There is still plenty to play for in the European Champions Cup as the fourth and final round of group stage play takes place this weekend. Here is a look at the betting odds for some of the best games that the continent will have to offer.
Scarlets VS Bristol Bears – Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Fans will be back inside Parc y Scarlets on Saturday as the Welsh government has lifted restrictions on supporters due to Covid-19. This will be huge for Scarlets as they currently sit bottom of Pool B and are the only team not to be progressing into the knockout stages of either the Champions or Challenge cup as things stand.
Bristol are the 4.5 point favorites here and have already qualified through to the Round of 16 in the Champions Cup. They have two wins and one draw, though they have only actually played one game, a 28-17 win over Stade Francais last time out with Semi Radradra the star. Scarlets have also played just one game, a 45-10 blasting by Bordeaux last weekend. Take Bristol minus the points with BetXchange.
Leicester Tigers VS Bordeaux – Welford Road, Leicester
Leicester has already qualified for the Round of 16 and sit level with Harlequins at the top of the table with 14 points from three wins and no defeats in the comp. Their last-minute win over Connacht 29-28 last time out thanks to a Hosea Saumake try was indicative of how their season is going. Bordeaux is fifth in the pool with eight points from a win, a defeat, and a Covid canceled game that was declared a draw. It would take a weird twist of events for them not to qualify through with Leciester and six other teams regardless of their result here.
The two teams have had different news on the injury front this week. The Tigers look set to welcome back important back-rower Hanro Liebenberg after the South African has missed the last four matches with a shoulder problem. While Bordeaux look outstanding in their demolition of Scarlets last time out, it came at a cost. Franch international stand-off Matthieu Jalibert came off early in the second half and he is missing from the French squad for the Six Nations with a thigh problem. I like Leicester to win, but a lot of their games are close and the free-flowing Bordeaux side could easily cover the 8.5 point spread.
Glasgow Warriors VS La Rochelle – Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
The tie that is the pick of the round is Glasgow hosting La Rochelle. The French side has already qualified and sit third in Pool A after a seven-point win over Glasgow, a cancelation, and a win over Premiership strugglers Bath. Glasgow is eighth in the pool and in desperate need of a win to keep their Champions Cup dream alive. They beat Exeter at home 22-7 on a foggy night at Scotstoun before Christmas, before being blasted 52-17 by a frustrated Exeter at Sandy Park last weekend.
Glasgow is the 0.5 point favorites so this is basically a pick’em line. The crowd will be back in at Scotstoun – something that shouldn’t be overlooked – and the Warriors are typically much better at home in Europe than they are on their travels. They have won four of their last six home matches against French opposition and I like that to continue here.
