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With the initial matches of the 2025-26 Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the primary lessons highlighted by the games.

Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all calling home France's top flight. Yet, the first weekend featured several statement victories from emerging contenders.

Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back

Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the final.

Positioned sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the title this year. However, in the first round, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of winning consecutive championships with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.

Given a tough assignment at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.

However, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the second half, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls to zero after the break.

French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with such firepower on the wings is a threat against whoever they face.

Formidable Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance

Bath's only triumph in Europe came almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been better equipped to secure another title.

The current English champions are leading the way at home after six games and will be hoping to translate that form into the Champions Cup – particularly following a unexpected elimination last year.

Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.

They marry creative spark – earning the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their opponents at a distance when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.

With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth all over the team, they have to be considered serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.

Bath's pivotal moment in the pools last season occurred in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a changed side.

Having secured a Premiership title under their belt and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.

Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start

The tournament contains strong teams throughout the draw, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most competitive.

In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just turn out to be vital.

The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a valuable maximum haul.

In doing so, they handed their hopes of advancing a major lift and, conversely, handed a damaging defeat to Sale.

With the French giants – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect plenty of fireworks.

And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in years to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.

Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?

Should you pick one side you would predict to be in the mix at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.

However in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.

It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to win the championship, but they were surprised and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.

This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.

Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?

Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up

Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign not a single one succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with plenty of weakened teams used.

Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.

The post-match comments were promising too, with the squad and staff expressing their ambition, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.

The Stormers appear the best bet for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the event, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat this weekend but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.

Northampton and Pau Deliver a Classic Encounter

There were a few contenders for best fixture, and this one was among the best.

Pau have been experiencing a brilliant season, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.

They are right now runner-up in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's