How the Champions Cup quarter-finals work and how things stand ahead of the second leg

Ahead of the decisive second leg matches in the Champions Cup Round of 16, we take a look at how things stand in the respective ties and how the quarter-finals will work.

For the first time in the competition's history, the round of 16 has been played over two legs. This is common practice in the UEFA Champions League, but unlike football's equivalent away points (or goals in UEFA) do not play a role in the tie. 

Instead, if two clubs are level on aggregate at the end of full time, then 20 minutes (two periods of 10 minutes) of extra time will be played. 

If at the end of extra time the scores are still level, then the winners will be the team that has scored the most tries in both legs of the Champions Cup Round of 16 (including extra time).

If the teams are level on points and tries at the end of extra time, then the winners will be determined by a placekick competition.

The opening game of the weekend sees Leinster host Connacht at the RDS. Leinster head into the encounter with a five-point buffer over Connacht after their 21-26 away win at the Sportsground.

The winner of the all Irish tie will face the winner of the Clermont and Leicester Tigers match.

Clermont will need to beat Leicester by 20 points or more on Saturday having succumbed to a 10-29 defeat in the first leg.

Leicester will host the quarter-final if they proceed to the next round, however, if Clermont overturn their 19 point deficit they will head to the Sportsground or RDS for the quarter-final.

Just a point separates Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks ahead of the second leg of their tie. The victor at Ashton Gate will face the winner of Stade Francais versus Racing 92.

The winner of the all-Premiership tie will have to wait until Sunday evening to know who they will face in the quarters and if they will host the playoff match or be on the road.

Racing 92 topped the pool stages and will host the quarter-final if they beat Stade Francais on aggregate.

A Stade Francais win of 14 points or more will see them head to Ashton Gate or the AJ Bell Stadium.

In the third match of the weekend, Harlequins host Montpellier with the French side heading to the Stoop with a 14 point lead. The winner of this tie will face either Bordeaux or La Rochelle. 

If Harlequins beat Montpellier by 15 points or more they will host the quarter-final against the winner of the all-French match. If Montpellier wins the tie, they will be away to whoever wins the all-French clash.

Finally, the winner of Munster versus Exeter Chiefs will face Toulouse or Ulster in the quarter-final. Munster do need to beat Exeter by six points or more.

Ulster ranked 2nd in the pool stages and will host the quarter-final if they beat Toulouse.

If Toulouse win on aggregate, they will be the away side to either Munster or Exeter Chiefs.

Quarter-finals – 6/7/8 May
The quarter-finals will be played over one match and the highest-ranked club from the pool stage will have home venue advantage as follows:
QF 1: Winner R16 1 v Winner R16 5
QF 2: Winner R16 7 v Winner R16 3
QF 3: Winner R16 2 v Winner R16 6
QF 4: Winner R16 8 v Winner R16 4