Club de Campo moved into the KO8 stage of the Euro Hockey League with a dominant display to see off the challenge of St Germain in the first game of the week. Two goals apiece from Rodrigo Vila and Alex Davila did the damage as the French could not live with their Spanish opponents. The first quarter took a while to get going as St Germain set up a half court press to contain the Spanish side, who seemed content to keep the ball. Both sides forced a penalty corner each but Clement Coty’s effort was charged down and Andres Mir was well kept out by Martin Zylbermann who got right foot to the ball to turn it away. On the stroke of quarter time, Campo took the lead. Mir’s pass was diverted home by Anton Parente.

Campo took control of the second quarter and Pepe Borrell forced a good save from the goalkeeper when clean through. At the other end, Xavi Trenchs, the very vocal Spanish goalkeeper was called upon making a stunning save diving to his right to turn away Francois Goyet’s reverse stick strike before recovering to race from his goal and block the follow up from Jean-Baptiste Pauchet. Moments later, Campo made it 2-0. Gonzalo Lasso cut across the D from the left and fired a cross-shot towards the far post which was touched in by Vila. Campo had a glorious chance to tie the game up with six minutes left in the quarter as they were awarded a penalty stroke. Mir took it but he blazed his effort well wide ensuring the score was still 2-0 at the break.

St Germain made a nervy start to the third quarter, turning the ball over in dangerous areas and with a better final pass the Spanish side could have cashed in. Trenchs did well to keep out first Blaise Rogeau and then Hugo Genestet as the French side rallied, recovering from their poor start. The difference between the sides was clear as Campo once again took their chance when it came. Vila notched his second with a reverse stick strike from the top of the D.
Trenchs saw off another couple of penalty corners from St Germain but they had the look of a beaten side as the fourth quarter started. Moments into the final quarter the fourth goal came. Davila drifted effortlessly past Charles Verrier and calmly slotted home. St Germain lost some discipline and Pierre-Louis Verrier was given a yellow card, upgraded to a red after he took his protestations too far. Borrell glided through the remainder of the defence and set up Devila to touch home at the far post for 5-0 and it was all over.

They will surely face a sterner test as the next game comes around but Campo become the first side into the KO8 stage and will wait with interest to see who they play next.