LIVESTREAM Spanish Semifinal: Osos Rivas @ Badalona Dracs, 11:00 am CET (05:00 am ET)

| American Football | 05/02/2021

AFI’s lone Sunday game comes in the form a fantastic playoff matchup between two of Spain’s best teams.

The defending champion Badalona Dracs (7-1) will host the Osos Rivas (6-2) in a highly anticipated matchup with a trip to the title on the line.

For the Badalona Dracs, they head into the playoffs with one goal in mind, to win the championship and keep their top spot in Spain’s football hierarchy. The defending champions lost their first game in four years this season in February and are looking to bounce back from the regular season loss and win the title once again. For the Dracs, a athletic defense led by pass rushers Nicholas Knoblauch and Mike Taylor has been key to their success this season. On offense, Spanish quarterback Sergi Gonzalo is back as the starter and has led them too four straight wins.

Osos Rivas @ Badalona Dracs, 11:00 am CET (05:00 am ET)

The steady veteran looks to get back the championship and retain the Dracs dominance for one more season.

“We carry a lot of history in our shoulders and not being in the playoffs is not something you think about. We have to win at all costs. And once in the playoffs. We must do our best to win.”

For the Osos Rivas, their impressive record this season comes in large part to a explosive offense lead by quarterback Garrett DelleChiaie. He has been one of the Spain’s best passers as he’s made use of dangerous weapons such as Mario Flores, Alvaro Guitian, and Alejandro Tizon. In the running game, the dangerous two headed monster of Adrian Jimenez and Mike Gentili has torched defenses this season.

DelleChiaie on the Osos Rivas mindset going into the playoffs:

“As an offense our goals and mindset have been the same all year. The key for us is to play osos football and use this game as another opportunity to show the league what we created here. It’s do or die and everyone here is excited and focused.”

On defense, the strength of the Osos Rivas is their defensive line as Mexican Johnny Escobar and Spaniard Arthur Pinheiro are forces at the line of scrimmage. Linebacker Jorge Juarez is a athletic defender who plays sideline to sideline and the secondary is led by veteran Rodrigo Gardeta.

This game looks to be an excellent matchup between two teams with title goals. The Dracs are the traditional powerhouse program in Spain and look to defend their title once again this season. The Osos Rivas and their explosive offense make this a classic game of offense vs defense as the Dracs defense is one of the league’s best.

Watch the game live here. Osos Rivas @ Badalona Dracs, 11:00 am CET (05:00 am ET)

Badalona Dracs roster (Click to enlarge)

Osos Rivas roster (Click to enlarge)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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