Paul Grayson
Ex-Northampton and England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live at San Mames Stadium

There's been a lot of talk from the Leinster camp. They're very rarely the underdogs, but they genuinely are in this encounter, so I think their emotional fuel tank is going to be huge today.

Being underdogs is a powerful position to be in, given the sheer strength they have in their squad.

Ireland centre Garry Ringrose is one of the survivors from Leinster's 2018 win, with the 31-year-old yet to add to his first European Cup.

"All the big games I've been lucky enough, and privileged enough, to be involved in with Leinster, I've learned valuable lessons from - some a little bit more painful than others," said Ringrose.

"All of them were close games and fell on really close, fine margins.

"I guess those valuable lessons is from previous experiences just focusing on the preparation and working as hard as we can to prepare to then ultimately, I guess, go all in on the game and yeah, we can't control the outcome.

"We can't control the results, unfortunately. So it's just focusing on preparing as best we can and I guess what will be result-wise."

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at San Mames Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

France beat Ireland to the Six Nations title, and Montpellier dominated Ulster in last night's Challenge Cup final.

Will it be a clean sweep for French sides by the end of play this evening?

Last night, the stadium was lit up in Montpellier blue to celebrate their win.

Leinster would dearly love a different shade of blue later on.

Former Northampton and England fly-half Paul Grayson has given his take on the game.

Watch below.

Leinster are aiming to win their fifth Champions Cup title.

Much has been made of the Irish province's recent record in European finals.

Since winning the Champions Cup in 2018 in Bilbao, they have lost their four most recent deciders.

That includes three defeats in a row from 2022 to 2024, but they are back in the decider as they look to topple a star-studded Bordeaux side.

For Leinster boss Leo Cullen, any memories, good or bad, won't come into the equation.

"It was a great day back in 2018 but it's in the past now," said Cullen.

"It's a totally different challenge with a different group.

"Everyone's worked incredibly hard to get to this stage and it's amazing to be here now, but it's going to be a serious challenge.

"But it's what we want, to be at this stage. So let's try and embrace the occasion and make sure we try to deliver our best performance."

Image source, Getty Images

Leinster wing Tommy O'Brien passed a fitness check to be named in the starting XV.

However, fellow Ireland international James Lowe has not been included in the matchday squad despite returning from injury last week.

Head coach Leo Cullen has named the same starting side that defeated Toulon in the semi-finals, but changes come on the bench.

Paddy McCarthy, who has not featured since January, is included among the replacements alongside Tadhg Furlong and Ronan Kelleher.

Leinster: Keenan; O'Brien, Ringrose, Henshaw, Ioane; Byrne, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson; McCarthy, Ryan; Conan, van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Kelleher, McCarthy, Furlong, Mangan, Deegan, McGrath, Frawley, Osborne.

The Bordeaux fans are out in force and making plenty of noise.

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at San Mames Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

There is an official fan zone in a park in Bilbao, and plenty of fans have been checking it out ahead of kick-off.

There's plenty of entertainment, drinks options, merchandise and even themed burger vans. What do you make of the Irish selection?

In a swift segue from Devin Toner, these guys have been pretty impressive as they dance their way around the fan zone. They would definitely do a job in the line-out.

Image source, BBC Sport

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent at San Mames Stadium

Mercifully, it is a fair bit cooler than yesterday, when temperatures hit 42 degrees. An afternoon game on Friday would have been borderline unplayable.

But it's still hot, the conditions will still be a major challenge, and there will be water breaks halfway through each half.

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Saturday, 21 May 2011: Leinster produce the greatest comeback in European Cup final history to defeat Northampton Saints in Cardiff.

Sunday, 22 May 2011: Bordeaux Begles defeat Albi 21-14 to win promotion to France's Top 14.

It has been a remarkable rise for the French club that formed only in 2006 after the merger of Pro D2 side Stade Bordelais and Club Athletique Bordeaux Begles Gironde who, because of a pool-stage draw with Cardiff, agonisingly missed out on a semi-final place in the inaugural Heineken Cup in 1995-96.

After 90 years in France's top flight, financial struggles meant CA Bordeaux Begles Gironde were relegated to the third tier in 2003, before the club declared bankruptcy a year later.

Two years on, Union Stade Bordelais-Club Athletique Bordeaux-Begles Gironde was formed after the two Bordeaux-based clubs joined forces.

That mouthful was shortened to Union Bordeaux Begles (UBB) in 2008 - and their side now contains France stars Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud and Matthieu Jalibert.

"In that first year [in the Top 14], we became the people's team because we were a bunch of underdogs. We just kept winning and every game was like a final. I think our budget was the lowest in the league," former UBB wing Blair Connor told BBC Sport.

Read more here.

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Defending champions Bordeaux come into the game unbeaten in three matches and overcame Bath to make the final.

Yannick Bru has made one change from the side who began their semi-final win with Jefferson Poirot starting at loose-head and Matis Perchaud not in the squad.

Wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey will be aiming to register his ninth try of the tournament with captain Maxime Lucu, prop Ben Tameifuna and back-rows Temo Matiu and Marko Gazzotti also starting and hoping to cross for the French side as they did against Bath.

Bordeaux Begles: Rayasi; Uberti, Penaud, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Lucu (capt); Poirot, Lamothe, Sadie; Palu, Coleman; Bochaton, Woki, Gazzotti.

Replacements: Barlot, Boniface, Tameifuna, Swinton, Matiu, Vergnes-Taillefer, Retiere, Reu.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at San Mames Stadium

There has been a wonderful atmosphere in Bilbao today as the Bordeaux and Leinster fans have arrived in their numbers.

The French fans, in particular, have been providing plenty of noise with marches through the sunny streets.

Thankfully, it's not as stiflingly hot as yesterday, but it's still a toasty 27 degrees.

It was pain in Bilbao for Ulster against Montpellier on Friday after a crushing 59-26 defeat in the Challenge Cup final.

Up next, it is Leinster's turn in sunny Spain in the Investec Champions Cup final.

Bordeaux Begles are seeking back-to-back titles in the competition, while Leinster are aiming for a first Champions Cup since 2018.

It should be a cracker.

Image source, Getty Images