Connacht vs Bordeaux Begles Prediction: Bordeaux can edge a thriller

With a side littered with international quality, Bordeaux Begles might just fancy their chances of causing an upset at Connacht on the opening night of European Champions Cup action. 

The Top 14 outfit head to the Galway Greyhound Stadium following back-to-back victories in the French top flight whereas Connacht have lost their last two league outings to the Bulls and Leinster. 

Match Odds 

Connacht are the 8/15 favourites for Friday’s Champions Cup encounter with in-form Bordeaux are available at 13/8 to claim victory in Galway. The draw is a 16/1 chance.

Team News 

Ireland centre Bundee Aki is set to make his first start of the season for Connacht in Friday's Champions Cup clash. 

And as a World Rugby player of the year nominee there is no doubt that Aki’s return should give Connacht a boost after their recent reverses. 

He is one of five changes from the Connacht side who were edged out by Leinster last weekend, with Denis Buckley, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce and Andrew Smith also coming into the hosts' starting line-up. 

Bordeaux, meanwhile, have named the formidable pairing of Maime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert as their starting half-backs with fellow France international Damian Penaud on the right wing. 

Up front, Ugo Boniface, Clement Maynadier and Sipili Falatea form an uncompromising  front row while Pete Samu and Tevita Tatafu will add power at the base of the scrum for the Top 14 visitors. 

Bordeaux Begles to win @ 13/8  

 Two sides in contrasting form meet on what is forecast to be a wet and windy Friday night in Galway. 

Such conditions will put a premium on the tactical kicking battle and Bordeaux's half-back pairing of Lucu and Jalibert should have the quality to put pressure on Connacht and play in the right areas of the field. 

Jalibert is also a master at spotting opportunities with ball in hand when they arise and he has the offloading ability to open up defences in an instant. 

The fly-half impressed in the absence of Romain Ntamack at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and he will be an undoubted threat for Bordeaux, as will winger Penaud. 

One of the leading players at the recent World Cup, Penaud has an uncanny knack of being in the right spot at the right time. 

Penaud's finishing prowess and tremendous work ethic off the wing make him another pertinent threat for Connacht to contend with. 

If Bordeaux's pack can win the arm wrestle up front then it’s clear for all to see that the visitors have the attacking threats in the backline to put Connacht to the sword. 

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