Challenge Cup 2025/26 · Round of 16
Montpellier
USA Perpignan
GGL Stadium, Montpellier
Championship Standings
Top 14 context tells the story. Montpellier sit 5th on 57 points, firmly in the qualification playoff places with a +158 point differential — the fourth-best attack in the league. Perpignan are 13th on just 23 points, deep in the relegation playoff zone with a -155 differential. A chasm of 34 points separates these two clubs in the domestic table.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Toulouse | 20 | 15 | 5 | +357 | 71 |
| 2 |  Section Paloise | 20 | 13 | 7 | +77 | 59 |
| 3 |  Stade Français | 20 | 11 | 8 | +128 | 59 |
| 4 |  Bordeaux-Bègles | 20 | 12 | 8 | +136 | 59 |
| 5 |  Montpellier | 20 | 11 | 8 | +158 | 57 |
| 6 |  Clermont | 20 | 11 | 9 | +82 | 52 |
| 7 |  Racing 92 | 20 | 11 | 8 | −23 | 50 |
| 8 |  Castres | 20 | 10 | 10 | −69 | 47 |
| 9 |  La Rochelle | 20 | 9 | 11 | +67 | 45 |
| 10 |  Bayonne | 20 | 10 | 10 | −83 | 45 |
| 11 |  Toulon | 20 | 9 | 10 | −106 | 45 |
| 12 |  Lyon | 20 | 9 | 10 | +19 | 44 |
| 13 |  Perpignan | 20 | 5 | 15 | −155 | 23 |
| 14 |  Montauban | 20 | 1 | 18 | −588 | 7 |
Montpellier
W4, L2Montpellier have been flawless in the Challenge Cup pool stage — four wins from four, including tough away victories at the Ospreys (31–26) and Black Lion in Tbilisi (24–13). They scored freely at home, putting 31 and 33 past Zebre and Connacht respectively. Their Top 14 form is equally impressive — 5th in France with 11 wins from 20, and a league-best +158 point differential behind only Toulouse. Hugo Domingo Miotti has been outstanding, sitting 3rd in the Top 14 points-scoring chart with 206 from 17 appearances.
USA Perpignan
W1, D1, L2Perpignan qualified for the knockout rounds but their campaign has been unconvincing. A comfortable win away at Zebre (39–21) was the highlight, but they could only manage a draw against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Their Top 14 season has been dire — 13th on 23 points with just 5 wins from 20 matches and a devastating −155 point differential. They have conceded an average of 28 points per game in the league — a defence in crisis.
Head-to-Head in Montpellier
7 – 1 – 3
Montpellier wins · Draws · Perpignan wins (last 11 meetings at GGL Stadium)
Montpellier (7)
Montpellier have dominated this derby at home, winning 7 of the last 11 meetings at the GGL Stadium. The most recent encounter was a 19–13 Montpellier victory in April 2025. However, Perpignan did pull off a shock 25–20 win here in April 2024 — proving they can cause an upset when the mood takes them. The wider trend is clear though: Montpellier have won by margins of 24, 28, and even 30+ points in several of their home victories against USAP.
Recent Results
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2025 | Top 14 | Montpellier 19–13 Perpignan |
| Apr 2024 | Top 14 | Montpellier 20–25 Perpignan |
| Dec 2022 | Top 14 | Montpellier 38–10 Perpignan |
| Dec 2021 | Top 14 | Montpellier 30–6 Perpignan |
| Feb 2019 | Top 14 | Montpellier 10–28 Perpignan |
| Feb 2014 | Top 14 | Montpellier 50–19 Perpignan |
Average score in the last 6 meetings: Montpellier 27 – Perpignan 15. Montpellier have won 7 of the last 11 at home, often by commanding margins.
Extended Form
Montpellier15W, 1D, 8L (last 12 months, all comps)
Top 14: W vs Toulouse (H) 44–14, W vs La Rochelle (H) 37–13, W vs Lyon (H) 35–13, W vs Bordeaux (H) 28–24, W vs Castres (H) 33–31, W vs Bayonne (H) 62–22, W vs Stade Français (H) 44–7, W vs Racing 92 (H) 41–17, W vs Clermont (A) 20–17, W vs La Rochelle (A) 43–33, W vs Perpignan (A) 28–0. L vs Toulouse (A) 45–29, L vs Toulon (A) 30–27, L vs Pau (A) 35–33, L vs Clermont (H) 7–9, L vs Stade Français (A) 35–12, L vs Racing 92 (A) 32–25, L vs Bayonne (A) 26–23. D vs Montauban (A) 22–22. Challenge Cup: 4W (Connacht, Ospreys, Zebre, Black Lion).
Montpellier are a fortress at home — their GGL Stadium record this season is outstanding, with dominant wins over Toulouse (44–14), La Rochelle (37–13), Bayonne (62–22), and Stade Français (44–7). They’ve been more vulnerable on the road, losing at Toulouse, Toulon, and Pau, but even their away form has improved recently with wins at Clermont and La Rochelle.
USA Perpignan5W, 2D, 15L (last 12 months, all comps)
Top 14: W vs Montauban (A) 29–22, W vs Racing 92 (A) 30–23, W vs Bayonne (H) 26–23, W vs Castres (H) 33–31. L vs Toulouse (A) 41–9, L vs La Rochelle (A) 31–8, L vs Pau (A) 23–6, L vs Toulouse (A) 31–13, L vs La Rochelle (A) 38–15, L vs Clermont (A) 31–13, L vs Toulon (A) 40–19, L vs Lyon (A) 44–19, L vs Stade Français (A) 24–7, L vs Montpellier (A) 19–13. D vs Vannes (A) 20–20, D vs Cheetahs (A) 20–20. Challenge Cup: W vs Zebre (A) 39–21.
Perpignan’s away record is abysmal. They have won just 5 of 22 matches on the road in the last 12 months across all competitions, and their away losses include thrashings at Toulouse (41–9), La Rochelle (31–8, 38–15), and Lyon (44–19). They struggle particularly against top-half Top 14 sides away from Stade Aimé Giral — a damning trend heading to Montpellier’s GGL Stadium.
Montpellier XV
Lineups have not yet been announced for this fixture. Montpellier’s squad features a strong mix of international quality — Argentina’s Justo Piccardo, fly-half Hugo Domingo Miotti (3rd in Top 14 points scoring with 206), and promising youngsters like Lenni Nouchi. Manager Joan Caudullo will likely pick a strong XV given the prize of a Challenge Cup quarter-final at stake.
USA Perpignan XV
Lineups have not yet been announced for this fixture. Perpignan’s squad includes Italy international Tommaso Allan at fly-half, the raw power of Posolo Tuilagi in the pack, and experienced flanker James Ritchie. Head coach Franck Azéma will need to pick his strongest available side to have any hope of an upset at the GGL Stadium.
Key Matchups
Montpellier hold advantages across nearly every matchup. Hugo Domingo Miotti has been outstanding this season — 3rd in Top 14 points scoring with 206 points from 17 appearances — and should control the game against Tommaso Allan. Montpellier’s home record this season is fearsome, with their pack dominating most opponents at the GGL Stadium. Perpignan’s only realistic route to an upset is through the raw power of Posolo Tuilagi and a strong early physical showing to unsettle the hosts before the quality gap tells. The bench depth favours Montpellier as a Top 14 playoff contender versus a relegation-threatened side.
Match Forecast
The numbers make this look like a mismatch — and it probably is. Montpellier are 5th in the Top 14 with a +158 point differential, Perpignan are 13th with −155. That’s a 313-point swing in domestic form. At home, Montpellier have been devastating this season — 44–14 against Toulouse, 62–22 against Bayonne, 44–7 against Stade Français. Their Challenge Cup pool campaign was a perfect 4/4 including a tough win at the Ospreys. Hugo Domingo Miotti’s 206 points in the Top 14 this season gives them a clear advantage at fly-half.
Perpignan’s Challenge Cup survival is the one silver lining in a miserable season, but their away record — 5 wins from 22 matches in the last 12 months — makes an upset highly unlikely. They did beat Montpellier at the GGL Stadium in April 2024 (25–20), which proves they’re capable of the odd ambush, but that was a very different Perpignan side in a very different context. With relegation fears dominating their season, squad depth and confidence both favour the hosts heavily.
Montpellier to advance comfortably — expect a bonus-point win at the GGL Stadium.