European Champions Cup final live: Saracens beat Clermont Auvergne 28-17 to successfully defend title

Follow the latest from the European Champions Cup final

Chris Ashton dives over for his record-breaking 37th try in European rugby (Getty)

Saracens became just the fourth team in history to win back-to-back European Champions Cup finals after beating Clermont Auvergne 28-17 at Murrayfield, keeping alive their hopes of the double-double in the process. Re-live the action here.

• Saracens beat Clermont Auvergne 28-17 to win the Champions Cup
• Chris Ashton's record 37th European try opened the scoring
• George Kruis try gave Sarries a 12-0 lead
• Clermont hit back through Remi Lamaerat
• Nick Abendanon try closed gao to just one point
• Alex Goode try and 13 points from Owen Farrell secures victory

Follow the live action below...

Preview...

Saracens and Clermont Auvergne will continue their recent rivalry when they meet in the European Champions Cup at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium to bring the curtain down on another thrilling European season, with history on the line for both sides.

Reigning champions Saracens hope to become just the fourth team to win back-to-back European Cup’s, following in the footsteps of Leicester Tigers, Leinster and most recently Toulon, who remain the only team to lift the trophy three ties consecutively.

Sarries have not been beaten in Europe since the beginning of last season, and if they beat Clermont in the final they will break Leinster’s record of 16 matches unbeaten in Europe, while also gaining a measure of revenge for their 2014/15 Champions Cup semi-final exit at the hands of the French side.

Clermont have plenty to play for though, the most prominent being the attempt to avoid becoming the first team to lose three European Cup finals following the 2013 and 2015 final defeats by Toulon.

The French side have experienced their fair share of heartbreak in this competition (Getty)

In total, Clermont have finished runner-up 15 times in domestic and European competitions, winning just one final which came in the 2010 Top 14 success, and they will hope to banish their final demons by claiming the biggest trophy available in club rugby.

Here’s everything you need to know about the match.

When is it?

Saracens vs Clermont Auvergne kicks off at 17:00 on Saturday, 13 May 2017.

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on both BT Sport 2 and Sky Sports 3, with both broadcasts beginning at 16:00. You can also follow the match live with The Independent here.

Owen Farrell will be key to the hopes of the English side (Getty)

Can I still buy tickets?

Yes. Tickets are available from Scottish Rugby, with adult prices ranging from £35-£80 and Under-18s available at £20-£25. Both clubs are also selling tickets through their websites.

Teams...

Saracens: Alex Goode; Chris Ashton, Marcelo Bosch, Brad Barritt, Chris Wyles; Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Vincent Koch; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Michael Rhodes, Jackson Wray, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Schalk Brits, Titi Lamositele, Petrus Du Plessis, Jim Hamilton, Schalk Burger, Ben Spencer, Alex Lozowski, Duncan Taylor.

Clermont Auvergne: Scott Spedding; David Strettle, Aurelien Rougerie, Remi Lamerat, Nick Abendanon; Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra; Raphael Chaume, Benjamin Kayser, Davit Zirakashvili; Arthur Iturria, Sebastian Vahaamahina; Damien Chouly, Peceli Yato, Fritz Lee.
Replacements: John Ulugia, Etienne Falgoux, Aaron Jarvis, Paul Jedrasiak, Alexandre Lapandry, Ludovic Radosavljevic, Pato Fernandez, Damian Penaud.

Odds...

Saracens to win: 21/50
​Clermont to win: 37/20
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)

[13 May 2017 16:02 · Jack de Menezes]

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's European Champions Cup final between Saracens and Clermont Auvergne, brought to you from pitchside at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.

[13 May 2017 16:04 · Jack de Menezes]

Both teams have already arrived here at Murrayfield, with a ferocious welcome for Clermont by the loyal French fans that have made the journey to Scotland for the game: 

[13 May 2017 16:08 · Jack de Menezes]

Teams have been confirmed, with no changes for either side, so here's how they line-up:

ASM Clermont Auvergne: Scott Spedding; David Strettle, Aurélien Rougerie, Remi Lamerat, Nick Abendanon; Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra; Raphael Chaume, Benjamin Kayser, Davit Zirakashvili, Arthur Iturria, Sébastien Vahaamahina, Damien Chouly (c), Peceli Yato, Fritz Lee 

Replacements: John Ulugia, Etienne Falgoux, Aaron Jarvis, Paul Jedrasiak, Alexandre Lapandry, Ludovic Radosavljevic , Pato Fernandez, Damian Penaud 

Saracens: Alex Goode; Chris Ashton, Marcelo Bosch, Brad Barritt (c), Chris Wyles; Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Vincent Koch, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Michael Rhodes, Jackson Wray, Billy Vunipola 

Replacements: Schalk Brits, Titi Lamositele, Petrus du Plessis, Jim Hamilton, Schalk Burger, Ben Spencer, Alex Lozowski, Duncan Taylor 

[13 May 2017 16:29 · Jack de Menezes]

[13 May 2017 16:30 · Jack de Menezes]

**30 minute klaxon**

We're ticking closer towards kick-off, with Saracens pulling together for a huddle before getting their full warm-up underway. Clermont meanwhile are yet to come out, but I'm expecting a mighty welcome for them when they do.

[13 May 2017 16:36 · Jack de Menezes]

It's all going off in the press box already, as one over-eager fan has managed to spill their pint off the tier above onto a group of writers below. It's chaos and the game hasn''t even started yet!

[13 May 2017 16:41 · Jack de Menezes]

One of the men who helped take Sarries to Chanmpions Cup glory last season has just taken his place in the stands in the form of Charlie Hodgson, the former England fly-half who retired at the end of last season after claiming the double. He looks to be enjoying retired life much more than his playing days, I can tell you that.

[13 May 2017 16:46 · Jack de Menezes]

There's a fair few familiar faces joining Hodgson now, with former captain Alistair Hargeaves and the injured tighthead prop, Juan Figallo, also arriving, the latter still on crutches after he underwent ankle surgery that ruled him out of this match.

[13 May 2017 16:51 · Jack de Menezes]

A big cheer goes up for Scotland favourite Jim Hamilton, with the second-row poised to make his final European appearance before retirement at the end of the season. Will it be a joyous farewell?

Both teams head for the tunnel and we're less than 10 minutes from kick-off!

[13 May 2017 17:01 · Jack de Menezes]

1 min: Clermont kick off and the match is underway!