The Zaragoza Hurricanes travel to the outskirts of Barcelona Sunday, January 14 to take on the L’Hospitalet Pioners on Day 2 of the opening weekend of play in Spain’s top league, the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano.
The two teams faced each other twice in 2023 with the Hurricanes coming out on top both times, 20-6, and 21-16. The last victory propelled Zaragoza into the playoffs with a 4-4 record where they were eliminated by the eventual champions, the Las Rozas Black Demons. Meanwhile, the Pioners finished with a 1-7 record in 2023.
The Pioners will be coached by Bertu Fernandez once again, who looks to build up a young team that finished 1-7 last season. L’Hospitalet have been busy in the off-season adding several new Spanish players including OL Javier Uvida, DL Giani Versace, and DL Eduardo Cornielle. They also bring back UK DL Peter Vincent. Two new foreign imports are Belgian running back Thomas Davies of the Brussell Black Angels and Brazilian linebacker Victor Villaca who has experience playing for the Telfs Patriots in the Austrian Football League. The Pioners will be quarterbacked by American Robert Carter who was outstanding for Germany’s Franken Knights last season.
The Hurricanes bring back key Spanish talents in Jamie Pomar as well as ELF veteran offensive lineman Gabriel Rodriguez. Fellow former ELF player Daniel Monfared will also help boost the Zaragoza squad as they hope to make another push for the play offs.