The Spanish National League of American Football, LNFA, has reached the semifinal round with the defending champion Badalona Dracs (6-2) in the unusual position of being on the road against the unbeaten Osos Rivas (8-0).
The Madrid based Osos Rivas breezed through the eight-game Spanish regular season racking up 276 points while giving up a league-low 76 points. Of the six, only two were within 10 points, a 16-13 win over the Black Demons and a 30-25 victory over the Murcia Cobras in the last game before the playoffs, a game in which Osos rested a number of starters. Badalona, the defending Spanish champions, dropped two games, to the Rookies, the first time since 2015 they had lost two games to a Spanish team during the regular season.
These two teams faced each other in the semifinals a year ago with Badalona coming out on top 21-0.
Osos head coach Ricardo Martin will have his team aiming for the Spanish double having already won the Spanish Cup tournament. Quarterback Sergio Barbero leads the offense and threw for 803 yards and 11 touchdowns during the regular season. The Osos ground game features running backs Alejandro Vaquero (388 yards/5 tds) and Denzel Duchenne (357 yds/5 tds).
Badalona will be quarterbacked by veteran Sergi Gonzalo. Expect the six-time national champion passer to target receiver Raul Cernuda who finished second in the Spanish league with 616 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. He will also be looking to get his talented running back Eduard Morlans involved early and often. Morlan’s was the third leading rusher in Spain with 487 yards and seven touchdowns rushing.
Defensively the Dracs have veteran defensive lineman Felix Ntwa. The physical Austrian defender will look to make a difference in the trenches against an explosive Flash team.
The Dracs, five-time champions since 2016, are pursuing their 19th appearance in the Spanish title game, and their ninth in a row. The last time Osos Rivas reached the final was 2012 when they lost to L’Hospitalet Pioners, 47-24.
Badalona Dracs @ Osos Rivas, May 7, 16:30 CET (4:30 pm, 10:30 am ET)
