Champions Cup 2025/26 · Round of 16
Harlequins
Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop, London
Championship Standings
Harlequins finished 2nd in Group 3 with the best points differential in the entire tournament (+98), powered by devastating home wins over Bayonne (68–14) and Stormers (61–10). Sale scraped through as 3rd in Group 1 — two big away defeats to Glasgow and Toulouse sandwiching wins over the Sharks and Clermont.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Leinster | 4 | 4 | 0 | +35 | 18 |
| 2 | Harlequins | 4 | 3 | 1 | +98 | 15 |
| 3 |  Stormers | 4 | 3 | 1 | −8 | 14 |
| 4 |  Leicester | 4 | 1 | 3 | +3 | 6 |
| 5 |  La Rochelle | 4 | 1 | 3 | −13 | 6 |
| 6 |  Bayonne | 4 | 0 | 4 | −115 | 0 |
| 1 |  Glasgow | 4 | 4 | 0 | +49 | 20 |
| 2 |  Toulouse | 4 | 2 | 2 | +94 | 12 |
| 3 | Sale Sharks | 4 | 2 | 2 | −38 | 11 |
| 4 |  Saracens | 4 | 2 | 2 | +13 | 10 |
| 5 |  Sharks | 4 | 2 | 2 | −10 | 10 |
| 6 |  Clermont | 4 | 0 | 4 | −108 | 0 |
Harlequins
W3, L1Harlequins have been sensational in this Champions Cup campaign. Yes, they lost to Leinster in Dublin — but who doesn't? The response has been extraordinary: 68–14 and 61–10 home demolitions of Bayonne and Stormers, then a hugely impressive 27–17 away win at La Rochelle. That +98 points differential is the best in the entire tournament, and they've scored 184 points in four games — an average of 46 per match.
Sale Sharks
W2, L2A tale of two Ales. Sale beat the weaker opponents comfortably — 35–14 at Clermont, 26–10 against the Sharks — but were exposed against elite opposition. The 77–7 humiliation in Toulouse was a historic low, and they also fell short at home to Glasgow. Two comfortable wins against bottom-half sides shouldn't disguise the fact that Sale have been outclassed by the best in this tournament.
Head-to-Head at the Stoop
14 – 0 – 8
Harlequins wins · Draws · Sale wins (last 22 meetings at the Stoop)
Harlequins (14)Historically, Harlequins have dominated this fixture at home. But the recent trend is alarming for Quins — Sale have won 4 of the last 6 meetings at the Stoop, including a commanding 43–29 victory in April 2025. The last Harlequins home win in this fixture was a 36–3 demolition in December 2023, but that now feels like an outlier in a run of Sale dominance.
Recent Results
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2025 | Premiership | Harlequins 29–43 Sale |
| Dec 2023 | Premiership | Harlequins 36–3 Sale |
| Jan 2023 | Premiership | Harlequins 16–24 Sale |
| Mar 2022 | Premiership Cup | Harlequins 29–34 Sale |
| Feb 2022 | Premiership | Harlequins 14–36 Sale |
| Feb 2021 | Premiership | Harlequins 24–12 Sale |
Average score in the last 6 meetings: Harlequins 23 – Sale 25. Sale have won 4 of the last 6 at the Stoop by an average margin of 12 points.
Extended Form
Harlequins8W, 10L (last 12 months, all comps)
Champions Cup: W3 L1 (beat Bayonne 68–14, Stormers 61–10, La Rochelle 27–17; lost to Leinster 28–45). Premiership: beat Bristol 18–14 (A), Newcastle 52–14 (H), Saracens 20–14 (H); lost to Gloucester 19–26 (H), Leicester 7–36 (H), Northampton 21–66 (A), Sale 17–43 (A), Bristol 14–40 (H), Gloucester 15–26 (A), Exeter 0–38 (A). Prem Cup: beat Saracens 43−40 (A), Newcastle 35–14 (H); lost to Leicester 27–33 (A), Northampton 24–40 (H).
Harlequins are a Jekyll-and-Hyde side. In Europe, they've been devastating — three bonus-point wins and a creditable loss to the tournament favourites. In the Premiership, they've been wildly inconsistent, capable of thumping Newcastle 52–14 then losing at home to Leicester 7–36. The Stoop has not been the fortress it once was domestically.
Sale Sharks4W, 12L (last 12 months, all comps)
Champions Cup: beat Clermont 35–14 (A), Sharks 26–10 (H); lost to Glasgow 21–26 (H), Toulouse 7–77 (A). Premiership: beat Bristol 41−36 (A, Prem Cup), Caldy 28–14 (A, Prem Cup); lost to Bath 26–31 (H), Exeter 14–26 (A), Gloucester 17–43 (A, Prem Cup), Bath 19–60 (H, Prem Cup), Exeter 14–59 (A, Prem Cup), Northampton 29–43 (H), Bristol 17–19 (A), Northampton 21–47 (A), Exeter 26–27 (H), Bath 0–20 (A, Prem Cup).
Sale's form is in freefall. They've lost 5 consecutive matches across all competitions, and their away record is dire. The 77–7 Toulouse humiliation stands out, but losses to Exeter, Bath, and Gloucester paint a picture of a squad struggling for consistency. Their last win was a Prem Cup victory at Bristol on 28 February — over a month ago.
Harlequins XV
Lineups not yet announced for this fixture. Harlequins' key players include fly-half Marcus Smith, Argentina international wing Rodrigo Isgro, and England backrower Chandler Cunningham-South. Head coach Tabai Matson will likely select his strongest available XV for this knockout tie. Update when teams are confirmed.
Sale Sharks XV
Lineups not yet announced. Sale's squad features England internationals George Ford and Tom Curry, plus wing Tom Roebuck and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie. Head coach Alex Sanderson will need his big names firing for a trip to the Stoop. Update when teams are confirmed.
Key Matchups
The fly-half duel is the headline act. Smith has been in scintillating form in Europe, orchestrating those huge home wins with his running game and distribution. Ford is the more methodical game manager, but Sale's attack has misfired badly in recent weeks. Tom Curry gives Sale a genuine edge at the breakdown — his jackling and carrying are world-class — but Harlequins' collective back-three threat, with Isgro's pace and Murley's finishing, should provide more try-scoring opportunities. The decisive factor may be Quins' ability to play at tempo at the Stoop, where their running game thrives.
Match Forecast
Harlequins have been a different animal in Europe this season. 184 points in four pool games, the best points differential in the tournament, and a statement win at La Rochelle — this is a side that elevates for the Champions Cup. Sale's form is catastrophic: five consecutive defeats, hammered 77–7 by Toulouse, 60–19 by Bath, and outclassed by Exeter twice. The net scorecard of +11 puts this firmly in clear-favourite territory, and Quins' backline firepower should prove decisive at the Stoop.
The caveat is Sale's recent record at this ground — 4 wins in 6 visits, including that 43–29 romp last April. Tom Curry can single-handedly disrupt a game at the breakdown, and Ford's kicking game could pin Quins back. But Sale's away form is 2W–8L in the last 10, their confidence is shot, and Harlequins under the Stoop lights in a European knockout is a different proposition to a mid-season Premiership fixture. Expect Quins to start fast and put this to bed by the hour mark.
Harlequins to win comfortably at the Stoop — their European form is a class above Sale's recent freefall.