The reigning Italian champion Milano Seamen open their international season on the road in Barcelona, Spain Saturday, March 24 when they take on the Spanish title holders the Badalona Dracs in the first round of the European Football League tournament.
The Dracs and Seamen play in Group A along with defending EFL champions, the Thonon Black Panthers from France.
The Milano Seamen competed in the Big6 in 2017 defeating the Berlin Rebels before losing to the Frankfurt Universe. In 2016, the Seamen reached the final of the Champions League where they lost to the Wroclaw Panthers from Poland. Spain’s Badalona Dracs also played in the Big6 in 2017 losing to both the Amsterdam Crusaders and Braunschweig New Yorker Lions.
Six teams from six different countries will battle for the EFL title. Each team will play a home and away game in the group stage with the winners playing in EFL Bowl V on the weekend of June 9-10.
Badalona remains unbeaten in the Spanish American Football League with a 5-0 record and have the best offense and defense in Spain. Badalona is scoring at a rate of 47 points a game while giving up just under six point a game. Quarterback Sergi Gonzalo leads the league in touchdown passes thrown and he has plenty of targets with Brandon Ravenel and Edu Morians two of his prime targets.
The Seamen won their opening game of the Italian season last weekend beating the Bolzano Giants 21-0. Quarterback Luke Zahradka threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns with wide receiver Stefano di Tunisi catching five passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, Ismail Lamamra hauling in four for 64 yards and a touchdown and Xavier Mitchell in his debut in Italy, catching three for 27 and a touchdown as well as adding a two point conversion.
This is the first time these two teams have faced each other. This will be a matchup to remember.
Watch the game live. Milano Seamen (Italy) @Badalona Dracs (Spain), Sat. March 24, 6p (12 noon EST)
