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Lyon host Challenge Cup holders Cardiff Blues in their opening Heineken Champions Cup match at Matmut Stadium de Gerland, live on BT Sport and beIN SPORTS from 13:00 BST.
- This is Lyon’s first appearance in the competition. They did meet Cardiff Blues in the Challenge Cup last season, however,losing both their pool stage fixtures.
- In four Challenge Cup campaigns Lyon won nine of 12 home games, but two of their three defeats were against Welsh opposition.
- This is Cardiff’s first Champions Cup campaign since 2013/14; they’ve only won three of 20 previous games in France in the competition (D1, L16).
- Cardiff won the Challenge Cup last season for the second time, only once has any club won the Challenge Cup before winning the European Cup the following year (Wasps, 2002/03 and 2003/04).
- Four of the top six turnover winners in last season’s Challenge Cup represented either Lyon or Cardiff – Josh Navidi (11), Ellis Jenkins (9), Nick Williams (9) and Dean Fourie (8).
Cardiff Blues A name side for Ospreys encounter https://t.co/6FFMHzyrnw pic.twitter.com/rYqdViC3iz
— Cardiff Blues (@cardiff_blues) October 12, 2018
Gareth Anscombe collected Heineken Man of the Match in Cardiff Blues' victory over Lyon
2018 Challenge Cup winners Cardiff Blues continued their superb form on the road as they defeated Heineken Champions Cup debutants Lyon 30-21 at Matmut Stadium de Gerland.
Lyon No.8 Loann Goujon scored the first try of the afternoon after a scrum inside the Cardiff 22 gave him the chance to nip round the blindside and power past the sole defender to dot down. TMO was called in to have a look at a possible knock-on but the try stood.
Cardiff found themselves under the pump early on and were eventually penalised for not rolling away, giving Lionel Beauxis the opportunity to extend the advantage and he duly obliged.
What a gift 🎁
Ellis Jenkins bursts away for Cardiff and the Blues have turned it around in Lyon!
Two trys in two minutes 💥
📺 BT Sport 3 HD pic.twitter.com/DctAylyqn1
— Watch #ShoulderToShoulder on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) October 14, 2018
The Welsh region then hit back with two tries in quick succession after they turned the ball over initially, but won it back and found Olly Robinson who dived over.
A superb interception from captain Ellis Jenkins just seconds later allowed scrum-half Tomos Williams to collect the pass and turn inside and out before dotting down in the corner.
Lyon then won successive penalties in kicking range for the 32-year-old Beauxis who gave Lyon a narrow lead at the interval.
The French side were penalised at the start of the second half, allowing Gareth Anscombe – who helped Cardiff clinch Challenge Cup success in May with a crucial late kick – to boot over twice and give the Welsh region a four-point lead.
Gareth Anscombe is playing a blinder today for @cardiff_blues.
A fantastic try from the 🔟 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ncg94ShQFW
— Watch #ShoulderToShoulder on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) October 14, 2018
Taking the ball from inside his own half, Anscombe then found a hole in the Lyon line before bolting clear. With two Cardiff players wide, he sold the dummy to the Lyon defence and dived over himself for a stunning try that he went on to convert himself.
Quentin Delord reduced the arrears with a late try to set up a grandstand finish but were denied a losing bonus point when Anscombe – who was named Heineken Man of the Match – kicked a late penalty after a Jenkins turnover.
Lyon face a daunting task in Round 2 as they travel to Saracens while the Welsh region host Glasgow Warriors at Cardiff Arms Park.
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