Leinster vs Stade Francais Paris Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions Cup

Prediction published on 11/01/2024, 12:30  by Nella Wagah | Modified on 13/01/2024 at 04:30 in Champions Cup Prediction

Irish giants Leinster welcome Stade Francais to the Aviva Stadium in a blockbuster Champions Cup clash slated for Saturday. A perfect start to the competition sees Leinster sit at the summit of Group 4 while Stade Francais are rock bottom. A win for the hosts will confirm their progression to the quarter-finals of the competition. Victories over Stade Rochelais and Sale Sharks with a bonus point over the latter has seen Leinster bag nine points. Leinster will be looking to go one better this campaign after losing the final last season to Stade Rochelais. The Irish heavyweights are however reeling from a narrow 22-21 defeat to Ulster last time out. Despite the defeat, Leinster are still top of the United Rugby Championship standings having won seven games. A big blow however came with the news that Jimmy O’Brien has been ruled out for months with a neck injury. Some positive news for Leinster will be the return of winger James Lowe who had been sidelined since the World Cup.

Stade Francais posted an abysmal start to the Champions Cup, losing to Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers. A victory here will be crucial to their hopes of progression to the quarters of the tournament they are yet to win. Stade Francais are coming from a 14-all draw with Clermont in the Top 14, a game that saw Tanginoa Halaifonua sin-binned. Despite the draw, Stade Francais are sitting in third place in the Top 14 and are on course for another playoff berth. The Parisians are however on a poor away record that has seen them lose their last three games on the road. News that Mickaël Ivaldi will be leaving the club at the end of the season rocked the team, as he is expected to join Toulon.