In a display of sheer attacking brilliance, defending champions Bordeaux-Begles weathered an early storm—both from the weather and a feisty Bath side—to secure a thrilling 38-26 victory and punch their ticket to the Champions Cup final. The match at Stade Atlantique kicked off 10 minutes late due to driving rain, but once the skies cleared, the action was nothing short of electric.
Bordeaux came out firing on all cylinders. Within just two minutes, they orchestrated a sweeping move out left, with Damian Penaud slicing through the Bath defense to set up No. 8 Marko Gazzotti for the opening try. It was the kind of statement that sets the tone for champions.
But Bath, the English champions, showed exactly why they belong on this stage. England scrum-half Ben Spencer delivered a perfectly weighted kick to the corner, allowing winger Will Muir to touch down with ease. Finn Russell’s conversion leveled the scores, and for a moment, it looked like we had a classic on our hands.
Enter Louis Bielle-Biarrey. The electric French winger, who has been in sensational form all season, motored through for his eighth try of the tournament—and his 29th in just 27 matches overall—to put Bordeaux back in front. His pace and finishing ability have made him one of the most dangerous attackers in Europe, and this try was a perfect example of his explosive talent.
Bath refused to buckle. A series of powerful pick-and-go drives saw Alfie Barbeary come close to crossing the line, but the Bordeaux defense held firm. Moments later, Bath moved the ball wide again, with Harry Arundell creating the space for Muir, who lived up to his nickname "The Horse" by galloping for the corner and diving through a tackle for his second try of the afternoon.
Just before halftime, Bordeaux showed their class. Some slick handling opened up the Bath defense, allowing scrum-half Maxime Lucu to score under the posts before adding his third conversion. Lucu then slotted a penalty just before the break, sending Bordeaux into the tunnel with a commanding 24-12 lead.
Bath, however, are no strangers to comebacks. Having overturned a 21-point deficit to beat Northampton in the quarter-finals, they came out swinging in the second half. Ten minutes in, a flowing attack nearly yielded a try, but Santiago Carreras spilled the ball with the line at his mercy. From the ensuing penalty, the ball found its way to center Loui Hennessey, who forced his way through for a try, cutting the gap to just five points.
The tension was palpable, but Bordeaux showed the composure of champions. Further tries from Ben Tameifuma and Temo Matiu sealed the win, setting up a mouthwatering final against Irish powerhouse Leinster at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on May 23. For rugby fans, this is the clash of the season—and for Bordeaux, the chance to defend their crown is now just 80 minutes away.