The Badalona Dracs (2-0) will take on the Mallorca Voltors (2-0) at home in Montigalá this saturday at 16:00 (Central European Time). This game will decide the top place in the LNFA Serie A´s eastern conference as both of these teams are still unbeaten entering Week 4, which is still pretty early in the season but the stakes are really high. This game has a lot of playoff implications and when it's all said and done in the regular season, the top seed of the east is probably gonna be the winner of this game.
Team Analysis
The home team is highly favored. The Dracs this season want to win it all and establish once again the dynasty they had for more than five years. They have made that pretty clear with the signings of Americans Runningback Ra'von Bonner and Athlete Alpha Jalloh. One is a first timer in Europe and an explosive beast at running the ball in Ra'von Bonner, who is coming out of Temple and Illinois University. The other one is the European American football veteran Alpha Jalloh, known in the whole continent for being able to dominate at almost every position on the field, with experience in the ELF (Germany), Finland, Sweden, Spain, Romania and France. This is probably the best backfield in Europe this year and they are already putting up astronomical numbers (Badalona´s offense has put up 99 points so far), but the Dracs are not satisfied with that as the catalonian team has signed mexican Quarterback Marco Durán. The 27 year old will be the QB1 for the remainder of the season after playing with the Reds of Mexico City of the LFA (Mexican professional football league) and is ready to put on a show against the Voltors for his Serie A debut.
The Mallorca Voltors is a well established team in the Spanish first division and has been that way for some years now. They enter this duel as the underdogs, but they are gonna put up a fight for sure. The balear team is led by Quarterback Zahir Malik Wilder, the American import started the season as a wide receiver but had to step up as a passer when national Quarterback Tolo Flaquer was injured in Week 1 against Barcelona Pagesos. One of the strongest assets of the team is their defense, which has only allowed 7 points on the season so far with names that stand out such as their Canadian import Defensive back Michael Jurus, Defensive back Marc Carbonell or Defensive Lineman Nicolás Barrieros. Also, on offense, players like Scottish Wide Receiver Calum Davidson or Wide Receiver Santiago González will be key in the game for Mallorca with an arm as strong as Malik´s, who is also a huge dual threat with his legs when it's needed.
Key factors in the game
The Badalona Dracs have a clear thing to do to win this game, and it is to let their Running backs Bonner and Jalloh eat. That also opens up the passing game for the new Quarterback of the team Marco Durán to connect with one of the league's top national receiving corps, composed by names such as Iván Caballero, Eric Ladero and David Martínez. If they continue to do what they have done in the season so far they will be good to go in this important battle at home for the top spot of the conference.
Mallorca Voltors´ path to victory passes through one key factor, stopping the Dracs' run game. If the Voltors´ front seven is able to slow down the power house attack of Badalona´s backfield, they will get a chance for Zahir Malik to take responsibilities as the dual threat he is and carry the offense for the upset.
Prediction
This will probably be one of the most intense matchups in terms of play this season, but with that high scoring offense that has put up 99 points in just two games played, I see the Badalona Dracs as the winners of this game.
GO DRACS!!!