Spain: Weekend games highlighted by matchup critical to playoff picture

AFI | Alcobendas Cavaliers | 03/25/2023

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Spanish National League of American Football, LNFA, heads into the second last weekend of the regular season with four games on tap.

The playoff picture in the West Conference has already been decided as the 7-0 Las Rozas Black Demons and 4-2 Osos Rivas have both clinched post season berths. However, in the East, only the 6-0 Badalona Dracs are assured of a spot in the playoffs. The battle for the second and last berth is between the 4-3 Mallorca Voltors, and the 3-4 Zaragoza Hurricanes.

Mallorca does not play this weekend and winds up their season against the Badalona Dracs on April 1. A win against Badalona assures the Voltors of the final playoff spot. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes need to beat the Pioners in their matchup to have a chance. Should Zaragoza beat Hospitalet and Mallorca lose to the Dracs then the Hurricanes wind up in the playoffs by virtue of their better points differential in the two games between Mallorca and Zaragoza. The Hurricanes lost the first game 3-0 but then beat the Voltors 29-7 later.

Saturday, March 25

Zaragoza Hurricanes (3-4) @ L’Hospitalet Pioners (1-6)

The Hurricanes will be looking to improve their record to 4-4 and hopefully clinch a playoff berth depending on how the Mallorca Voltors do. Zaragoza won the first game between these two teams earlier in the season 20-6.

Watch the game live. Zaragoza Hurricanes @ L’Hospitalet Pioners, March 25, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 11 am EDT).

Gijon Mariners (2-4) @ Las Rozas Black Demons (7-0)

The Black Demons are aiming to close out the regular season with their unbeaten streak intact when they face the Mariners. Although Gijon are coming off an impressive 48-21 win over the Coslada Camioneros, they will be in tough against a Las Rozas squad that whipped them 56-14 in the last outing.

Gijon Mariners @ Las Rozas Black Demons, March 25, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 11 am EDT)

Sunday, March 26

Badalona Dracs @ Valencia Firebats

The Valencia Firebats will face the undefeated Badalona Dracs on Sunday at the Poliesportiu Quatre Carreres in the Valencian capital. This is the last game of the regular season for Valencia while the Dracs have another game remaining against Mallorca. With first place and a home playoff game sewn up Badalona still would like to finish unbeaten. The odds would seem to be in their favor too as the last game between these two ended in a 50-14 win for Badalona.

Badalona Dracs @ Valencia Firebats, March 26, 12:00 CET (12 noon, 6 am EDT)

Alcobendas Cavaliers (1-5) @ Osos Rivas (4-2)

Osos Rivas, for their part, will play host to the Alcobendas Cavaliers (1-5) on Sunday at the Cerro del Telégrafo in Rivas-Vaciamadrid. The last time these two met earlier in the season, Osos came away easy 38-0 winners.