Cardiff's Principality Stadium is the stage for this Saturday's 30th Champions Cup final as Northampton and Bordeaux battle it out to be crowned kings of European rugby.
The French side are playing in their first-ever final, having beaten holders and record six-time winners Toulouse in a brilliant semi-final, and are aiming to become the fifth Top 14 side to get their hands on the famous trophy.
Saints have played in two finals before, but not since their 2011 loss to Leinster, which was also played in the Welsh capital. It was their stunning win over the Irish side that booked their spot in the showpiece, and they will be looking to mark the 25th anniversary of their sole European title win in the best possible way.
Both sides love to attack, and are stacked with some of the best young players in the game, so this could be a final for the ages.
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Northampton vs. Bordeaux prediction, betting tips and odds
Result: Bordeaux (-7.5) to win (10/11, Paddy Power)
Score prediction: Northampton 22-35 Bordeaux
The French side have been the form team in the competition this season, winning all seven of their games en route to the final, and scoring a staggering 50 tries in the process.
Possessing a strong pack and a backline marshalled by half pack pair Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert, they have played the best rugby on the continent in recent times, with world-class wing duo Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey scoring 20 of those 50 tries.
Saints will be no pushover, as proven by their famous win in Dublin, and with Lions quartet Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman and wonderkid Henry Pollock in the lineup, they will fancy their chances of pulling off a remarkable trophy success.
However, given Saints' injury woes and several absentees, it's hard to back against Bordeaux lifting the trophy for the first time.
*Odds correct at time of publish with listed firms and subject to change.
Northampton vs. Bordeaux Champions Cup — Form and head-to-head record
LAST FIVE GAMES:
Northampton: W-L-W-W-W
Saints have had a domestic season to forget, with injuries and form seeing them languish in eighth place in the Premiership. However, they have won three of their last four league games, including a comeback win against Saracens last time around. Coupled with their big win against Leinster, they head into the final in high spirits.
Bordeaux: W-L-W-L-W
Bordeaux are guaranteed a top-four finish in the Top 14 as they chase a famous double, having never previously won a trophy in their history.
Perhaps understandably as they try to juggle domestic and European games, their two league losses came either side of the landmark semi-final triumph over Toulouse.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD:
These sides have only ever met once before, in December 2020, when Bordeaux came away from an empty Franklin's Garden during COVID with a narrow win.
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Northampton vs. Bordeaux best bets
- Pick: Over 54.5 points
- Odds: 5/6 (Spreadex)
Given both sides' propensity to play attacking rugby, particularly in Bordeaux's case, we might be in line for a final far less cagey than in previous years.
Smith will kick his goals for Northampton, while Freeman (nine) and Pollock (seven) have also ran tries for fun in this year's competition.
As for Bordeaux, their average of 34.2 points and five tries per game this season tell us everything we need to know about how they are likely to approach the Cardiff showpiece.
It should make for a brilliant final for the neutral, and a high-scoring affair is well worth a bet.
- Pick: Both Bordeaux wingers to score tries
- Odds: 3.2/1 (double with BoyleSports)
Penaud and Bielle-Biarrey are undoubtedly the two best wingers in Europe, and possibly the world, right now, and have the stats to back it up.
Bielle Biarrey, who is still only 21, has scored a stunning 31 tries for club and country this season. Eight of them came in a record-breaking 6 Nations campaign, which saw him score in all five games.
Penaud's 21 tries this season seem meagre in comparison to his teammate, but no one else, and he has already broken the record for most tries (12) in a single Champions Cup season this year, as well as tied the all-time French national team record.
If Bordeaux are to win, it is very likely their wing wizards will play a decisive role.
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Northampton vs. Bordeaux match facts and how to watch on TV and online
- Date: Saturday, May 24, 2025
- Kickoff Time: 14:45 BST
- Location: Principality Stadium (Cardiff, Wales)
- Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GA), TMO: Marius Jonke (SA)
- Last meeting: Northampton 12-16 Bordeaux (December 11, 2020 | Champions Cup)
- TV/Streaming: Premier Sports, S4C