Harlequins vs Glasgow Warriors Prediction: Thrilling battle expected at the Stoop

With a host of international talent on show, Friday night’s European Champions Cup clash between Harlequins and Glasgow Warriors has the makings of a classic at the Twickenham Stoop (20:00 KO).

Both sides impressed to reach the knockout stage of the competition and with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs, one team’s European journey will come to an abrupt end this week. Read on for our Harlequins vs Glasgow Warriors prediction and all the latest team news.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, Harlequins have made just two changes from the side that beat Bath 40-36 last time out. Will Collier returns at tighthead prop with Fin Baxter and Jack Walker in the front-row, while Irne Herbst comes into the second-row alongside George Hammond.

Stephen Lewies, Will Evans and Alex Dombrandt make up the back-row, while it’s the familiar figures of Danny Care and Marcus Smith in the half-backs.

Andre Esterhuizen and Oscar Beard form the centres, with the back-three made up of Cadan Murley, Louis Lynagh and Tyrone Green.

As for Glasgow, head coach Franco Smith has been handed a big boost with the return of Scotland centre Sione Tuipuloto. The inside centre was sorely missed by Scotland in the latter stages of the Six Nations and returns to the No.12 jersey on Friday night.

Tuipuloto will be partnered by Stafford McDowell in the centres, with George Horne and Tom Jordan as outside half-backs.

The back-three includes Kyle Rowe, Kyle Steyn and Josh McKay, while in the pack the front-row is made up of Nathan McBeth, Johnny Matthews and Zander Fagerson.

Max Williamson and Scott Cummings are the locks, while it’s a Scotland back-row of Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey that take the field.

Match Odds

Harlequins are the pre-match favourites at 1/3 for the win, implying they have a 75% chance of victory - while Glasgow are 12/5 - or a 29.4% chance - to head back north of the border with the victory in 80 minutes. A draw at the Stoop is available at 20/1.

Meanwhile, Harlequins can be found at 4/7 for the first-half winner, with odds of 17/10 for Glasgow Warriors in the same market.

The Harlequins-Harlequins double result is 4/5 and tie-Harlequins is 18/1.

Betfred are running their famed Double Delight & Hat-trick Heaven offer on this match, meaning that if a player scores first and then nets again, you will be paid at double the odds. If he grabs a hat-trick, you will be paid at treble the odds!

Glasgow Warriors +5 handicap @ 6/5

Given the amount of international quality on both sides this is an incredibly hard game to call. The set-piece will of course be key and Glasgow do look to have the edge in the back-row with Fagerson, Darge and Dempsey.

However, Quins have experience and quality with Care and Smith in the half-backs, so both teams have their areas of strength. This is a game that could well come down to the final 10 minutes to decide which side will be playing in the Champions Cup quarter-finals this season.

Glasgow are the underdogs but with a +5 handicap they look good value at 6/5 to fall on the right side of that.

The Warriors have a pack capable of taking the game to Quins, while Tuipuloto and the rest of the backline can cause the hosts problems.

A win at the Stoop might be a stretch but backing Glasgow on the handicap is the prediction here.

Rugby Union betting tips from Betfred Insights.