Steve Borthwick proved that Saracens had the greater muscles in Brussels as he bulldozed his way over for a crucial try close to the posts at the King Baudouin Stadium to mark Belgium becoming the 10th country to stage Heineken Cup action in style.
His 28th-minute score was a major factor in putting the Pool 1 skids under Racing Metro 92 with a 30-13 victory.
The Paris club had also started with a win, beating former double champions Munster at Stade de France, but a week after keeping a clean sheet against Edinburgh with a 45-0 opening win, Saracens made it two from two to take early control of the group.
Former Bath star Olly Barkley had kicked Racing into a first minute lead but a 21st-minute try from left wing Chris Wyles and the accurate goal kicking of outside-half Charlie Hodgson had Racing on the back foot.
Seven minutes later, Borthwick, typically leading from the front, stormed over and, at 17 points clear at the break, Sarries appeared pretty much in charge.
But some marvelous handling and interchange passing produced a stunning try for Pumas wing Juan Imhoff and in the process reminded Saracens they still had plenty of work to do.
Their advantage was further reduced by a Gaetan Germain penalty but, with just three minutes remaining, excellent work by Hodgson put flanker Will Fraser into a hole in the Racing defence and their third try, converted by Hodgson for a match haul of 15 points, was the final nail in the Racing coffin.
