It’s Euro Hockey League week with the ABN AMO EHL Men KO16 in Barcelona running from Thursday, October 9th to Sunday, October 12th.
Sixteen of Europe’s best clubs from 11 different countries battle it out over four days, all hoping to grab one of the four tickets on offer to next Easter’s EHL FINAL8.
It all takes place at the Eduardo Dualde stadium, home to Real Club de Polo, while viewers around the world can watch the games via EuroHockeyTV (or DAZN in Belgium and ESPN in Latin America).
Venue: Eduardo Dualde Stadium, Av. Dr. Marañón, 19-31, Les Corts, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Tickets: https://www.eventim.nl/en/artist/ehl/?affiliate=EU2
Match schedule: https://ehlhockey.tv/event/euro-hockey-league-men-ko16-2025/
Where to watch: https://ehlhockey.tv/ehl-finals-where-to-watch/
Each KO16 game is a straight knock-out battle with each winner advancing to the KO8 round a day later from which the ticket to the FINAL8 will be decided.
The first batch of eight teams hit the turf on Thursday before the next cohort begin their campaigns on Saturday. Here’s an overview of the first four showdowns on the agenda:
Who plays who? The Thursday KO16 showdowns
KO16: Saint Germain HC (FRA) v SK Slavia Prague (CZE) – 11.15 CET
The French champions are back in the EHL after a four-year break to make it 14 appearances in the world’s best club competition. They are boosted by the return of Olympian Blaise Rogeau who joins French captain François Goyet and South African star Keenan Horne in the line-up.
They are unbeaten thus far in the French league, notably beating CAM 92 4-2 last weekend.Slavia qualified for the EHL for the second time when they dethroned TJ Plzen Litice earlier this year, giving them the chance to perform on the elite club stage following their debut in Hamburg in 2023. They are in good shape again this season, leading the Czech league by three points after six matches.
KO16: Wimbledon HC (ENG) v Hamburger Polo Club (GER) – 13.30 CET
Wimbledon’s much-changed panel are unbeaten in the English league thus far after an important 1-1 draw with Old Georgians last weekend. Key to their success has been new arrival Kei Kaeppeler with the USA international scoring four times already. Goalkeeper Toby Reynolds-Cotterill and captain Sam Hooper will be key figures.
They face the German vice champions from last season who moved top of the Bundesliga last weekend. Tom Craig and Tim Brand are big presences and they are joined by German stars Justus Weigand (Mannheimer HC) and Joshua Onyekwue Nnaji (Crefelder HTC) to make them even stronger.
KO16: HC Wien (AUT) v Royal Léopold Club (BEL) – 15.45 CET
HC Wien are back in the EHL this season after a 10-year break as they look to put it up to Royal Léopold. It follows their first Austrian championships since 2015 but there are still five players to link the two generations with Marcel Hilbert, Jakob Puchhammer, Franz Lindengrün, goalkeeper Lukas Glaser (GK) and Simon Landsteiner; the latter scored their only EHL goal against Harvestehuder THC.For Léo, their early season has been a little bit of a mixed bag but they did fight back from 2-0 down to draw with Gantoise in the Carlsberg 0.0 League. Their forward firepower is the envy of Europe with Tom Boon, José Basterra and Nelson Onana among the options.
KO16: Club de Campo de Madrid (ESP) v CAM 92 (FRA) – 18.00 CET
Eduardo Aguilar’s team is undoubtedly one of the favourites to be in the mix for the Spanish title this season and they have reinforced with Belgian players Nicolas Poncelet and Jeremy Wilbers joining their side.The Spanish runners-up are hoping they can get back into medal contention for the first time in 14 years having taken silver in 2011.CAM92 is entering a new cycle this season with a lot of player changes this season as a lot of the club’s talents have moved like Lucas Montecot, Mathis and Timothée Clément and Corentin Sellier.As such, Junior World Cup silver medalists Tom Gaillard, Gabin Lorrazuri, Rafael Stab and Louis Haertelmeyer will be vital players.
Friday October 10th schedule
Ranking Match: Saint Germain/SK Slavia Prague v Wimbledon/Hamburger Polo Club – 11.15 CET
KO8: Saint Germain/SK Slavia Prague v Wimbledon/Hamburger Polo Club – 13.30 CET
Ranking Match: HC Wien/Royal Léopold v Club de Campo de Madrid/CAM 92 – 15.45 CET
KO8: HC Wien/Royal Léopold v Club de Campo de Madrid/CAM 92 – 18.00 CET
