Saracens defeated Racing 92 by 21 points to 9. This was the first European Cup win for Saracens, making them the first new champions since Toulon, whose first victory in what was then known as the Heineken Cup came in 2013.[1]
In the pool stages, fifth-seeds Racing 92 topped Pool 3, winning four of six games. Their first match with Glasgow Warriors was postponed for two months due to the November 2015 Paris attacks, but they went on to win their first two fixtures. After drawing 9–9 with Northampton Saints and winning the postponed match 34–10, Racing 92 inflicted a heavy 64–14 away defeat on the Scarlets. Racing lost their final match 22–5 away at against the Warriors, which was relocated from Scotstoun Stadium to Rugby Park due to heavy rainfall.
The game was played mostly during a heavy rain storm, and featured no tries. Racing 92 scrum-half Maxime Machenaud missed an early penalty kick, allowing Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell to score first, hitting a drop goal from close range to give the Saracens a 3–0 lead. After winning a scrum deep in the Saracens half, Racing 92 outside-centre Johan Goosen drew the score level 3–3 at 17 minutes. Machenaud was removed from play under concussion regulations on 22 minutes.[6] Farrell scored on a two successive penalties to make the score 9–3 in favour of Saracens. Just before the end of the half, Goosen and Farrell traded penalties to make the score 12–6.[7]
Racing 92 fly-half Dan Carter was substituted shortly after half-time, having aggravated his leg injury.[8]Farrell scored another penalty early in the second half to extend the lead to 15–6. As Racing 92 became more aggressive following the 60 minute mark, Goosen scored his third penalty of the game to bring the score to 15–9. Farrell would preserve the lead for Saracens, by scoring two more penalties; once in the 76th minute, and once in the 79th minute for a final score of 21–9 in favour of Saracens.[9]
Saracens lock Maro Itoje was named Man of the Match, and he also received the European Player of the Year award.[10]Saracens became the first team to win the competition with a 100 per cent win rate across all of their matches.[11]
