15 Key Moments from the Champions Cup final

Bordeaux Begles win the 2025 Champions Cup 20-28 in Cardiff after a tough but maneagble battle against the Premiership champions, Northampton Saints. Here are the key moments that swing the game to UBB and away from the Saints

0’ Fin Smith short kick off:

Saints regather the kick off and keep up great tempo as they work their way into the UBB 22. A quick tap and go off a penalty help Saints score an opening try after just two minutes

12’ Maxime Lucu grubber:

Lucu is under pressure but puts a touch line grubber in that is fumbled by Smith. From the scrum UBB mount a well executed attack, twice setting the defence, and they make space wide to score but the final pass is forward, no try

17’ Mohamadou Diaby high tackle:

Coles was seen on the ground after a tackle from Diaby that was high, with the ball going out and then UBB taking a quick throw in it may have been missed/unable to be used but the men from Bordeaux can consider themselves lucky

27’ Damian Peanud fumble:

UBB were on attack deep in the Saints 22 and changed the attack to the blind side, Penaud cuts in and is hit hard by Lockett forcing a knock on with the score at 10-12

29’ Mohamadou Diaby high tackle:

Diaby goes in high again and this time gets sent to the bin for 10 minutes, Saints fail to capitalise as Penaud comes in for a huge intercept 10m out and kills off the attack

34’ Henry Pollock offside:

Pollock chases a great kick from Smith to score but was slightly in front. UBB use the penalty to keep the pressure on and force Freeman into tackling Penaud out the air in his 22. Freeman gets 10 in the bin. Penaud eventually scores taking UBB to a 13-20 lead

40’ Saints strike:

With 14 players on the field they earn a penalty and set up an attacking line out in the Bordeaux half. They pick a superb training ground play and attack blind with Sleightholme who does the work and pops to Coles. That try levels the game at half time

41’ Alex Coles error scrubs off Saints try:

Pollock scores off another great line out move that saw him break blind and score from 17m out but TMO see’s Coles pulling Tameifuna back stopping a defensive play for Bordeaux

43’ Ed Prowse carded:

UBB make an error under pressure but there was a clear high tackle on Moefana by Prowse and he goes to the bin, significantly Bordeaux, with a two man advantage, choose to take the three points

47’ Guido Petti turnover:

Bordeaux pressure Saints forcing a poor kick from Smith, they march into the 22 and are 10m where Pollock forest a turnover with a great counter ruck. UBB don’t panic and keep the pressure on and Petti wins a turnover penalty. Bordeaux fail to score after Lamothe drops the ball over the line with the score at 20-23

54’ Bordeaux turnover:

Saints set up a ruck but two Bordeuax players spot weakness and counter ruck forcing a turnover, they go 30 meters and score and take an eight point lead after Cyril Cazeaux drives over

60’ Yoram Moefana dominant carry:

Bordeuax win a scrum penalty and set up an attacking line out, the game is slipping away from Saints and Moefana punches the defence with a great carry. From that front foot ball UBB win a penalty and maul but Saints had them up. Scott-Young helps his side stay in the game for longer and in with a chance.

66’ Angus Scott-Young fumble:

Saints enjoy some time on attack but Mitchell sends a pass left by Pollock and Scott-Young dips to take the ball at his ankles and it knocks on. UBB clear and Saints win a penalty for a tackle in the air. After some good attack and 5m out Mitchell passes the ball against his own player thinking it was the opposition and gifts them the opportunity to clear

71’ Saints butcher their line out:

Northampton had an attacking line out as they chase the game but Wright misses his jumper and Bordeaux win a penalty from the Lucu kick. Saints then spoil the UBB line out and live to fight on for the final minutes.

75’ Curtis Langdon skew line out:

Langdon returned to the field following an injury to Wright but his accuracy is off and gifts UBB a scrum and the ability to clear.

Bordeaux were ultimately too strong for the game but noteably in the second half where they kept the preesure on to win their first Champions Cup title.