European Champions Cup; match previews, where to watch and free tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Sunday's European Champions Cup quarter-finals.

Toulouse v Ulster

Where to watch

Channel 4 & BT Sport 3, 12.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Toulouse -13
2pts 10-11 bet365, Sky Bet

Match preview

Toulouse are strong favourites at their home fortress to overcome an Ulster side who have gone through two tough battles in the last fortnight.

First Ulster had to battle back twice from a 12-point deficit to overcome Edinburgh 22-19 away in the Pro14 semi-final, then they were worn down 27-5 in the final by Leinster, who felt comfortable enough to leave Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton on the bench for the first hour.

Those results say a lot about an Ulster side who have the grit and tenacity to scrap for victories but maybe lack the pedigree and nous to take on the very top teams.

After a spell in the wilderness Toulouse again deserve their status among the elite.

Top 14 champions in 2018-19 - the last completed season - they won their pool in this tournament with six wins out of six and are looking comfortable again on the big stage.

Their still-youthful half-back pairing of Antoine Dupoint and Romain Ntamack have 40 France caps between them and with a sizeable pack in front of them will look to control the game.

Ulster reached the last eight courtesy of home and away wins against Premiership pair Bath and Harlequins but generally their road form has never matched their success in front of their own fans and the French side should pull comfortably clear.

Exeter v Northampton

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 5.30pm Sunday

Best bet

S Simmonds first tryscorer
1pt each-way 8-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Match preview

An all-Premiership clash ends the weekend’s Champions Cup action and Northampton travel to Exeter mindful of the fact their last visit to South Devon in February ended in a 57-7 hammering.

That was the start of a run of five home wins for the Chiefs and they have scored 36 tries in that sequence so a handicap of 20 points-plus is no surprise.

Northampton have won just one of seven Premiership games since they returned to action and Sandy Park is no place to be going when confidence is low.

A handicap of that magnitude is hard to bet on in a knockout game and Exeter’s record against the spread when favourites at home reads four wins out of nine.

But one thing that is more dependable is the central role the Exeter pack will play and it’s telling that Chiefs number eight Sam Simmonds is favourite in the first tryscorer market and odds-on to score at any time.

With each-way terms of three places he is worth a shout at 8-1 to grab the first try.

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