Lyon set up Final date with Van Graan's Bath

MATCH REPORT: With the final spot in Cardiff’s Grand Finale up for grabs, there was tension at the Stade de Gerland as Lyon and Racing 92 battled it out on Sunday.

The 2022 Challenge Cup champions, Lyon, used all their experience and produced a very impressive show, booking a spot in the Final with a 29-15 win over Racing 92.

For Racing 92, who had an up-and-down season, it was a very difficult afternoon.

They lost Owen Farrell prematurely when he had to leave the field just short of the quarter mark.

The British and Irish star sustained a head knock in an attempted tackle.

Both teams scored two tries apiece.

However, the boot of Léo Berdeu proved to be the difference. The flyhalf added 19 points to his team’s tally – two conversions and five penalties.

After a frantic start where Racing 92 enjoyed possession, the first scrum went the way of Lyon, handing a big advantage to the hosts.

They looked dangerous with the ball in hand, but failed to convert possession into points.

Lee-Marvin Mazibuko had to leave the field for an HIA in the first 10 minutes; the prop returned later.

Léo Berdeu had an opportunity to put the first points on the board. However, the Lyon flyhalf pushed his penalty attempt wide, and it remained scoreless.

Lyon certainly looked more enterprising, making lethal runs from their own 22, but their decision-making in the opposition’s half let them down.

Racing 92 suffered another injury blow, with Farrell leaving the field after sustaining a head knock in a collision.

The centre never returned to the field.

Despite the injuries, Racing 92 was the first team to break the deadlock on the scoreboard, courtesy of a penalty by Tristan Tedder.

Lyon hit back immediately when Berdeu’s second attempt went over the posts to level the score: 3–3 after 26 minutes.

Lyon scored the first try of the match. At the back of a good line-out, Lyon worked the ball wide, and after some slick handling, Vincent Rattez went over the chalk. Berdeu added the extras for a 10–3 lead.

Lyon went down to 14 men, and Racing 92 took full advantage. From a line-out, the visitors set up a driving maul before Diego Escobar powered over and narrowed the deficit to just two points.

Despite starting the second half a man down, Lyon were the better side. They came close to scoring a try, but a knock-on on the try line nullified the effort.

They eventually got the points when Berdeu added another penalty and extended the lead to 13–8.

Replacement Beka Saginadze extended the lead when he powered over the line at the back of a line-out. Berdeu added the conversion for a 20–8 lead.

As the clock approached the hour mark, it was clear that Racing 92 needed to create something magical – and that’s exactly what happened.

From a line-out in their own 22, Racing 92 collected the ball before Max Spring’s grubber downfield was scooped up, and his pass found Kleo Labarbe, who scored under the posts.

Tedder added the much-needed conversion.

Just after the hour mark, Berdeu stretched the lead with two penalty kicks, taking it to 29–15.

Down to 14 men, it was a very challenging closing period for Racing 92.

Lyon held on to their commanding lead during the final 10 minutes to book their place in an EPCR Challenge Cup final for the first time since 2022 – the year they last won the competition.

The scorers:

For Lyon
Tries: Rattez, Saginadze
Cons: Berdeu 2
Pens: Berdeu 5

For Racing 92
Tries: Labarbe, Escobar
Cons: Tedder
Pen: Tedder

Yellow cards: Josiah Maraku (Lyon, 35 – foul play), Vinaya Habosi (Racing 92, 72 – offside)

Lyon: 15 Davit Niniashvili, 14 Vincent Rattez, 13 Josiah Maraku, 12 Theo Millet, 11 Ethan Dumortier, 10 Léo Berdeu, 9 Baptiste Couilloud (captain), 8 Arno Botha, 7 Liam Allen, 6 Dylan Cretin, 5 Mickael Guillard, 4 Theo William, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Guillaume Marchand, 1 Hamza Kaabeche
Replacements: 16 Yanis Charcosset, 17 Jérôme Rey, 18 Cedate Gomes Sa, 19 Killian Geraci, 20 Beka Saginadze, 21 Maxime Gouzou, 22 Charlie Cassang, 23 Martin Meliande

Racing 92: 15 Tristan Tedder, 14 Max Spring, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Owen Farrell (captain), 11 Donovan Taofifenua, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 Nolann le Garrec, 8 Cameron Woki, 7 Junior Kpoku, 6 Maxime Baudonne, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Boris Palu, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Diego Escobar, 1 Eddy Ben Arous
Replacements: 16 Janick Tarrit, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Thomas Laclayat, 19 Jordan Joseph, 20 Kleo Labarbe, 21 Antoine Gibert, 22 Josua Tuisova, 23 Vinaya Habosi

Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (Eng) and Sam Grove-White (Sco)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)