Betting previews and free tips for Saturday's European Champions Cup pool games

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's European Champions Cup games.

Munster v Saracens

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 5.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Munster -6
2pts 10-11 Sky Bet
Back this tip with bet365

Match preview

Saracens head coach Mark McCall promised his side's focus would be on their domestic campaign rather than Europe and he has stuck true to his word for this taxing trip to Thomond Park.

Having put out a young side in the opening two rounds of the Champions Cup, McCall brought back his England stars for last week's Premiership win at Bath.

Owen Farrell started that match at fly-half with the Vunipola brothers, Jamie George and George Kruis in the pack, but none of those are in the 23 a week later.

It's far from a second-string side and the bulk of the team who thrashed the Ospreys 44-3 a fortnight ago line up again. But that victory came at home against a desperately poor Ospreys team, and this challenge is right up there with their opening round against Racing in Paris, which they lost 30-10.

Sarries are a well drilled unit and McCall and his coaching team instil a team spirit that ensures every player knows and carries out his job, so rotating the squad so heavily has less impact than for other clubs.

But Munster rested their frontline players in the Pro14 last week and their focus is entirely on this game and Europe. They were held to a draw at home by Racing and can't afford more dropped points so everything points to a ruthless performance from the hosts.

Before the Racing draw Munster had won their last ten home pool matches in Europe, eight of them by a double-figure margin.

Ospreys v Racing

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 5.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Racing to win by 11 to 20 points
1pt 3-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
Back this tip with Paddy Power

Match preview

Ospreys have acted quickly to address their poor start to the season but a clash with highflying Racing is unlikely to produce an instant turnaround.

Former Wales coach Mike Ruddock has come in as a consultant, while new signing Marty McKenzie, brother of All Black Damian, makes his debut at fly-half.

The Welsh outfit are winless in Europe, were overturned 44-3 by Saracens last time out, and are still without internationals Alun Wyn Jones, George North and Justin Tipuric. They look set to be overrun by a star-studded Racing side who showed their intent by gaining a draw at Munster two weeks ago.

Ulster v Harlequins

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 3.15pm Saturday

Best bet

Ulster to win by one to 12 points
1pt 2-1 Betfair
Back this tip with Coral

Match preview

Ulster are top of pool three after grinding out two tight wins, and we could be in for more of the same when Harlequins visit.

After Clermont blitzed Quins in the opening round many were tipping the French side to go all the way, but Ulster stunned them with an 18-13 victory in Belfast two weeks ago, underlining their credentials as dogged battlers in front of their own fans.

Quins will be buoyed by a hard-fought win over Gloucester last week but they look set to be outmuscled in the set-piece and may lack the power to get through a hard-working defence.

La Rochelle v Glasgow

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 3.15pm Saturday

Best bet

Glasgow
1pt 6-4 Betway
Back this tip with Coral

Match preview

La Rochelle had no answer to the enterprising play of Exeter in the opening round and Glasgow could be worth chancing to inflict another home defeat on the French outfit.

Les Corsaires are unbeaten at home in the Top 14 but two defeats out of two in Europe could well have led to a drop in focus and intensity.

Glasgow have the backs to put width and pace on the game and the hosts may again offer little in return if they are stretched too far.

Northampton v Leinster

Where to watch

BT Sport 2 & Channel 4, 1pm Saturday

Best bet

Leinster -5
2pts Evs Betway
Back this tip with bet365

Match preview

Northampton are flying high in the Premiership and confidence will have soared after last week's big win over rivals Leicester.

But the Saints are under no illusion that the open, running game that has brought them success domestically will come under huge pressure from a Leinster side who are so adept at closing down and stifling opponents.

Leinster, runners-up last year, haven't had to hit top gear yet in Europe, picking up wins at home to Benetton and in Lyon, and having rested the bulk of their first-team squad last week they will look to step it up in back-to-back games against the Saints.

The teams last met in the pool stage in 2016-17 when Leinster won 37-10 at Franklin's Gardens and 60-13 at home.

Lyon v Benetton

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 1pm Saturday

Best bet

Benetton +16
1pt 10-11 general
Back this tip with William Hill

Match preview

Even after two rounds these teams are making up the numbers in pool one and are hard to trust in what is already a fairly meaningless game.

Lyon stand top of the Top 14 table and domestic success will be their prime focus.

Benetton showed their battling qualities when just missing out at home to Northampton in round two so are worth chancing with a big start.

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