First away game of the 2023 season for the Barcelona Dragons. A real challenge against a rookie franchise in the European League of Football, but with a huge track record in domestic leagues behind them.

The match, like the one against Helvetic Guards in Week 1, started in the worst possible way: the Italians took the lead with a Field Goal in the first minute of the match. However, this time it was also possible to react quickly to the circumstances and the Conor Miller – Theo Landström machine began to carburete. The Swede scored the first Touchdown of the afternoon after a floated pass to the corner of the rival End Zone. Again, the Seamen Milano reacted immediately. Not even 15 seconds had elapsed when a deep pass from Luke Zahradka found the firm gloves of Juan Flores to make it 7-10. At that time, it was already expected that the Barcelona Dragons would have to put on work, since it was going to be a highly contested match.

However, the last five minutes were clearly dominated by Dragon, managing to stop the Italian attack, and scoring with a running Touchdown run by Eduard Molina. On the ensuing drive, a spectacular interception from Lautaro Frecha returned possession to the Catalans at midfield. Following that play, Conor Miller put up a 30+ yard pass for Theo Landström’s reception. Play that ended with a new Touchdown from the Swede to leave at the end of the first quarter 21-10.

Before the break, the Italians were better, scoring two touchdowns on long plays, one early in the second quarter, and another late in it. However, Raul Cernuda made his debut in a play of pure power: receiving a pass through the middle, turning and taking two rival defenders ahead to leave at halftime with a score of 27-24.

From the first touchdown they made, the Barcelona Dragons were always ahead on the scoreboard, combining the running game (and doing twice as many yards as the rival 110-54) with the passing game in attack, and showing a great balance in defense . Arriving at the last quarter, Montón made the electronics rise to 41-27, but there was still all the time in the world for a possible Italian reaction. Which was done subtracting 6:55 minutes. With a difference of only 8 points on the scoreboard, the Seamen Milano had the opportunity to tie in the closing stages of the match. They needed to score a touchdown and convert the two points. They were inside the Dragons’ 5-yard line, but a fumble by Running Back Ali Khalife, who had been having a great game so far, allowed Benjamin Egbudiwe to recover the ball, ending the game 41-33.