Bordeaux Begles vs Saracens Prediction: Bordeaux to bulldoze through Sarries

This weekend’s European Champions Cup action culminates on Sunday with an intriguing battle in Pool One as an in-form Bordeaux Begles host Saracens, who have been hit and miss in recent weeks.

Bordeaux go into this meeting on the back of seven consecutive victories and increasing that streak to eight on Sunday will see Yannick Bru’s side top the pool after matchday three.

Joe Shaw’s Saracens have looked less impressive, with the North London side losing four of their last six games, including a 19-10 defeat at Leicester Tigers last time out.

Match Odds

Bordeaux are strong favourites to claim the points in this battle at 1/3, whereas three-time Champions Cup winners Saracens are on offer at odds of 13/5.

A tie can be backed at 22/1, while a Bordeaux win of no more than five points is priced at 6/1.

Team News

Coach Yannick Bru makes four changes to the side that edged out Bayonne 24-23 last Saturday, with Romain Buros the only new face in the backs as he replaces Nans Ducuing.

A change at loosehead prop sees Ugo Boniface drop to the bench with Jefferson Poirot introduced, whilst Marko Gazzotti and Pete Samu are also picked to start ahead of Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer and Tevita Tatafu.

Joe Shaw has made eight alterations to freshen up Sarries in preparation for this encounter, with changes evenly split between the forwards and backs.

The pack sees Logovi’i Mulipola and Theo Dan placed at the coalface in place of Kapeli Pifeleti and the benched Sam Crean, while Nick Isiekwe and Andy Christie are also recalled for Theo McFarland and Juan Martin Gonzalez, with the latter named among the replacements.

A change at scrum-half sees South African Ivan van Zyl come in for the dropped Gareth Simpson, while Sean Maitland, Alex Lewington and Alex Goode are all named in the starting XV, with Lucio Cinti, Rotimi Segun and Tom Parton making way.

Bordeaux to win by 6-10 points inclusive @ 4/1

French side Bordeaux currently trail Top 14 leaders Racing 92 by just four points in their domestic league and will have confidence in reclaiming the top spot in the European Champions Cup pool on Sunday.

Bordeaux have been perfect at the Stade Chaban-Delmas this season, last tasting defeat in front of their own fans back in March of last year.

Sarries ended the year in poor form on the road, suffering defeat in each of their final three away fixtures in 2023, including a 27-16 loss to South African side Blue Bulls in this group in December.

Matches involving Saracens are usually entertaining, with the North London side possessing one of the Premiership’s leakiest defences and best attacks.

A tight encounter is therefore expected in this one, but the form and momentum of Bordeaux as well as home advantage cannot be understated and the hosts should therefore have enough to edge past Sarries in this clash.