Bath vs ASM Clermont Auvergne Prediction: Bath can get off the mark

Bath will be looking to land their first win of this season’s European Champions Cup when they host ASM Clermont Auvergne at The Recreation Ground on Sunday evening (17:30, Premier Sports 2). 

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Bath vs ASM Clermont Auvergne prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds. 

Bath vs ASM Clermont Auvergne Odds

Bath are the heavy favourites in the match betting at 1/9 to claim the win in the West Country this weekend. 

Clermont are 11/2 to head back across the Channel with a victory over the Premiership frontrunners, while a draw at The Recreation Ground is available at 25/1. 

Rugby Union Odds

Team News

Bath are dealing with a number of injuries going into this game, with back-rowers Sam Underhill, Guy Pepper and Jaco Coetzee all set to miss Sunday's game. 

Head coach Johann van Graan has also confirmed winger Will Muir will be out with a hamstring injury, while Scotland centre Cam Redpath is also dealing with a leg issue. 

In more positive news, Ted Hill is set to return to bolster Bath's options in the back-row, while Tom de Glanville is expected to come back into the backline. 

As for Clermont, they are likely to make changes from the side that beat rock-bottom Vannes in the Top 14 last time out. 

Only scraping past Vannes 20-19, head coach Christophe Urios is likely to make strategic alterations but there have been no reports of fresh injuries from the Clermont camp ahead of their trip to England. 

Bath -17 handicap @ 5/4

Bath will still be reeling from the fact they put 34 points past reigning Premiership champions Northampton Saints and still didn't manage to leave Franklin's Gardens with the win last weekend. 

Handing Saints a 19-point head start, Bath will know they can't afford to give the same luxury to Clermont or they risk missing out on making the Champions Cup knockout stages. 

With just two bonus points from their opening two games, this is a must-win for Bath if they are to challenge for European silverware, something they should be doing considering their current standing in the domestic game. 

Tightening up the defence will be key this weekend but that's something Van Graan and his players will have been working on this week. 

Injuries picked up at the Gardens have not helped, with the loss of England flanker Underhill to an ankle knock a set back 

However, Hill will add quality to the back-row, while the attacking threat of De Glanville offers fly-half Finn Russell another weapon to use out in the wide channels. 

Russell's goal kicking has been excellent this season and is one of the reasons why he's the top points scorer in the Premiership right now. 

If the Scot can bring his creative best to the party and his kicking boots, then Bath look to be good value to fall on the right side of the -17 handicap against a Clermont team that have lost their rhythm in recent weeks.