Match Story

nPAT LAMBIE is injured when tackled by Johnny Sexton, and the Racing out half has to leave to be replaced by Remi Tales, who wasn’t even in the squad an hour earlier. Following the loss of Dan Carter, it threatens Racing’s plans. nTHE form of Teddy Iribaren is some consolation to the French side. The scrum half is himself only playing because of injury to Maxime Machenaud, but he looks authoritative from the start, particularly in his goal-kicking with two penalties from two attempts. nAS Leinster struggle to breach Racing’s terrific defence, a couple of glimmers appear, but all too briefly. Both are undone by penalties awarded to Racing for breakdown infringements, calls that frustrate Leinster but from which their opponents draw obvious strength. nJOHNNY SEXTON overcomes a terribly mis-hit penalty from near half way to convert the next chance that comes his way, in the process levelling the teams once again, this time at 9-9. It triggers a period of pronounced Leinster pressure for the first time in the match. nISA NACEWA emerges as Leinster’s kicking king. With Sexton receiving repeated bouts of treatment, the winger, weeks from retirement, kicks the last two, decisive penalties of the match to make Leinster the champions of Europe for the fourth time in their history. BATTERING RAM: Leinster’s Dan Leavy is tackled by Bernard Le Roux and Remi Tales (left) of Racing 92 during yesterday’s bruising encounter at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao