LIVESTREAM Spain: Badalona Dracs @ Zaragoza Hurricanes, Dec. 13, 12:30 CET (06:15 ET)

| American Football | 12/13/2020

The Zaragoza Hurricanes will host the defending champion Badalona Dracs in the opening game of the 2020-21 season for both teams in the Spanish League of American Football.

The Hurricanes managed to win one game during the shortened season earlier this year but suffered a 52-14 defeat at the hands of the Dracs. Meanwhile, Badalona had rolled out to a 5-0 record before the season was canceled due to the pandemic.

For the visiting Badalona Dracs, they are led by their coach Oscar Calatayud. Coach Calatayud has slowly become one of the most respected coaches in Europe for the dominant program he has helped build. The Dracs have a few new faces this year, including Austrian linebacker Dustin Illetschko.

Badalona Dracs @ Zaragoza Hurricanes, Dec. 13, 12:30 CET (06:30 ET)

Illetschko is a tackling machine who has played for top teams in Germany, Finland, and Austria. Last season he recorded 144 tackles for the Potsdam Royals in the GFL. Joining him will be the versatile Nikolas Knoblauch. Knoblauch continues his adventurous 2020 as this will the third team he has played for this year. Knoblauch showed his skills in Denmark for the Triangle Razorbacks playing running back and linebacker, a couple weeks later he was lining up at defensive end in Sweden for the Orebro Black Knights. Watch for coach Calatayud to use Knoblauch all over the field this season. At quarterback, the Dracs will have veteran Sergi Gonzalo back. Gonzalo has been a part of the Badalona organizations for years stepping in at quarterback whenever he is needed. The 2018 Spanish Bowl MVP threw for 178 yards against the Osos Rivas last season.

The host of today’s matchup, the Zaragoza Hurricanes, are looking to improve off of what they showed last winter. The Hurricanes only collected one win in their pandemic shortened season. Head Coach Isaac Bujan is looking to improve his team this winter by signing Spanish national team linemen Rubén Ochoa and Carlos Romero. Ochoa and Romero are both versatile linemen with experience on both the offensive and defensive lines. Balancing out brawn with speed Coach Bujan re-signed a dynamic weapon in athlete Denzel Duchenne. Duchenne is small but fast. He is 5’8 170 athlete who played football and ran track at Virginia Union (NCAA D2). While playing for the Panthers, Duchenne was an all-conference return man and a established receiver on his team. Look out for Duchenne as he will be one of the fastest players on the field.

Look for special teams to be key in this matchup. The Hurricanes will need to make some big plays there in order to knock off the champs. Football is back in Spain.

Watch the game live here. Badalona Dracs @ Zaragoza Hurricanes, Dec. 13, 12:30 CET (06:30 ET)

 

Alex is a former NCAA and semi-pro American football player who is now located in London, where he works in digital marketing. His goal in writing for AFI is to stay involved with the game that has given him so much. Alex enjoys covering leagues and