pleasant "crutches": at the end of the regular season, in fact, first Marco Affò, one of the most in-form defenders of the Milanese team, got injured, and then a complicated flu also took the new arrival Matteo van De Loo out of the game, who had done well in the last few games. Finally, to complete the Spartak lineup "in the best shape of recent years", the limping Andrea Bortolozzi and the feverish Davide "Brembol" Brambilla were added.
Saturday 22 March 2025
Playoff A2 - Group A
SSV Diamante Bolzano vs Spartak Milano 1-6
After the first place achieved in the regular season, Spartak Floorball Milano is inserted in Group A with the teams of Bolzano and Rome. The white-blues take to the field in the first match against Diamante by having to field two very unbalanced lines: the first with the trio Brembol-Fornari-Zinni is dedicated to attack and aims to command the game; the second much more passive, instead tries to contain the opponents to develop the counterattack on the wings with Marco Giuzzi and Riki Ripamonti. Milano faces the match very cautiously from the start, especially because it faces a very dynamic and young team, which fields 11 players under 19. In this study phase, the new defensive pair Koschitz-Bortolozzi proves to be very effective: the first is skilled in tight spaces, always plays with his head held high and never throws the ball away, triggering the attack trio with precise throws; the second grit his teeth because of his ankle in disarray and covers every shot, acting as a screen for the goalkeeper Sicchiero. After Zinni's very quick goal (just 45 seconds after the start), Ripamonti doubled, demonstrating that the second line also took to the field with the right determination. Also in the first half, the only goal of the Alto Adige team arrived, taking advantage of a white-blue blunder in defense: Mister Giuzzi trusted too much in a solo action by Ripamonti and, calling for a line change, left the defense exposed on the opponent's counterattack. In the second half, however, there was no contest. Brembol and Fornari woke up and took advantage of the understandable lack of experience of the young players from Bolzano to round out the result. With one minute to go, an indomitable Luigi Zinni closed the game, now feeling comfortable in the role of Pointer.
Spartak Milano vs Evergreen Alligators 4-5
After the very young Bolzano, Milan finds itself facing the most "experienced" team in the championship in the second match of the round. The Romans of Evergreen show up to the playoffs with several "over" players and with the veteran Zanella brothers (who by regulation alternate in the scoresheet), Italian national players who are always very dangerous. Spartak for its part takes the field too lightly, thinking it can win with minimal effort. The Alligators take advantage of this and bite immediately thanks to the prairies left by a white-blue defense without Bortolozzi (resting for his ankle). As time passes, Spartak lacks the lucidity seen with Bolzano and above all the first line loses cohesion: immediately down by 3 goals in the first 10 minutes, Milan always remains too long and focuses everything on insistent individual plays. The situation is also complicated by the position between the lines of Zanella, author of 3 goals, including the decisive one at the end. In the second half, Spartak reacts with anger and subjects the "Sempreverdi" to a real siege: there are many shots towards the Roman goal, but in many cases they are not very precise or hit the goalkeeper. Thanks to the various power plays won, Milan manages to temporarily reach a draw, but as in all those games that start out badly, in the end comes the joke: on a free kick from the edge, poorly covered by the wall, Rome scores at the first post and wins. Luckily, despite the narrow defeat, the white-blues are mathematically certain of access to the semifinals. However, Evergreen's victory is not the only surprise of the day. In the other group, in fact, the favorites Black Lions, after an easy win against Turin, lose a hard-fought match against Geas, complicating their life.
Italian Senior Championship A2 - Final Six 2024/25
Unexpectedly, all 6 teams end the group stage with a win and a loss each. In Group B, Atlavir Torino and Geas Sesto advance thanks to a better goal difference: the Roman Black Lions are mocked as they are the favorites (in the regular season they had won all their matches) and do not advance from the group; in Group A (that of Spartak), however, not even the tie-breaking standings are enough to understand who will compete with Sesto. In the evening, the Competition Manager makes a decision: Bolzano and Evergreen will have to play an overtime with golden goals on Sunday to decide the final position in the group.
Results and standings for Saturday 22 March 2025
Group A
SSV Diamante Bolzano vs Spartak Milano 1-6
Spartak Milano vs Evergreen Alligators 4-5
Evergreen Alligators vs SSV Diamante Bolzano 2-6 (OT)
Group B
Geas Unihockey Sesto vs Atlavir Torino 2-4
Atlavir Torino vs Black Lions 2-4
Black Lions vs Geas Unihockey Sesto 1-4
Sunday 23 March 2025
Semifinals of the Italian Floorball Championship A2 - 2024/25
Spartak Milano vs Atlavir Torino 8-3
After the short overtime won by Bolzano, the semifinal draw is as follows. On one side the home team faces the revelation Geas and on the other Spartak will face the "black beast" Turin. Of all the teams faced in the regular season, in fact, the Piedmontese team was the one that with its pragmatic floorball and its always well-closed defense gave the most trouble to Milan. However, the white-blues today have an extra gear and like last year they face the semifinal with maturity and concreteness. In the first half Spartak plays in total control and the difference between the two Milanese lines is almost not perceived: Vasco, in the new central position, acts as a "decoy", leaving Giuzzi and Riki free to carry the ball forward, while Andrea "Bridges" Ponti keeps the opposing defenders busy by elbowing all over the attack front. In short, everyone does their part, fighting like a true united group. And then, after a balanced first half, they wake up, the two Davides. Brembol is an immense player that not even fever can stop. Like true champions, when the competition gets going, he levels up and becomes a total player: uncatchable in attack, omnipresent in defense, his solo actions are an advert for Italian floorball. In Fornari's goal in coast to coast, however, there is all the healthy effrontery of a talented young man who has grown up: left alone on the field while his teammates prepare for a quick change of line, he doesn't procrastinate (as a normal player would have done) but starts towards the opponent's goal, easily overcoming the entire Turin team and scoring an incredible goal. In the end, there are 4 goals on the scoresheet for Davidino and 2 for Brembol. What a show. Spartak overcomes Atlavir and reaches the final for the second time in two years.
The Final of the Italian Floorball Championship A2 - 2024/25
Spartak Milano vs Geas Unihockey Sesto 4-0
Here we are at the final against Sesto. Geas' boys, after a slightly subdued first part of the season, have earned the playoffs with important performances. Spartak knows that the Rossoneri are not to be underestimated and that it will not be a match like the others. Unlike in the past, Geas tends to control the game and moves the ball well, also taking advantage of the greater freshness and resourcefulness of his players. Milan defends well, however, and after 4 minutes scores with Davide Fornari who fools the opposing goalkeeper with a precise shot into the top corner. Sonia, Geas' goalkeeper, is very skilled at thwarting Milan's various conclusions and always keeps Sesto in the game. Even if sterile, the Rossoneri game puts the Biancoblu to the test, who on several occasions are forced to play numerically inferior, even by 2 players. The trio Zinni-Brembol-Fornari, however, never gives up and for long stretches of the match it seems like we are watching a very particular Campo Piccolo 3v5 match. The second line also makes its presence felt. The pirouettes and the sideline game with which the veteran Andrea Argenta takes the boys from Sesto for a walk every time is pure poetry: our Arge, who has been playing floorball for 20 years now, is one of the last "vultures" of that QT8 Milano that made the history of the movement in Italy. Even in the final, Vasco and Bridges pull out of the hat an impeccable performance from a defensive point of view. The real star of the final, however, is Fabio Sicchiero. The goalkeeper from Milan is always ready for all the opponents' shots, both those from distance and those dirty in a scrum and in the long run his saves weigh on Sesto's morale. The number 71 in white and blue does not grant the joy of a goal to Sesto even on the penalty awarded 4 minutes from the end: with a kamikaze leap (technique patented by his friend goalkeeper Casamassima, ed.) he effectively opposes the "zorro" attempt of the opposing attacker. The match ends in the end with a clear 4 to 0, with doubles by Davide Fornari and the eternal Koschitz. At the final whistle, the party can begin and the first hug goes to president Marco Affò, who due to injury has seen the entire playoffs fidgeting on the bench. Captain Zinni can finally lift the Cup and all of Spartak can celebrate together with their fans. Fabio, the real MVP of this final, after "breaking down the door" to celebrate the clean sheet, leaves everyone speechless by asking his girlfriend's hand. What can I say, the sweetest ending to a fairytale season! Forza Spartak, always!
Results and standings for Sunday 23 March 2025
Semifinals
Spartak Milano vs Atlavir Torino 8-3
Geas Unihockey Sesto vs SSV Diamante Bolzano 5-3
Finals
5°/6° posto - Evergreen Alligators vs Black Lions 5-8
3°/4° posto - Atlavir Torino vs SSV Diamante Bolzano 5-2
1°/2° posto - Spartak Milano vs Geas Unihockey Sesto 4-0
Spartak Floorball Milano thanks to:
The inventor of the Vortex
The Bolzano municipal police for giving us a good reason to quickly vacate the changing rooms (and for not giving us a ticket for parking)
The group of Maranza Bolzano players who at 4:06 on Sunday morning sang stadium chants right under the balcony of our hostel
The penalty box that hosted the irreproachable Riki several times
The new defibrillator for giving Luigi the chance to let loose in complete safety
Luca's liver, the real MVP of the alcoholic dinners at Kampill
Esselunga and the Amici di Scuola e dello Sport program for the 3 ice kits served to keep Bortolozzi's ankle in a state of cryogenics
Our president Maffo's knee for not giving out during the celebrations
The 2 bottles of good Prosecco that allowed Cri to lift a Cup again this year (without having won it)
The Excel spreadsheet of the FIUF Competition Manager put to the test by the most unrelated ranking in the history of the Italian Championship
The cell phone forgotten on the sidelines by Riki who managed to immortalize the most romantic moment in the history of Italian floorball
The crazy match times (the same as the Shanghai GP and Olimpia Milano vs Trento) for having awakened Arge's killer instinct
The Paracetamol shots that kept Brembol's playoff fever at bay
The edge of the field that opened Koschitz's knee giving him points that were not valid for the FantaPagliaccio
Haribo for the 2 kg and 3 ounces of gummy sweets consumed by the good Vasco during the weekend
The most special thanks, however, goes to our few but very good fans and our girls who followed us away: in addition to documenting every action with excellent videos (credit to Lina, the official Spartak videomaker in her own right) they always supported and encouraged us even in the most difficult moments and then let themselves go to stadium chants and wild hooligan celebrations at Fabio's marriage proposal. Epic.
Goals & Highlights of the Italian Floorball Championship Finals A2
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