Italian side Aironi recorded a famous victory in their maiden season of European Cup competition on Saturday when they beat last season's finalists Biarritz 28-27.

To rub salt into the wounds of Biarritz it was French full-back Julien Laharrague's drop goal two minutes from time that gave Aironi their famous triumph.

It left Biarritz with a tricky task of making it out of the pool as they still have to travel to Ulster, who beat Bath 22-18 in what was a poor day for the English sides.

Perpignan beat two-time champions Leicester in Pool 5, although the Tigers stay top thanks to a bonus losing point whilst Racing-Metro gained a superb 24-21 away win over Saracens which leaves the losers rooted to the bottom of the standings.

Biarritz did have the consolation of leaving Italy with two bonus points, for scoring four tries and losing by less than seven points, but will be kicking themselves for letting what prior to the game would have been seen as a certain win as Aironi had yet to win in either this season's competition or in the Celtic League.

Despite tries by Romain Terrain, Zimbabwean-born American winger Takudzwa Ngwenya, former England back Iain Balshaw and Charles Gimenez, the Italians wouldn't let go.

A mix of the boot of Teo Tebaldi and tries from Kiwi fly-half James Marshall, a brilliant score by Giulio Toniolatti and one from Matteo Pratichatti, that put them in front for the first time, set up Laharrague's killer blow.

Racing-Metro's maiden season in European club rugby's premier competition took on a brighter hue with their away win over Saracens, who led early on thanks to a fine try by winger Noah Kato.

However, tries by Argentinian star Juan Martin Hernandez and veteran Fijian Sireli Bobo in each half proved the difference.

"It was disappointing, very disappointing, very, very disappointing," Saracens' director of rugby Brendan Venter said.

"Sireli Bobo's try. Brilliant, yes, absolutely brilliant. What went wrong? I will have to think about it very deeply, very, very deeply."

Perpignan prevailed over Leicester in another thrilling encounter which saw the French hosts score with another Laharrague - Julien's brother Nicolas - proving a thorn in the visitors' side.

He set up the first try for winger Adrien Plante with an inch-perfect crosskick near half-time and the 2009 French champions added a second through fullback Jerome Porical shortly after the break.

Perpignan coach Jacques Brunel was satisfied with the result.

"We needed a pick-me-up and to gain in confidence through a victory, even if we were at home," he said.

"The vital thing was to win, and we did that."

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