It was plain sailing for Exeter Chiefs in the pool stages, racking up five straight victories to lock in their spot as Pool 2 winners with relative ease. An away success at La Rochelle in Round 1 was backed up by a home win over Glasgow Warriors and back-to-back victories over Sale Sharks, including a dramatic 22-20 win at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The only minor hiccup was a 31-31 draw with Glasgow at Scotstoun, with former Warrior Stuart Hogg hitting the crossbar with a last-gasp penalty. A Round 6 win over La Rochelle set up an all-English quarter-final clash with Northampton Saints, which they duly won with relative ease, putting the Saints away in the second period to run out 38-15 winners.

That win set up an Anglo-French semi-final against Pool 5 winners Toulouse on Saturday. The French side dominated the first half but tries from Harry Williams and Sam Simmonds put Exeter 14-11 at the break.

They took over in the second half, bagging two more tries through Williams and Joe Simmonds, before a late consolation try through Matthis Lebel meant Exeter ran out 28-18 winners.

Racing 92 took the scenic route to this season’s final, having successfully navigated Pool 4, widely dubbed as the ‘Pool of Death’.

A 30-10 Round 1 win over defending champions Saracens got the ball rolling, before a thrilling 21-21 draw in Limerick against Munster Rugby was backed up with two victories over Ospreys, leaving them in pole position to qualify.

They would then enjoy a 39-22 win over Munster in Paris, but a 27-24 defeat to Saracens in Round 6 meant the English side would join them in the last eight, and meant that Racing would have to travel to ASM Clermont Auvergne in the quarter-finals.

Eight months after their final pool stage match, Racing returned with one of the performances of the season, pulling apart the Challenge Cup holders in a comprehensive 36-27 win at Stade Marcel Michelin.

That set up a semi-final clash with pool stage rivals Saracens, a match that looked to be heading the way of the defending champions.

Saracens led 15-12 with four minutes to play, but Finn Russell turned the match on its head, pulling off a stunning chipped kick into the path of Virimi Vakatawa on halfway.

He fumbled the ball but managed to keep hold of possession, sprinted clear before handing back to the fly-half who found Juan Imhoff with the try line at his mercy.

Saturday 17 October - EXETER CHIEFS v RACING 92
Ashton Gate, Bristol (16:45 UK and Irish time)

With Exeter Chiefs and Racing 92 confirmed as this season’s Heineken Champions Cup finalists following their semi-final victories on Saturday, we have taken a look at their route to Ashton Gate for next month’s showpiece final.