Bath vs Lyon European Challenge Cup final rugby union predictions, betting tips and odds: Bath can move closer to trophy treble

Where to watch the European Challenge Cup final

European Challenge Cup final
Premier Sports 1, 8pm

Best bets for the European Challenge Cup final

Bath -12
2pts 10-11 general

Vincent Rattez to score a try
1pt 12-5 Hills

European Challenge Cup final odds

Here are the latest odds ahead of Bath vs Lyon in the European Challenge Cup final:

Odds correct at time of publishing

Want more top sports betting advice? Make sure you take a look at Racing Post Sport's tips for more of the latest picks from our experts.

Recommended Offer

4/5

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

• Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)

CLAIM OFFER

18+ T&Cs apply

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.

European Challenge Cup final predictions

Having already lifted the Premiership Rugby Cup and secured a home Premiership playoff semi-final, Bath are eyeing a trophy treble and the next leg is Friday night's European Challenge Cup final against Lyon at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

After finishing as Premiership runners-up last term, Bath qualified once again for the European Champions Cup. However, drawn in a tough pool, they managed only one win and dropped into the knockout stage of the Challenge Cup.

Defeats to Leinster and La Rochelle were perhaps understandable, but a shock loss to Italian side Benetton effectively ended Bath's Champions Cup progress.

However, the drop in class to the Challenge Cup allowed Bath to showcase their attacking style, and having managed just 102 points in their four pool games, they cut loose to rack up 149 points and 22 tries in three knockout matches.

That kind of return is far more in keeping with their league form – Bath top the Premiership table and attacking charts with 625 points and 92 tries – and we should see more of the same under the Principality Stadium roof.

Head coach Johann van Graan has spoken of the need to "stick to process" in the final and has gone for six forwards on the bench but it seems unlikely that Bath will opt for a pragmatic game plan given the attacking weapons at their disposal.

Having rested frontline players against Bristol a fortnight ago, Bath recalled their big guns – including fly-half Finn Russell – at home to Leicester last week and were rewarded with seven tries in a 43-15 victory.

Final opponents Lyon don't boast the same attacking edge and may find themselves playing catch-up against a Bath side who have bagged the first try inside the first ten minutes of all their knockout games.

The French side are languishing in 11th in the Top 14 and have lost their last three league matches. One player to watch, though, is winger Vincent Rattez, who has scored a try in all three of Lyon's knockout games as well as in last week's Top 14 defeat to Stade Francais. If the French side are to threaten, it looks most likely to come through him.

It looks set to be in vain though as Bath rate strong favourites to get the job done in style and they can turn the screw late on to cover a 12-point handicap.

Read this next:

Friday's Betfred Super League predictions: Robins to outclass the Wire in Challenge Cup rehearsal 

James Milton: Six ante-post selections that tell the story of the 2024-25 Premier League 

Football predictions & free betting accumulator tips from James Milton: Anfield clash unlikely to be short on action 

Joe Casey: Analysing the race for a top-five spot in the Premier League 

Europa League final reaction: Postecoglou 1-2 to stay at Spurs 

Click for free bets and betting offers from the Racing Post

Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing and sports betting.