Adam Williams presents his prediction for the European Rugby Champions Cup match.
Following a heavy defeat in the opening round against Glasgow Warriors (19:38), Sale Sharks have hit the bottom of their group, while Racing 92 fell just short against the Scottish side, securing a narrow win (+11) over Harlequins. To keep their playoff hopes alive, the hosts must secure a victory now.
Sale Sharks
After such a significant loss, the Sharks can only rely on the support from their home ground. They have been victorious in their last eight matches at the Salford Community Stadium. In January 2024, they suffered two defeats, including a Champions Cup clash with La Rochelle (24:37). It's at the continental level that Sale Sharks have faced challenges, despite their domestic success in the English Premiership. During the entire 2023/24 European season, they managed just one win out of five matches, which happened to be at home against another Parisian club, Stade Français (28:5).
Racing 92
The upcoming challenge comes from a slightly stronger opponent. Racing 92 reached the last Champions Cup playoffs. More recently, they defeated a robust Harlequins side (23:12), who were arguably expecting more from the game, although it was still level at 12:12 with around 20 minutes to go. Racing 92 capitalised brilliantly on a 10-minute power play following a 51st-minute sin-binning for the English side, stretching their lead by eight points.
Sale Sharks vs Racing 92 Prediction
It's unsurprising that Sale Sharks' chances of victory are rated over twice as likely due to their home advantage. However, a win against such a formidable opponent is unlikely to come easily. Back in 2022, these teams met in the Champions Cup quarter-finals, where Racing 92 won comfortably (41:22) thanks to their star players. Racing 92 still boast more rugby celebrities, suggesting that the best the hosts can hope for in this situation is a narrow victory.
