Watch Live as Spanish League heads into home stretch

| American Football | 03/25/2017

The Spanish League season heads into the home stretch this weekend with two things certain. The Badalona Dracs are the team to beat to win the Spanish championship and the Reus Imperials are vastly improved over last season and could well be in the final against them. This weekend the Dracs pay a visit to Murcia to play the Cobras while Reus travels to Valencia to take on the Giants. Finally, the winless Barbera Rookies will face the Valencia Firebats.

Saturday March 25

Murcia Cobras (2-4) – Badalona Dracs (6-0)

After opening the season with two impressive wins, the Cobras have struggled through a four game losing streak which will likely become five as they face a Dracs team that has hit top gear.

Badalona, the runaway leaders of the Spanish league beat Murcia in their first meeting 26-7 after taking a 26-0 lead. Quarterback Sergi Gonzalo tossed four touchdown passes in that game, two of them to Spain’s leading receiver Hunter Lee. Gonzalo has thrown 32 touchdown passes so far in six games and Lee tops the country with 108 points and is averaging three touchdowns a game. Expect more of the same from that duo.

Murcia quarterback Angel Clemente will have his hands full dealing with the Dracs front four although running back Kevin Gramage can surprise. Still, this could be a long night for Clemente and the Cobras.

Watch the game live. Kickoff 5 PM (12 Noon EDT)

Valencia Giants (3-3) – Reus Imperials (5-1)

 

This could be the most intriguing matchup of the weekend in Spain. The Giants have won two in a row while Reus is coming off a big win against the Firebats. The Imperials won the first meeting between the two 50-27. In that game, Reus exploded for 24 second half points after an even and exciting first half. Imperials quarterback Brady Huber has thrown 23 touchdown passes with Nate Stephens has been the recipient of many of those.

Giants quarterback TJ Tutone threw three touchdown passes in that first game and scored one himself. Expect him to be the key to the Valencia offense.

There is a lot on the line for both teams in this one. As it stands, they will likely face each other in the semifinals so a win would certain make a statement for either team.

Watch the game live. Kickoff 7 PM (2 PM EDT)

Sunday March 26

 Barbera Rookies (0-6) – Valencia Firebats (2-4)

The Valencia Firebats are facing the unusual prospect of finishing out of the Spanish playoffs for the first time in many years. They desperately need a win against the lowly Rookies to keep pace with both the Cobras and Giants to keep their playoff hopes alive.

In their first meeting this year, the Firebats handed Barbera a 30-18 defeat after trailing 10-6 in the first half. Running back Hector Pertegaz scored two second half touchdowns in that one while while quarterback Fernando Altarriba found receiver Alejandro Silvestre for another one. In fact, head coach Juan Pablo Terán, also got into the act, scoring the final Valencia touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Rookies are coming off an embarrassing 65-7 loss to Badalona two weeks ago and badly need a win.

Watch live. Kickoff 10:30 AM (5:30 AM EDT)

 

Roger Kelly is an editor and a writer for AFI. A former PR Director the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League for 7 years, he now lives in Sweden writing about and scouting American Football throughout the world.