The final round of the pool stage in the 2024-25 Champions Cup is upon us, with teams battling for a place in the knockout rounds. Seven teams have already secured their spots, but the remaining qualification spots are fiercely contested.
The final round of the pool stage of the 2024-25 Champions Cup takes place this weekend, providing teams with a final opportunity to secure their place in the knockout rounds . Seven teams, including Glasgow Warriors, Northampton Saints, and Leicester Tigers, have already secured their spots in the last 16 in April. However, the race for the remaining qualification spots is heating up.
The top four teams from each pool advance to the next stage, with the top two earning the coveted home advantage in the last 16. In the event of a tie in match points between two or more teams within the same pool, their ranking will be determined by points difference. If the points difference remains equal, the number of tries scored during the pool stage will be the deciding factor. Teams are awarded four points for a victory and two for a draw. A bonus point is granted to a club that scores four or more tries, and another bonus point is awarded to a club that loses by seven points or fewer. This means a team that scores four tries or more but loses the match would still earn two points.Several key matchups will determine the final standings in each pool. In Pool 1, the two winless teams, facing off on Friday at Kingspan Stadium, are likely to decide who finishes fifth and secures Challenge Cup qualification. While both teams still hold a slim chance of advancing to the Champions Cup last 16, the winning side would need to secure a bonus point fourth try and hope Bordeaux defeats Sharks on Sunday by a substantial enough margin to surpass them on points difference. Leicester Tigers faces Toulouse on Sunday with a win potentially securing one of the top two seeds and home advantage in the last 16. Maximum points for Bordeaux against Sharks would guarantee their position as top seeds. If Bordeaux falls short, Toulouse or Tigers could capitalize on the opportunity to claim the top spot. In Pool 2, already qualified and a home win against Bath on Saturday would secure their position as number one seeds. A home victory against Bristol is likely to secure their place in the last 16 due to the challenging fixtures facing Bath and Benetton. A win for La Rochelle would guarantee their spot in the top four, and a victory would secure a top-two seeding. Benetton would qualify with a win and, if they surpass their opponents – they are three points behind La Rochelle but with a significantly worse points difference – they could secure a home tie in the last 16, depending on Bath's results. The weekend's matches will also see facing Leinster, a win would be enough to secure qualification. However, they can still qualify without earning any points if results elsewhere favor them.
CHAMPIONS CUP KNOCKOUT ROUNDS POOL STAGE QUALIFICATION TOP SEED HOME ADVANTAGE
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