Black Lion vs Clermont Prediction & Betting Tips - Challenge Cup

Prediction published on 19/01/2024, 09:00  by Devesh Jaganath in Challenge Cup Predictions

Round four of the EPCR Challenge Cup continues this weekend, with Black Lion taking on Clermont Auvergne on Saturday afternoon. The hosts are currently fifth in the Pool 3 standings, while the visitors are third. The Georgian club, currently positioned just outside the qualification places, still has a chance to secure a spot in the knockout stage of the EPCR competition in their inaugural season by defeating their French visitors. However, that will require them to bounce back from a poor display last week when they were comprehensively beaten 28-6 by Castres at Stade Pierre Fabre. Prior to that, they managed to secure their only win of the competition to date, beating Scarlets on the road, which followed an opening-round defeat to Gloucester at the start of last month. It should be an electric atmosphere at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium but can the debutants pull off a crucial result over their veteran opponents? 

Meanwhile, Clermont have won two of their three matches so far, currently on ten points thanks to their two bonus points. They hold a five-point advantage over Black Lion and will be aiming for a victory to secure their own qualification in the upcoming match. The French outfit secured a much-needed 38-17 win over Scarlets last week to stop a run of four matches without a win. During that time, the visitors had lost 28-17 to Gloucester in this competition, followed by back-to-back defeats against Pau and Bordeaux-Begles before a draw with Stade Francais in the Top 14 at the start of the New Year. In addition, Clermont have now failed to win any of their last four away games, dating back to November 11, when they beat Montpellier. This could be a tricky journey for the French side, but they are the favourites heading into the match.