Investec Champions Cup: Saracens 39-24 Lyon – three-time winners fight back to reach last 16

Saracens produced a spirited fightback to reach the Investec Champions Cup last 16 with a bonus-point win over Lyon at StoneX Stadium.

Ivan van Zyl opened the scoring before tries by Davit Niniashvili and Josiah Maraku handed Lyon a half-time lead.

Maro Itoje reduced the deficit after the break but Maraku doubled his tally to extend the visitors’ advantage.

Itoje’s second kickstarted the recovery and tries by Juan Martin Gonzalez and Lucio Cinti sealed Sarries’ progress.

Victory for the three-time winners secured the final qualification spot in Pool 1 to set up a last-16 tie away from home.

They join Lyon in the knockout stages, while table-topping Bordeaux Begles and Bulls secure home games in the next round as Bristol and Connacht drop out.

Sarries arrived at their north London home knowing a losing bonus would maintain their pursuit of a fourth star on the jersey after Bristol’s defeat in Connacht on Friday.

They started brightly as they looked to arrest their poor run of five defeats in their last seven – including a thumping defeat by Bordeaux in their last outing – and Van Zyl was alert with a quick-tap penalty to snipe over in the fourth minute.

But the unforced errors began to mount as the hosts allowed Lyon, who had already qualified, back into the game.

Owen Farrell’s loose pass was intercepted by Niniashvili before play was brought back for an earlier infringement by the visitors. It was only a short reprieve as Sarries did not heed the warning and the flying Georgian wing gathered another intercept minutes later to run clear and score his side’s first try.

It was a score from which Lyon grew in confidence and as they rolled through the phases they landed another shot as Maraku squeezed over for a 17-5 lead at the interval.

As in the first half, Sarries started the second quickly and England lock Itoje powered over from close range before Farrell was charged down, firstly by Hamza Kaabeche and then former Saracen Joel Kpoku, with Maraku picking up the loose ball to score his second try.

It was a mixed bag of a night for the ever-reliable Farrell, who also had a routine kick for the corner from a penalty charged down by Niniashvili.

The fly-half has been linked with a move to France next season, but his and Saracens’ European campaign this year was given new life as Itoje scored his second from a move off the training field as he caught at the line-out before being driven over the line.

The hosts continued to apply pressure and Farrell’s second penalty restored their lead before Gonzalez dotted down in a cluster of bodies and Cinti added the gloss with a finish in the corner.

Player of the match Theo Dan, speaking to TNT Sports: “Tonight was a special night for a number of reasons. Over the past few weeks we have had a lot of disappointing performances and results. Last weekend was pretty tough being part of that. We have had a lot of tough and honest conversations this week.

“Our performances have slipped recently and this week was all about bringing our standards back up and making sure we put in a brilliant performance in front of this crowd.

“Lyon had a few runaway tries and this week it was brilliant how we responded to them. Last week Bordeaux scored a lot off turnovers and we didn’t respond to them. It was a brilliant reaction.”

Saracens: Goode; Segun, Daly, Tompkins, Cinti; Farrell (capt), Van Zyl; Mulipola, Dan, Judge, Itoje, Isiekwe, Gonzalez, Earl, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Hadfield, Crean, Hoskins, Tizard, Knight, Simpson, Hartley, Parton.

Lyon: Tchaptchet; Ioane, Parisien, Maraku, Niniashvili; Berdeu, Rimet; Rey, Charcosset, Kaabeche, Kpoku, Vignolles, Okuya, William, Gouzou.

Replacements: Coltman, Taofifenua, Tafili, Goujon, Lambey, Dumas, Godwin, Smith.