Sale vs Racing 92 Prediction: Sharks can show their teeth

After being humbled up at Glasgow Warriors last time out, Sale Sharks will look to kick-start their European Champions Cup campaign when they play hosts to Racing 92 at the Salford Community Stadium on Friday night (20:00, Premier Sports 2).

Alex Jack provides his best bets and Sale vs Racing 92 prediction, as well as all the important teams and match odds, below.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, Sale have been boosted by the return of England and British & Irish Lions lock Jonny Hill to the starting XV as one of eight changes from the side that lost 38-19 at Glasgow.

England fly-half George Ford, who endured a disappointing Autumn Nations Series, also returns to the starting line-up, while fellow internationals Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Curry and Tom Roebuck also come back into the fold.

Raffie Quirke, Waisea Nayacelevu and Alex Wills have been named among the replacements and will be looking to make an impact off the bench.

Rugby Union Odds

As for Racing, a number of French stars are welcomed back to the fold for the trip across the Channel to Greater Manchester.

Camille Chat starts at hooker, while skipper Cameron Woki, Maxime Baudonne and Hacjivah Dayimani make up the back row.

Former England captain Owen Farrell is absent from the matchday squad, so Dan Lancaster starts at fly-half outside France’s talented scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec.

Henry Chavancu and Sam James form the centres, while the back three is made up of Max Spring, Henry Arundell and Tristan Tedder.

Sale vs Racing 92 Odds

Sale Sharks are favourites to get back to winning ways at 3/10, while Racing are 5/2, or a 28.6% chance, to head back to the French capital with the victory.

A draw is available at 22/1, while Sale to be leading at both the half-time and full-time whistle is currently 4/6

Sale -10 handicap @ 5/4

While Sale were outgunned by a strong Warriors side last time out, the Sharks are a different prospect when it comes to games at the Salford Community Stadium.

Winning all of their last seven games in the Premiership in their Greater Manchester home, the Sharks are a force to be reckoned with on their patch.

Leicester were the last side to take on Sale at the Salford Community Stadium and Michael Cheika’s Tigers left with a bloody nose after a 39-25 defeat.

The Tigers are hoping to be in contention for the grand final this season in the Premiership, and Sale ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Ford’s return at fly-half is a boost, and he will feel like he has a point to prove to England boss Steve Borthwick as the 2025 Six Nations edges closer.

Racing 92 are certainly not to be relied upon when it comes to games on the road and Sale look capable of not only winning this game, but coming out on top in the handicap in the process.

Rugby Union Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.