Champions Cup 2025/26 · Round of 16
Bath
Saracens
The Recreation Ground, Bath
Championship Standings
Bath finished 4th overall in the pool phase with 16 points and the best point difference in the competition (+91) – a devastating attack that scored 180 points in four games. Saracens scraped through in 12th on 10 points, their inconsistency away from home costing them dearly. This is a 4th vs 13th seeding clash, and Bath's reward for topping their pool is home advantage at The Rec.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bordeaux-Begles | 4 | 4 | 0 | +76 | 20 |
| 2 |  Glasgow Warriors | 4 | 4 | 0 | +49 | 20 |
| 3 |  Leinster | 4 | 4 | 0 | +35 | 18 |
| 4 | Bath | 4 | 3 | 1 | +91 | 16 |
| 5 |  Northampton | 4 | 3 | 1 | +46 | 16 |
| 6 |  Harlequins | 4 | 3 | 1 | +98 | 15 |
| 7 |  Bristol Bears | 4 | 3 | 1 | +50 | 14 |
| 8 |  RC Toulon | 4 | 3 | 1 | +17 | 14 |
| 9 |  Stormers | 4 | 3 | 1 | −8 | 14 |
| 10 |  Toulouse | 4 | 2 | 2 | +94 | 12 |
| 11 |  Sale Sharks | 4 | 2 | 2 | −38 | 11 |
| 12 | Saracens | 4 | 2 | 2 | +13 | 10 |
| 13 |  Castres | 4 | 2 | 2 | −8 | 10 |
| 14 |  Sharks | 4 | 2 | 2 | −10 | 10 |
| 15 |  Edinburgh | 4 | 2 | 2 | −71 | 10 |
| 16 |  Munster | 4 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 8 |
| 17 |  Bulls | 4 | 1 | 3 | −68 | 7 |
| 18 |  Leicester Tigers | 4 | 1 | 3 | +3 | 6 |
| 19 |  La Rochelle | 4 | 1 | 3 | −13 | 6 |
| 20 |  Gloucester | 4 | 1 | 3 | −27 | 6 |
| 21 |  Section Paloise | 4 | 1 | 3 | −50 | 6 |
| 22 |  Scarlets | 4 | 0 | 4 | −54 | 3 |
| 23 |  Clermont | 4 | 0 | 4 | −108 | 0 |
| 24 |  Bayonne | 4 | 0 | 4 | −115 | 0 |
Bath
W3, L1Bath have been the most prolific attacking team in the Champions Cup pool phase, scoring 180 points in four matches — an average of 45 per game. The 63–10 demolition of Edinburgh and the 40–14 dismantling of Munster at The Rec were statement performances. Their only blemish was an 11-point loss in Toulon, where a hostile Stade Mayol proved too much. At home in this tournament, Bath are averaging 51.5 points per game — a terrifying prospect for any visitor.
Saracens
W2, L2A tale of two Saracens. At home they beat Toulouse 20–14 and hammered Clermont 47–10 — clinical, controlled, and physically dominant. Away from home, the picture is grim: a 28–3 humiliation in Glasgow and a 28–23 loss in Durban. Saracens scored just 26 points across their two away pool games, compared to 67 at home. That split is ominous when you're travelling to The Rec.
Head-to-Head at The Rec
7 – 0 – 11
Bath wins · Draws · Saracens wins (last 18 meetings at Bath)
Bath (7)Historically, Saracens have dominated this fixture — winning 11 of the last 18 at The Rec. But the recent trend has swung dramatically. Bath have won the last two home meetings by staggering margins: 68–10 in December 2024 and 62–15 in March 2026. That's 130 points scored and just 25 conceded across two games. The Rec has become a fortress under Johann van Graan, and Saracens' historical edge feels irrelevant against the current version of this Bath side.
Recent Results
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | Premiership | Bath 62–15 Saracens |
| Dec 2024 | Premiership | Bath 68–10 Saracens |
| Apr 2024 | Premiership | Bath 12–15 Saracens |
| May 2023 | Premiership | Bath 61–29 Saracens |
| Oct 2021 | Premiership | Bath 17–71 Saracens |
| Nov 2019 | Premiership | Bath 12–25 Saracens |
Average score in the last 6 meetings: Bath 38 – Saracens 27. In the last 6 meetings at The Rec, Bath have won 4 and Saracens 2 — but the recent scorelines are on another planet: Bath have scored 60+ in three of the last four home wins.
Extended Form
BathW14, L3 (last 12 months)
Wins across all competitions include: Saracens 62–15, Edinburgh 63–10 (ECC), Munster 40–14 (ECC), Exeter 33–26, Bristol 40–15, Gloucester 38–17, Sale 28–16, Harlequins 47–28, Leicester 43–15, Newcastle 55–19, Bristol 34–20, Leicester 23–21, Clermont 40–21 (ECC), Saracens 68–10. Losses: Northampton 21–41, Exeter 14–23 (PRC), and Leinster 21–47 (ECC last season).
Bath's home record is extraordinary. They have lost just twice at The Rec in the last 12 months in competitive matches (excluding the Premiership Cup), and both losses were to top-four sides. The average winning margin at home is over 20 points. The Rec has become one of European rugby's most intimidating venues — Johann van Graan's side routinely put 40+ on opponents.
SaracensW8, L6 (last 12 months)
Away wins include: Sale 31–26 (Prem), Castres 43–20 (ECC), Gloucester 30–26, Newcastle 50–14, Harlequins 47–31, Bath 36–29 (at Saracens), Exeter 26–24, Sale 32–23. Losses: Toulon 34–45 (ECC), Northampton 21–17 (lost at home to Saints), Leicester 20–22, Exeter 19–31 (PRC), Leicester 21–46 (PRC), Bristol 21–19 (PRC loss).
Saracens' away form has been deeply inconsistent. The 28–3 loss in Glasgow was the nadir — their worst European away performance in years. They've lost at Northampton, Leicester, and Harlequins in the Premiership, and their away defeats in the Champions Cup (Glasgow, Sharks) expose a vulnerability when they can't control the tempo on their own terms. The contrast with their home form — where they beat Toulouse and hammered Clermont — is stark.
Bath XV
Lineups not yet announced. Bath's likely XV will be built around their star-studded roster: Finn Russell at fly-half, Ollie Lawrence and Cameron Redpath in midfield, Joe Cokanasiga and Henry Arundell in the back three. The pack should feature Thomas Du Toit and Will Stuart in the front row, Sam Underhill and Ted Hill in the backrow. Ben Spencer provides the link at scrum-half.
Saracens XV
Lineups not yet announced. Saracens will look to their England internationals: Maro Itoje and Jamie George in the pack, Ben Earl at the backrow, Owen Farrell or Fergus Burke at 10, with Elliot Daly and Max Malins providing strike power in the backs. Nick Tompkins adds Test-level experience in midfield alongside Lucio Cinti.
Key Matchups
Bath's superiority across the park is clear in most areas. Finn Russell's creativity and game management gives them a decisive edge at 10 — he's been the Premiership's standout playmaker this season, and his partnership with Ben Spencer is one of English rugby's best half-back pairings. The back three matchup is Bath's biggest weapon: Arundell's pace, Cokanasiga's power, and de Glanville's composure outgun Saracens' options. Saracens' trump card is the second row — Maro Itoje remains one of the world's best locks and his lineout disruption could be decisive. If Saracens can win the aerial battle and control possession through Itoje and George, they have a puncher's chance. But Bath at The Rec, with Russell pulling strings, is a daunting proposition.
Match Forecast
The numbers point strongly to Bath. They are the highest-scoring team in the Champions Cup pool phase (180 points in 4 games), their home record is extraordinary (W14 L3 in 12 months), and they have demolished Saracens twice at The Rec in the last 16 months by a combined 130–25. The scorecard net of +19 lands firmly in the strong-favourite tier. Bath's backline — orchestrated by Finn Russell with Ollie Lawrence and Joe Cokanasiga as the primary strike weapons — has been the most potent unit in English rugby this season, and The Rec crowd will be at fever pitch for a European knockout game.
Saracens' only realistic path runs through their forward pack. Maro Itoje's lineout disruption, Jamie George's set-piece work, and Ben Earl's breakdown influence could slow Bath's tempo if Saracens control possession and territory. Their 20–14 win over Toulouse in the pools proves they can beat elite opposition — but that was at home. Away from StoneX, Saracens have been poor: 28–3 in Glasgow, 28–23 in Durban, and crucially, 15–62 at this very ground three weeks ago. The gulf at The Rec may be too wide to bridge.
Bath to win comfortably at The Rec — the question is whether they put 40 on Saracens for the third time in 16 months.