Lions vs Ospreys Prediction & Betting Tips - Challenge Cup

Prediction published on 20/01/2024, 07:00  by Devesh Jaganath in Challenge Cup Predictions

The Lions host Ospreys in the final round of group-stage matches in the EPCR Challenge Cup on Sunday. The hosts are in third place in Pool 2, while the visitors are fourth. The Lions suffered a 13-3 defeat to Montpellier in Round 3, but due to the results elsewhere, the top four teams in Pool 2 have already secured a Round of 16 spot. The Lions are currently in third place with nine points, tied with the fourth-placed Ospreys. They trail second-placed Benetton by two points and Montpellier by five. The Lions started their campaign with a 28-12 victory over Perpignan and followed up with a bonus-point win against Newcastle Falcons (35-13). In the final round, they face fellow URC side the Ospreys, having previously beaten Welsh teams like the Scarlets and the Dragons in the URC this season and defeating the Ospreys 28-27 in Swansea last season.

In Round 3, the Ospreys secured a 25-3 victory over USAP at home. They began their Challenge Cup campaign with a 43-34 home win against Benetton but suffered a 38-5 defeat to Montpellier in Round 2. In the URC this season, the Ospreys defeated the Sharks 19-5 at Twickenham Stoop in Round 3. Currently, they are eighth in the URC standings with a record of five wins and four defeats, holding a 2-point advantage over the Lions, who have a game in hand. With a place in the next round already guaranteed, Ospreys are likely to send out a changed side here, which could result in this being a fairly one-sided encounter.