Match Centre: Champions Cup: Bath 29-25 Racing 92

Bath Rugby 29-25 Racing 92, The Recreation Ground

Bath survived a red card to Alfie Barbeary in the closing stage as they edged out Racing 92 in the latest round of the Investec Champions Cup at The Recreation Ground on Sunday.

This is the first time Bath have reached the knock outs of the competition since 2015 while Racing will now face a must win game against Cardiff in the next round.

Barbeary had a lucky reprieve not to be sent off early in the game when he made direct shoulder contact to the chin of Max Spring. He was sin-binned by the Italian referee Andrea Piardi and Nolann le Garrec landed a penalty to get Racing off the mark.

Ben Spencer responded with a 13th minute penalty of his own to level before Nolann le Garrec burrowed down from close range in the 17th minute and he also followed with the conversion making it 3-10.

Just over the half-hour mark, Racing were down to 14 players as Will Rowlands was sin binned and Thomas du Toit touched down for the hosts. Spencer had a chance to level the scores but his conversion drifted wide as the teams completed the opening half with a 8-10 scoreline.

Racing dominated the start of the second half with tries from Kitione Kamikamica and Henry Arundell before Bath struck back with Barbeary powering his way over at the end of the third quarter making it 15-22.

The scores were levelled by the start of the final quarter with Cameron Redpath sending an offload for Joe Cokanasiga to dot down and Spencer improved making it 22-22. A 68th minute penalty goal from Nolann le Garrec restored the three point lead for Racing but Will Muir collecting an offload from outside centre Ollie Lawrence ensured they sealed a thrilling win despite Barbeary's second yellow card.

Team line up:

Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Redpath, Muir; Russell, Spencer (capt); Obano, Dunn, Du Toit, Roux, Ewels, Van Velze, Reid, Barbeary.

Reserves: Annett, Schoeman, Stuart, Stooke, Bayliss, Schreuder, Harris, Cloete.

Racing: Spring; Habosi, Fickou (capt), Chavancy, Arundell; Gibert, Le Garrec; Kolingar, Chat, Laclayat, Woki, Rowlands, Lauret, Kolisi, Kamikamica.

Reserves: Tarrit, Ben Arous, Nyakane, Palu, Baudonne, Diallo, Tedder, Saili.