Sunday 15 January 2017 19:52, UK
Three penalties from Camille Lopez fired Clermont Auvergne into the Champions Cup quarter-finals as they beat Bordeaux-Begles 9-6 in a dour clash at Stade Chaban-Delmas.
Ian Madigan and Lopez kicked two penalties apiece to leave it 6-6 at the interval but Bordueax were guilty of failing to capitalise when Clermont had Isaia Toeava and Viktor Kolelishvili sin-binned in the space of three minutes for professional fouls.
Bordeaux came out looking to stamp their authority on proceedings as the rain poured down at the start of the second half, but couldn't get the points on the board that their pressure deserved.
Lopez was wide with a drop goal attempt but hit the mark with a 59th-minute penalty to take the lead.
He missed another on the stroke of time after Cyril Cazeaux had been yellow-carded for collapsing a maul but by then it didn't matter - Clermont had ground out a victory to take four points.
It is the sixth time in eight seasons that Clermont have reached the last eight and victory over Exeter on Saturday will secure a home draw in the quarter-finals.
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