** Picture: Jose Maria Llorens

EHL Men KO16 hosts Real Club de Polo will look to continue their encouraging start to the season following a trio of wins in the Spanish league.

They saw off UD Taburiente 3-0 last weekend to add to earlier wins over CD Terrassa and Junior FC, putting them in good shape for the Friday night visit from CAM 92 from France.

It means a great start for returning coach Carlos Cuenca in the first season of his second spell having helped the club reach the EHL FINAL4 in 2019, equaling their best ever run in the competition.

The panel this year has the marquee signing of Marc Recasens from Club Egara along with Niclas Schippan from Harvestehuder THC, mitigating against the departure of Marc Miralles to Bloemendaal and Alberto Carnicer to Junior.

Crucially, Xavi Lleonart is back in action following a year out through injury and his exceptional skills and passion will augment a side bolstered by internationals like Luis Calzado, Marc Reyné and Llorenç Piera.

They will hope to use home advantage to full effect in a competitive section of the draw. Should they make it through, they will face either Holcombe or Racing Club de France. 

Last time out, they beat Club Egara in the KO16 but came unstuck against Harvestehuder THC 3-0.